2010 NFL Draft: Three Reasons the New England Patriots Should Stay at No. 22

March 22, 2010   ·   Erik Frenz   ·   Jump to comments

1. They've Struck Gold with Nearly Every First-Round Pick Since 2000
From Richard Seymour to Jerod Mayo, the Patriots have done remarkably well with talent evaluation in the first round this past decade. There really have only been a couple of questionable selections in Benjamin Watson and Laurence Maroney.
When you consider, though, that Watson was the last pick of the first round, a new light is shed on his being dubbed a first-round bust. Had he been taken one pick later, as the first pick of the second round, his career would take on a completely different shape.
Some might argue that with Pioli out of the front office, talent evaluation has dropped off drastically, but Belichick needs to trust his instincts and take the top-tier athlete he's lusting after.
 
2. It Sends the Wrong Message to New England's Locker Room and Fans
The Patriots have gotten away with trading down in the past. They traded down in 2004 and were still able to acquire Vince ...

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