The Not-So Big Board

[Warren]

Interesting article about how the Patriots and teams like the Broncos, Chiefs, (and Falcons?) whose drafts are run by ex-Patriot staffers work from much more limited draft boards than the rest of the league. The Broncos only had 100 players on their board last year, and the Patriots have had as few as 25 in some years.

[nunusguy]

"While most teams list all potential picks on their draft board, with grades on everyone from potential first-round picks to rookie free agents, teams such as the Patriots, Broncos and Chiefs work from a much shorter list. Players who don't fit the team's framework, on or off the field, are removed from consideration before the draft starts."
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Interesting story - good find.
It's well known that teams often take certain players off of their Boards (ususally for "off-field issues"), but these teams apparently take it to an extreme ?

[HPF Bob]

Bronco insiders were stunned to see how limited the draft board was under McDaniels. I see it as both good and bad. If you are sure of what you want, why not cut out all those who don't fit so you can focus on the ones who do? OTOH, we all know players who are much better/worse players than where they were evaluated. The more you eliminate players, the less options you have when it is time to make a draft selection.

[Mike]

I am sure that all teams do that to an extent.

The early Texan regime routinely placed players that could actually play in the NFL on the list of who they would not draft.

[painekiller]

Originally Posted by Mike

The early Texan regime routinely placed players that could actually play in the NFL on the list of who they would not draft.

The question should be did they ever allow a player that could play on the list after the top 10 guys?

[Roy P]

This is exactly why I try to keep my draft board to a bare minimum. Guys who are overhyped, I assume I don't want. Every year there are probably 30 - 60 guys in a given draft who actually contribute to the teams that draft them. Luckily, they are not always the first 30 - 60 guys drafted. Then you can eliminate (at least I do) all the knuckleheads who aren't worth the headaches they are going to cause. Imagine if we hadn't drafted Antwaan Peek based upon that one little piece of criteria. We've had our fair share of turds, eventhough the team gets grief from fans for wanting 'choir boys' on the roster. I also use measurables to remove players from my list. While there are 'work-out wonders' and 'football players who don't run well in shorts' more times than not, good players are fast and strong. A team's draft board is like a select list of prospective employees, you wouldn't just hire anybody simply because they applied. You have to have some minimum requirements that you are looking for that allows prospects to be a part of the few (the proud). Maybe that's just my Marine Corps mentality.

[kRocket]

Originally Posted by Roy P

Maybe that's just my Marine Corps mentality.

I bet you still have a crew cut!!

[nunusguy]

Originally Posted by kRocket

I bet you still have a crew cut!!

Or maybe a Cush-Hawk ?

[Roy P]

Just go to the barber and ask for #2 on the back and sides and #5 on top.

[Roy P]

Originally Posted by Warren

the Patriots have had as few as 25 in some years.

I think this is probably the shortest I would feel comfortable doing...

1 S Earl Thomas
2 OG Trent Williams
3 DT Dan Williams
4 LB Sean Weatherspoon
5 CB Patrick Robinson
6 RB Ryan Matthews
7 CB Devin McCourty
8 FS Brandon Ghee
9 OG Jon Asamoah
10 RB Ben Tate
11 RB Toby Gerhart
12 DT Geno Atkins
13 DT Lamarr Houston
14 DT Linval Joseph
15 FS Major Wright
16 S Darrell Stuckey
17 OC JD Walton
18 DT Torrell Troup
19 LB Dekoda Watson
20 CB Kevin Thomas
21 CB Alterraun Verner
22 CB AJ Jefferson
24 QB Dan LeFevour
25 DE Daniel Te'o-Nesheim
26 RB James Starks
27 RB Andre Anderson
28 S Robert Johnson
29 OG Shelley Smith
30 OC Eric Olsen
31 OC Joe Hawley
32 CB Crezdon Butler
33 WR Stephen Williams
34 LB Simoni Lawrence