New England Patriots: Revisiting and Grading the Draft: 2011

Dec 21, 2014; New Orleans, LA, USA; New Orleans Saints running back Mark Ingram (22) carries the ball as Atlanta Falcons cornerback Desmond Trufant (21) defends during the first quarter at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports

1st Round #28 overall: traded to the New Orleans Saints (running back Mark Ingram) for a 2012 first round draft pick and 2011 second round (#56 overall) draft pick

Another year, another trade out of the first round by the New England Patriots. While New England had a need at running back, they traded off their second first round pick to the Saints for their second round pick and their future first round pick. The first running back drafted in 2011, Ingram has been a bust in New Orleans. Last season was a career high for Ingram as he rushed for 964 yards. In four season he has just 21 starts, 2,426 yards rushing and 20 touchdowns. Stevan Ridley–taken in the third round (#73 overall) by New England–rushed for 2,817 yards and 22 touchdowns despite missing the last ten games of 2014 with a knee injury. Add in that running back DeMarco Murray (third round #71 overall in 2011) has rushed for 4,526 yards, a 4.8 yards per rush average, and 28 touchdowns in Dallas, and the Saints seem foolhardy having surrendered such a price for Ingram. That first round pick in 2012? Oh, only defensive end Chandler Jones.

Feb 1, 2015; Glendale, AZ, USA; New England Patriots defensive end Chandler Jones (95) celebrates after beating the Seattle Seahawks in Super Bowl XLIX at University of Phoenix Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports

SHOULD HAVE DRAFTED:

Stealing Muhammad Wilkerson (#31 overall) from the Jets is the only compelling reason to have not made this trade.

GRADE: A

Chandler Jones and Shane Vereen for a running back who failed to outperform Stevan Ridley who was taken two rounds later is the final showing for this trade down. Two key contributors (at reasonable cost) for the Patriots in exchange for an overrated player who had little impact over four years shows why New England was able to go to four straight AFC Championship game and two Super Bowls while the Saints have had two sub-.500 seasons and have struggled this offseason and were forced to trade star tight end Jimmy Graham to save cap space.

Next: 2nd Round