Aaron Dobson looked like a nice 2014 sleeper a few months ago, but things have changed. In March he underwent foot surgery, and it's now being reported he had a screw permanently inserted in his foot. He's not yet practicing, and undrafted Kenbrell Thompkins is now making his case for a key receiving role. New England also has Brandon LaFell in the mix.
This all follows a mid-July report that Josh Boyce, another second-year wideout drafted two rounds after Dobson, is in danger of not making New England's final roster. Dobson hurting and Boyce struggling; neither one is currently looking like a great draft pick.
That's how things have gone for the Patriots, who have enjoyed plenty of success in the Bill Belichick era, but that doesn't extend to evaluating college wideouts.
Going back 20 years (so, a few years before Belichick took over as head coach), New England has selected 19 wideouts in the annual draft. Just three success stories in that time: first-rounder Terry Glenn, second-rounder Deion Branch and Julian Edelman (who maybe shouldn't count since he played quarterback in college). David Givens had a couple of serviceable years, but even he never reached 900 yards or scored more than 6 TDs in a season.
Chad Jackson, Taylor Price, Brandon Tate -- fantasy coaches can recall getting excited about all of these players in the preseason in past years, thinking they might develop into Tom Brady's top wide receiver. It's early, but it's fair to wonder if Dobson won't turn out to be just the latest disappointment.
New England's drafted wideouts since 1994 are presented below.
| PATRIOTS DRAFTED WIDEOUTS, 1994-2013 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Rd | Player | College |
| 2014 | 7 | Jeremy Gallon | Michigan |
| 2013 | 2 | Aaron Dobson | Marshall |
| 2013 | 4 | Josh Boyce | Texas Christian |
| 2012 | 7 | Jeremy Ebert | Northwestern |
| 2010 | 3 | Taylor Price | Ohio |
| 2009 | 3 | Brandon Tate | North Carolina |
| 2009 | 7 | Julian Edelman | Kent State |
| 2008 | 5 | Matt Slater | UCLA |
| 2006 | 2 | Chad Jackson | Florida |
| 2004 | 5 | P.K. Sam | Florida State |
| 2003 | 2 | Bethel Johnson | Texas A&M |
| 2002 | 2 | Deion Branch | Louisville |
| 2002 | 7 | David Givens | Notre Dame |
| 1999 | 7 | Sean Morey | Brown |
| 1998 | 2 | Tony Simmons | Wisconsin |
| 1997 | 6 | Tony Gaiter | Miami (Fla.) |
| 1996 | 1 | Terry Glenn | Ohio State |
| 1994 | 2 | Kevin Lee | Alabama |
| 1994 | 6 | Darrell Mitchell | Texas Tech |
--Andy Richardson