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Working the draft board

Email|Link|Comments (2) Posted by Mike Reiss, Globe Staff December 11, 2008 09:30 AM

ANALYSIS

In reading up on the Raiders and coming across this piece by Jerry McDonald of the Oakland Tribune, it led to some re-tracing of steps.

Why was the name Mario Henderson, a second-year player who will start at left tackle for the Raiders on Sunday against the Patriots, ringing a bell?

After a few google searches, it all came together.

While on the clock during the 2007 draft, the Patriots traded a third-round draft choice to the Raiders (91st overall), which was used to select Henderson. In return, the Patriots received a 2008 third-round draft choice (69th overall) and a 2007 seventh-round pick (LB Oscar Lua, who is no longer in the NFL).

Then this year, while on the clock, the Patriots traded that 2008 third-round draft choice to the Chargers (RB Jacob Hester) for a 2009 second-round draft choice (currently estimated to be around 45th).

The trade is something to keep in mind while watching Henderson (2 career starts) on Sunday. It also shows how the Patriots' working of the draft helped turn a late third-round draft choice in 2007 into a mid-second-round pick two years later.

The key now, of course, is for the Patriots to cash in with that pick.

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2 comments so far...

You know, of course hindsight is 20/20 vision, but with a quick check of the players drafted in 2007 and 2008 between the picks we gave up, and our next picks, there doesn't seem to be anyone setting the league alight. I say 20/20 because, of course, having a few DB's/LB's with a years experience would be great right now....maybe!

Two names that stand out are Trent Edwards (2007) and Dan Connor. With the former, I believe BB said if he fell to the 4th round they would have considered drafting him (I believe) and Dan Connor went on IR after 3 games this year. Anyone else?

Posted by David December 11, 08 10:51 AM

Hi David. I always think it's hard to project how a player on another team would look in another system, but I do think this is an example of how the Patriots do a generally good job with their assets, reallocating them at times. To turn a third-round pick (91st) into a second-round pick (estimated at 45th) two years later seems like good business to me, as long as you have enough talent on the roster to not have an immediate need.
--Mike

Posted by Mike Reiss December 11, 08 12:13 PM

DO NOT HIT THE SUBMIT BUTTON MORE THAN ONCE!

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Mike Reiss, Christopher L. Gasper and the rest of the Globe team provide regular updates –and a behind-the-scenes look– on the daily happenings of the Patriots.

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