I've noticed that lately there are no shortage of criticisms over the Pats high picks, largely due to guys like Duke Dawson, JoeJuan Williams and Cyrus Jones providing a big donut hole (although JJW still has a slim chance to wake up).
My point is that every year around this time we tend to view the first round as a magical place where instant stars are born and every mock draft is filled with the promise of better days. Over the years I've learned to be a bit more skeptical of all the hype and decided to take a look at last year to see how many of the 2020 32 1st rounders actually met or exceeded the lofty expectations for their rookie seasons.
While this is a somewhat subjective list, I count 12 of them, which are, in order of selection: Joe Burrow, Chase Young, Justin Herbert, Jedrick Willis, Mekhi Becton, Tristan Wirfs, Jerry Jeudy, CeeDee Lamb, Justin Jefferson, Kenneth Murray, Brandon Aiyuk and Clyde Edwards-Hellaire. This doesn't mean that others couldn't develop and justify the investment, but there were more than a few whose teams really wish they'd made a different move.
Jeff Okudah -- the No. 3 overall pick was hurt and played poorly by most accounts for a team that ended up dumping Matt Stafford for Jared Goff. Do you think they might've taken Justin Herbert had they known how things would play out?
Tua Tagovailoa -- Ditto for the Dolphins, who managed to hit the inglorious reverse trifecta as neither of their other two 1sts, OT Austin Jackson or CB Noah Igbinoghene did much of note. All 3 have to get better or it could be an albatross around GM Chris Grier's neck. You had to know that the apple wouldn't fall far from the tree, despite rumors to the contrary.
There were a total of 6 CBs selected in the 1st and according to people a lot smarter than me, none of them had a particularly good rookie season. Will corners slide this year as a result? That wouldn't shock me.
Henry Ruggs -- the Raiders tabbed him with the 12th overall and he didn't exactly light up the NFL as did Justin Jefferson taken 10 slots later for the Vikes.
There were 4 LBs taken in the 1st and only Kenneth Murray of the Chargers produced big. Clemson's Isaiah Simmons was highly touted, went 8th overall and played poorly according to most observers. Patrick Queen frequently looked lost in Baltimore and Jordyn Brooks in Seattle was picked on all season when coverage was supposed to be his strongest trait.
Undoubtedly the worst pick was the Titans' selecting Georgia OT Isaiah Wilson at 29. He has had an eventful year with poor play, the bench, a DUI, a release and voided contract from Tennessee and then another release after 3 days in Miami where he screwed up everything you can possibly screw up and refused help for his "personal issues". Wilson is presently unemployed. That pick makes the Cyrus Jones one look great.
I'm not saying folks shouldn't get excited about the draft, but if you look around the league with a years' data in the bank, the Pats had a pretty nice draft week for themselves -- don't listen to what Felger says on the topic.