The New England Patriots went into Friday night with two picks in the third round at #74 and #92 but after a trade with Oakland they dumped their last 2nd rounder (#60) for a third (#73) and a fifth (#138). So now going into the round they have back-to-back picks near the top of the round and one later on.
With the #73 pick from Oakland the Patriots selected LSU running back Stevan Ridley. The 6 foot, 223 lb. redshirt junior ran for 1,147 yards on 249 carries and scored 15 TD’s for the Tigers. He also added 11 catches for 61 yards.
Then picking at #74 from Minnesota the Patriots landed the shocker of the draft to this point when they selected Arkansas QB Ryan Mallett. Mallett, who started his career at Michigan, transferred to the Razorbacks after coach Lloyd Carr was fired and Rich Rodriguez was hired after the 2007 season. After sitting out 2008, he started 13 games in 2009 throwing for 3,624 yards and 30 TD’s and was a Second Team All-SEC selection.
In 2010, he once again started all 13 games and set school records with 3,869 yards and 32 TD’s. He ranked 5th in the NCAA averaging 297.6 yards passing per game.
It is expected that he will be groomed to be the possible successor to Tom Brady.
Then the Patriots traded #92 to Oakland along with a fourth round pick (#125) for a 7th round pick (#219) and a 2012 second round pick. The Patriots turned the undervalued trade in second round into a higher value deal that gives them a second pick next year in the second round. They also have double picks next year in the first round.
On Saturday, the final day of the draft, they will have Rounds 4-7 starting at Noon. The Patriots have picks #138 and #159 in the fifth round, #193 in the sixth round and #219 in the seventh round.
The Patriots 2012 Draft selections are as follows as of the end of the 3rd round:
- Round 1: Original and New Orleans
- Round 2: Original and Oakland
- Round 3: Original
- Round 4: Original
- Round 5: Original
- Round 6: No Pick
- Round 7: No Pick
