The Patriots came into last April’s Draft looking for help on the offensive line, defense and special teams and they found players who contributed in all of those roles.  The first pick for the Patriots last April was safety Patrick Chung (2nd round, #34 overall) out of Oregon.  He played in all 16 games for the Patriots last season and he finished up with 37 tackles, 1 pass defensed, 2 sacks and 1 interception.  Chung could develop into a starter down the road for the Patriots.  NT Ron Brace was also taken in the 2nd round (#40 overall) by the Patriots last April out of Boston College.  He played in 9 games making only 8 tackles for the Patriots.  CB Darius Butler (2nd round, #41 overall) out of Connecticut was a nice find for the Patriots last season.  He played in 14 games making 35 tackles, defensing 8 passes and he had 3 interceptions (91 yards of returns ) with a TD.  Butler also returned 5 kickoffs for 104 yards (20.8 avg) last season.  OT Sebastian Vollmer (2nd round, #58 overall) out of Houston was considered a reach by most for the Patriots but he looked solid last season playing in 14 games (8 starts).  He 6′8″, 315 pound Vollmer could still add more weight to his very tall frame.  WR/KR Brandon Tate (3rd round, #83 overall) out of North Carolina slipped in the draft because of off the field concerns.  He played in 2 games and he carried the ball 1 time for 11 yards.  He also returned 4 kickoffs for 106 yards (26.5 avg) last season.  He missed most of his rookie season due to injury but he has a nice upside if he can just remain healthy.  Linebacker Tyrone McKenzie (3rd round, #97) out of South Florida got hurt before the year started and spent his rookie year on I.R.  Guard Rich Ohrnberger (4th round, #123 overall) out of Penn State didn’t show much as a rookie playing in 3 games (0 starts).  OT George Bussey (5th round, #170 overall) out of Louisville spend his rookie season on I.R.  Long snapper Jake Ingram (6th round, #198 overall) out of Hawaii played in ever game for the Patriots last season and he did a solid job.  DT Myron Pryor (6th round, #207 overall) out of Kentucky was pretty solid for the Patriots.  He played in 13 games in which he made 20 tackles, 3 tackles for a loss and he forced 1 fumble.  WR/KR/PR Julian Edelman (7th round, #232 overall) was a QB at Kent State.  He was like a poor man’s Wes Welker as a rookie last season.  He played in 11 games for the Patriots and he caught 37 passes for 359 yards (9.7 avg) with 1 TD grab.  He also returned 11 kickoffs for 241 yards (21.9 avg) and 6 punts for 63 yards (10.5 avg).  He has a nice upside as he is tough as nails.  DT Darryl Richard didn’t make the team.  He was a 7th round pick (#234 overall) out of Georgia Tech. 

GRADE FOR 2009:  C

GRADE FOR THE FUTURE:  B

The Patriots have lost rookie WR/KR Brandon Tate for the rest of the season due to a knee injury.  He only played in 2 games in his rookie season and he didn’t catch any passes.  He did carry the ball 1 time for 11 yards and he also returned 4 kickoffs for 106 yards (26.5 avg) this year.  Tate will be replaced by 28-year old WR Sam Aiken as the #3 WR for the Patriots the rest of the way.  He has played in 8 games for the Patriots this season and he has caught 9 passes for 139 yards (15.4 avg) with 1 TD grab. 

The New England Patriots never pick too high in the draft so they are looking for players who fit the roster.  Safety Patrick Chung was the highest pick the Patriots used (#34 overall, 2nd round) and he has 17 tackles, 1 sack, 1 pass defensed and 1 interception so far this season.  He looks like he might have the potential to start down the road so this was a good pick for the Patriots.  NT Ron Brace (2nd round, #40 overall) was supposed to give the Patriots help on the interior of the defense this season but he only has 1 tackle so far.  CB Darius Butler (2nd, #41) hasn’t played that much this season but when he does play he makes plays as he has 5 tackles, 2 interceptions and he has defensed 4 passes this year so far.  OT Sebastian Vollmer (2nd, #58 overall) was supposedly a reach by the Patriots but he has played in 7 games (2 starts) this season and he could develop into a productive starter for the Patriots down the road.  WR/KR Brandon Tate (3rd, #83) has been injured the whole season until know as he hasn’t caught a pass yet but he has returned 2 kickoffs for 44 yards (22.0 avg).  He has a huge upside and he will start being a factor in the offense soon.  LB Tyrone McKenzie (3rd, #97 overall) hurt himself in the pre-season and he is on I.R. right now.  LS Jake Ingram (6th round, #198) has stepped right in playing in all 7 games for the Patriots so far this season.  DT Myron Pryor (6th, #207 overall) has nine tackles this season, 2 tackles for a loss and he has forced 1 fumble.  Pryor looks like a better pick than Brace so far this season.  WR/KR/PR Julian Edelman (7th round, #232) has been the best rookie on the team for the Patriots this season.  He has carried the ball 1 time for 5 yards and he has caught 21 passes for 188 yards (9.0 avg).  Edelman has also returned 7 kickoffs for 157 yards (22.4 avg) and 6 punts for 63 yards (10.5 avg) so far this season.  He recently broke his arm which will keep him out of action for a while but the converted QB looks  like a keeper for the Patriots.  OG Rich Ohrnberger (4th round, #123), OT George Bussy (5th round, #170) and DT Darryl Richard (7th round, #234 overall) have not played in any games for the Patriots this season.  It looks like the Patriots have found a few keepers last April.

The Patriots have lost WR/KR/PR Julian Edelman indefinately with a broken arm.  This is a big loss to the Patriots as Edelman has done everything they have asked…..and he has done it well.  Edelman has 1 carry for 5 yards this season and he has also caught 21 passes for 188 yards (9.0 avg).  Edelman has helped out on special teams big time this season.  He has returned 7 kickoffs for 157 yards (22.4 avg) and 6 punts for 63 yards (10.5 avg) this season.  Edelman was a excellent pick by the Patriots in the 7th round last April as he was a QB in college for the Kent State Golden Flashes.

Julian Edelman was selected in the 7th round of the NFL Draft out of Kent State where he was the starting QB.  The Patriots converted him into a WR and he has learned how to play it very quickly.  When Wes Welker went down to injury, Edelman has stepped up.  He has caught 11 passes for 118 yards (10.7 avg) this season and he has also carried the ball 1 time for 5 yards.  That’s not all Edelman has done as he has helped out on special teams.  He has returned 2 kickoffs for 39 yards (19.5 avg) and 1 punt for 2 yards this year.  Coach Belichick proves once again that he is a master of the draft finding this guy in the 7th round.