Revisiting the Patriots’ 2014 draft class following the trade of Bryan Stork
Bill Belichick is known as one of the best when it comes to drafting, but this was one big miss.
One of the reasons the Patriots have built a dynasty of sustained success since the turn of the millennia is the success the team has found in the NFL Draft. The Patriots made the most important selection in franchise history when they struck gold with Tom Brady in the sixth round back in 2000.
But the team has usually been a dependable bet to find at least a starter or two in almost every draft.
Take 2015, for example: the team grabbed two projected starters in defensive tackle Malcom Brown and right guard Shaq Mason, plus special teamer Joe Cardona and rotational pieces Trey Flowers and Jordan Richards. This doesn’t even include A.J. Derby, Darryl Roberts and Geneo Grissom, both of whom may make the roster and contribute.
However, the team had an unusually poor showing in 2014. With the news Wednesday that Bryan Stork has been traded, there are only four players remaining from the class, two of whom will contribute. Let’s run back through the players with an eye for why they didn’t work out:
1st round, 29th overall: Dominique Easley
Easley was easily (no pun intended) the biggest disappointment given his status as a first-round player, and having been cut by the team this past April. It’s a shame too, because he flashed a lot of talent in his limited time on the field, but the team ultimately decided to cut bait given his injuries and off the field issues.
As for notable players selected after Easley, try Teddy Bridgewater and Derek Carr, and Bengals running back Jeremy Hill, plus Steelers standout Stephon Tuitt.
2nd round, 62nd overall: Jimmy Garoppolo
The jury is still out on this pick for obvious reasons, though Garoppolo will have a chance to justify his selection while Tom Brady is sitting out his 4-game suspension for Deflategate. Garoppolo has has looked good this preseason, but stepping into Brady’s shoes is a (really) tall task.
Unfortunately, Garoppolo will be held to a high standard here in New England, and nationwide next to contemporaries Bridgewater and Carr. Sandwiching Garoppolo were Pro Bowl wide receivers Allen Robinson, and Jarvis Landry.
4th round, 105th overall: Bryan Stork
The aforementioned Stork was traded Wednesday despite playing as a starter in his rookie season and earning the favor of de facto starter Garoppolo. Working against Stork was his history of concussions and his aggressive tendencies, which manifested themselves in a training camp brawl.
The fourth round was pretty weak in 2014, but standout running back Devonta Freeman was taken two picks before Stork, while the Bengals snagged UNC center Russell Bodine later in the round, and he has started all 32 games played since then.
4th round, 130th overall: James White
Selected right around the middle of the draft as a contingency for Shane Vereen – who departed for the Giants in free agency – as a pass-catching third down back. Thus far, he has underwhelmed averaging just 3.0 yards per carry, though he did catch 40 passes for a tick over 400 yards last season, which is at least modest production.
4th round, 140th overall: Cameron Fleming
Selected as a big-bodied offensive tackle who projected as playable on the left or right side, Fleming looked like a value pick at the end of the fourth round. He has instead flailed in his limited time, and was cut by the team last September before being brought back as an emergency starter when Nate Solder went down with a biceps injury last season.
6th round and 7th round: Jon Halapio, Zach Moore, Jemea Thomas, Jeremy Gallon
Like Fleming, Halapio has also already been cut by the team once, before even making the 53-man roster in his first season. He returned for training camp this season, but is on the bubble, like Fleming.
Of the latter three, only Moore saw real game action, playing as a rotational pass rusher in the 2014 season.
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