This week, I’m going to take a look at how various aspects of Seattle and New England were built and compare it to the Washington Redskins. Today: the draft.
Seattle
Number of draft picks past five years: 48
Number of picks in first three rounds: 12
Breakdown of picks in first three rounds: Offensive line (4), tight end (0), wide receiver (2), running back (1), quarterback (1), defensive line (2), linebacker (1), defensive back (1).
Draft picks still on roster: 28 (26 from past five drafts).
Draft picks/undrafted free agents in starting lineup: 18 (that includes Michael Bennett, who was signed as an undrafted free agent in 2009, cut that season and then re-signed in 2013) -- 10 on offense, eight on defense.
Pro Bowlers drafted past five years: 6 (linebacker Bobby Wagner, safeties Earl Thomas and Kam Chancellor, cornerback Richard Sherman, quarterback Russell Wilson, and left tackle Russell Okung).
All Pros drafted past five years: 3 (Sherman, Wagner, Thomas).
Note: Seattle ranked 12th in ESPN analyst Matt Williamson’s piece assessing every team’s under-25 talent base. Like the Redskins, Seattle did not have a first-round pick in each of the past two drafts. Also, new Redskins general manager Scot McCloughan was an integral part of Seattle’s drafts from 2010-13.
New England
Number of draft picks past five years: 44
Number of picks in first three rounds: 20
Breakdown of picks in first three rounds: Offensive line (1), tight end (1), receiver (2), quarterback (2), running back (2), defensive line (3), linebacker (4), defensive back (5).
Draft picks still on roster: 30 (23 from past five drafts).
Draft picks/undrafted free agents in starting lineup: 14 -- 8 on offense; six on defense.
Pro Bowlers drafted past five years: 2 (tight end Rob Gronkowski, defensive back Devin McCourty).
All Pros drafted last five years: 1 (Gronkowski)
Note: The Patriots still have key players such as quarterback Tom Brady and defensive lineman Vince Wilfork from earlier drafts. Also, the Patriots ranked second in ESPN analyst Matt Williamson’s piece ranking teams based on under-25 talent.
Washington
Number of draft picks past five years: 41.
Number of picks in first three rounds: 11
Breakdown of picks in first three rounds: Offensive line (4), tight tend (1), receiver (1), running back (0), quarterback (1), defensive line (1: Ryan Kerrigan was an end in college, but was drafted to play linebacker); linebacker (2), defensive back (1).
Draft picks on roster: 25, including three on injured reserve. All but two were drafted in the past five years.
Draft picks/undrafted free agents in (most common) starting lineup: 14 -- six on offense (assuming a two-back starting group with fullback Darrel Young); eight on defense.
Pro Bowlers drafted past five years: 3 Left tackle Trent Williams (three), quarterback Robert Griffin III (one, but did not play because of a knee injury), and running back Alfred Morris (two, both as an alternate).
All Pros drafted past five years: None.
Note: Of their 15 draft picks the past two years combined, six are no longer with the team. Also, of their 11-man class from 2011, only two became full-time starters (Kerrigan and Jarvis Jenkins).
Recap