New England Patriots: Revisiting and Grading the 2009 NFL Draft

Dec 1, 2013; San Diego, CA, USA; Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Brandon Tate (19) carries the ball during the Bengals 17-10 win over the San Diego Chargers at Qualcomm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Stan Liu-USA TODAY Sports

3rd Round #83 overall: Brandon Tate, Wide Receiver

3rd Round #97 overall: Tyrone McKenzie, Linebacker

As much criticism the Patriots got for their second round swing and misses the third round was even worse.  Tate was a redshirt as he only played two games in 2009 after missing most of the season coming back from an injury. With all the needs on the team, it seemed a waste to draft a kick returner at #83 overall when he could not play much his rookie season. While he was released after the 2010 season, Tate has found a home in Cincinnati. However, his lack of skill at wide receiver has left him as a pure returner on special teams.

The second 3rd round draft pick was linebacker Tyrone McKenzie. McKenzie never played a snap for New England. McKenzie injured his knee in a rookie minicamp and went on injured reserve.  He stuck around on the practice squad for a few months in 2010 before going to Tampa Bay and then Minnesota.  Out of the NFL, McKenzie was a big nothing for New England as a top 100 draft pick.

SHOULD HAVE DRAFTED:

Dec 15, 2013; Miami Gardens, FL, USA; New England Patriots cornerback Kyle Arrington (25) pushes Miami Dolphins wide receiver Mike Wallace (11) out of bounce during the first half at Sun Life Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports

The draft pick of Brandon Tate always looks bad because the Pittsburgh Steelers hit a home run with deep threat wide receiver Mike Wallace on the next pick. Big, fast, and strong downfield Wallace parlayed his success with strong-armed quarterback Ben Roethlisberger into a huge contract last season in Miami. In that same area of the draft the Ravens grabbed cornerback Lardarius Webb (#88 overall) and Tennessee snagged tight end Jared Cook (#89) which were both at positions of need for New England.

With McKenzie’s contribution (or lack there of) almost anyone would be an improvement. After McKenzie there were number of solid players at the top of the 4th round including defensive end Henry Melton (#105 to Chicago), wide receivers Mike Thomas (#107 to Jacksonville) and Brian Hartline,(#108 to Miami), tackle T.J. Lang (Green Bay #109) and safety Glover Quin (#112) to Houston.

GRADE: D