Re-Grading the New England Patriots’ 2011 NFL Draft Class

March 1, 2014   ·   Erik Frenz   ·   Jump to comments

There's always a mad rush to put grades on each team's picks in the draft minutes after its conclusion. In reality, it takes at least three years to really find out how each team did in the draft. 
In the heat of the moment, the immediate aftermath of the 2011 NFL draft, the New England Patriots' grades were all over the spectrum. At the time, I gave them a B+ overall. ESPN's Mel Kiper Jr. gave them a C+. Clifton Brown of Sporting News gave them an A+. 
That year was supposed to be the year the Patriots finally broke the mold and drafted a topnotch pass-rushing prospect in the first round. With so many available—Aldon Smith, J.J. Watt, Robert Quinn, Jabaal Sheard, Brooks Reed, Ryan Kerrigan and others—there were more than enough opportunities to help boost the pressure packages. 
"I think that's really going to be a key part of this whole draft, I think, when we look back on it in a couple years and evaluate it," s...

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