NEPD Staff Writer: Mike Gerken

Sorry I didn’t get one of these posted for last week. I got called out of town until yesterday and had limited access to a computer. We have hit the slow period when it comes to NFL news, so there may not be a ton to talk about, so if anyone has any questions or other topics they want to discuss, feel free.

Right now, I am working on my college watch list and hope to start posting those positions soon, maybe as earlier as Friday. I am also still working away at my draft project that has become the ultimate time suck. Why do I start these things?

NEPD Staff Writer: Mike Gerken

Hi all,

Sorry for my lack of participation on the site over the last couple of weeks. I am working on a huge project that finally ends this weekend. In my limited free time, I have been working on a historical draft piece that I am hoping will be a good reference guide as well as a new way to approach my draft grades. It has been more work than I anticiapted but I am excited about its possibilities.

I wanted to give the site a place for people to chat while we wait for training camp to open up without the threads getting too long, so I came up with this. With the Patriots signing David Harris today, I thought there would be some interest to talk about him and his potential role.

NEPD Staff Writer: Mike Gerken

Every time you hear someone talk about grading a draft class they say “You have to wait at least three years before you can really grade a draft.”  I was cleaning up the computer when I find some old notes on the 2014 draft class and I thought it might be fun to do just that. Back then I was not writing for any particular site, so my audience was about a dozen of my friend who, after awhile, probably got sick of me sending them stuff on the draft and stopped reading them. I found several different emails regarding the class, including a love, like, hate list for both offensive and defensive players as well as a top 100 with some notes. I thought you all might enjoy taking a trip down memory lane and seeing what I had to say before I started writing here.

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NEPD Staff Writer: Mike Gerken

Hi All,

After a short break, I am ready to get back into all things Patriots and the NFL draft. I have some fun articles planned and I am working on a very large project that I hope will be useful for the 2018 draft. I will post on twitter when I post my new stuff, so if you aren’t following me yet, please do. I can be found @midwestpatsfan. I look forward to interacting with all of you very soon.

The Patriots brought in some intriguing UDFA’s, but do any of them have a real shot at making the team?

NEPD Staff Writer: Mike Gerken

It is time to put a bow on the 2017 NFL draft and what better way to do so than to talk a little bit about some of the undrafted players the Patriots brought in after the draft was over. With the Patriots only having 4 actual draft picks, they could afford to bring in a bigger class of undrafted guys. They also could afford to pay a few of them a higher bonus than you normally see an undrafted player get. While this does not really change these players chances of making the team, it does show that the Patriots wanted to make sure they got these guys into their camps. I for one, am excited about this group and think a few of these guys have a legitimate chance to make the roster, while a handful of others will make the practice squad or make another teams 53. Here are the guys from the long list of UDFA’s that I am excited to watch this fall.

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Although he is a project, McDermott does possess intriguing traits that, if developed, could make him a quality player for the Patriots.

NEPD Staff Writer: Mike Gerken

With their final pick in the draft, the Patriots took another shot at the Offensive Tackle position. McDermott is an interesting player who early in the draft process was considered a potential 1st round pick by many of the big names in the draft media. The season got off to a tough start when McDermott struggled against the eventual #1 draft pick, Myles Garrett. After that game, McDermott kind of became a forgotten man. So, did the Patriots get a steal?

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The Patriots double dipped along the defensive line position, but the two players are very different.

NEPD Staff Writer: Mike Gerken

I am sure many of you have already done some research on all the Patriots draft picks, but since you came here, why not find out a little more. When I saw Wise’s measurables from the Combine, I had a sneaking suspicion that he would be a potential target for the Patriots. These days, the Patriots line up primarily in a nickel sub package, so they need versatile players along the defensive line that can do multiple things and play multiple positions. With their first pick, the Patriots took an Defensive End that excels at getting after the QB and can drop into coverage. With their third pick, they took another Defensive End, but his skill set is very different.

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