ESPN

Dane Brugler of CBSSports.com re-grades the 2009 draft, relying on the premise that it takes three seasons to accurately assess a draft. He gives the Patriots a C-plus.

As part of the piece, Brugler divides his analysis into three categories:

1. Good (Sebastian Vollmer)
2. Bad (Darius Butler)
3. Jury still out (Patrick Chung)

I always enjoy these type of "look backs" on drafts, in part because it keeps the mind sharp with fourth-year personnel around the league, and also provides a league-wide context as to how all teams draft.

Sometimes it's easy to be so laser-focused on one team that it creates unrealistic expectations. Brugler's Patriots analysis, as it relates to the rest of the league, seems to be solid.

To read the piece, CLICK HERE.

ESPNBoston.com talks about the defensive-minded Patriots' moves on Day 2 of the NFL draft.

For those who use a trade value chart as a guide, the Patriots' deal with the Packers will register as a head-scratcher.

In shipping their late second-round pick (62nd) to the Packers, they received a third-round pick (90th) and fifth-round pick (163rd). While trade value charts can vary slightly, by most accounts, the Packers win big in this exchange.

The chart I referenced gave the 62nd overall pick a value of 284 points.

Meanwhile, the picks the Patriots receive totaled 170 points.

Also note that later in the draft, the Browns traded the 67th overall pick to Denver and received the 87th and 120th selections, which was much better value.

The swap gives the Patriots some more flexibility, as the 62nd overall pick was going to be their final selection of the entire draft. Bill Belichick obviously didn't have a player he felt strongly about at 62, and this move keeps the team in the draft, which is something that might have had more value to Belichick than any single prospect.

Another possibility is that Belichick has 2-4 players targeted that he envisions a role for on the club, but the team didn't have a second-round grade on either of them.

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. -- The Patriots have traded the 62nd overall pick to the Packers for the 90th (third round) and 163rd (fifth round) overall selections.

The Patriots came into Friday night with two second round selections, and no picks after that. This trade gives the Patriots two more picks spread out over the mid-rounds of the draft.

Draft board reset:
Round 1 - Pick 21 - DE Chandler Jones
Round 1 - Pick 25 - LB Dont'a Hightower
Round 2 - Pick 48 - DB Tavon Wilson
Round 3 - Pick 90
Round 5 - Pick 163

Bill Belichick went off the draft radar with the selection of Illinois defensive back Tavon Wilson in the second round (48th overall).

This brings back memories of the team's selection of offensive tackle Sebastian Vollmer in the 2009 second round, as Vollmer was also off the radar. Like Vollmer, who was a 2010 second-team All-Pro, Wilson did not get an invite to the Combine.

The 6-foot, 203-pound Wilson could be viewed as a corner or safety based on his versatility. If he is viewed through the lens of the safety position, he represents the third safety selected in this year's draft. Word among analysts entering the draft was that after top options Mark Barron and Harrison Smith at safety, there was a big drop-off.

The scouting report on Wilson, who ESPN's Scouts Inc. did not project to be drafted, is that he's durable and versatile (safety and cornerback) and has a background on special teams. Those are characteristics that are sure to appeal to the Patriots.

At Illinois, Wilson replaced cornerback Vontae Davis when Davis was selected in the first round of the 2009 draft.

Media analysts are likely to call this pick a reach. It's a pick that reflects how the Patriots don't view things through the same lens as media analysts.

At this point, Wilson could factor in the cornerback or safety mix, so it would be dangerous to read too much into what his presence could mean for those already on the roster.

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. -- The Patriots selected Illinois safety/cornerback Tavon Wilson with the 48th overall pick in the 2012 NFL Draft.

According to ESPN Insider, Wilson was the 24th-ranked safety in this year's draft class. At 6-feet, 203 pounds, Wilson split time at Illinois between cornerback and safety.

In 2011, Wilson was an honorable mention All-Big Ten selection, starting all 13 games -- 12 at cornerback and one at strong safety, according to Illinois' sports information department. He finished third on the team with 81 tackles (6.5 for a loss), as well as one interception, one sack, one forced fumble, and six passes defensed.

As a junior in 2010, Wilson had 48 tackles in 13 games (all starts at strong safety), defending eight passes and recording one interception. Wilson started 12 games at cornerback in 2009, making 74 tackles (3.5 for a loss), notching one interception and seven passes defensed.

Wilson is a native of Washington, D.C. He was Illinois' honoree for the Big Ten's sportsmanship award in 2010, and was a team captain in 2011.

A 2009 article from The Register-Mail (Galesburg, Ill.) detailed Wilson's upbringing by his grandmother, after both of his parents died before Wilson was 12 years old.

Patriots first-rounders Chandler Jones and Dont'a Hightower were at Gillette on Friday evening with Robert Kraft and Jonathan Kraft for their photo op.

The duo also held separate news conferences with reporters. We'll pass along their comments soon.

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. -- The Patriots own a pair of second-day draft picks, No. 48 and No. 62 overall, and will look to continue to fill in roster holes after making a splash in round one.

The selections, which are both in the second round, are the Patriots’ final two picks of the draft as it currently stands. Although with Bill Belichick leading the draft control room, it’s possible that New England is poised to move back in order to accumulate extra selections, a tactic the head coach has notoriously employed in previous years.

New England targeted defense in round one, trading up on two occasions to select Chandler Jones, an athletic defensive end from Syracuse, and later Dont’a Hightower, a burly linebacker out of Alabama.

We highlighted a couple of players that the Patriots may be interested in round two in our mock projection released Friday morning, and let’s continue to focus of potential picks at areas of need.

CORNERBACK
The Patriots allowed the second-most passing yards in NFL history during the 2011 season, and the team often turned to wide receiver Julian Edelman to player in the slot as a cornerback. The team is counting on the healthy return of 2011 second-round pick Ras-I Dowling to the lineup, and also added veteran Will Allen during free agency, but may still further address the cornerback position.

Trumaine Johnson, Montana: Johnson has excellent size for the position (6’2”, 204 pounds), and was a standout at the Division I-AA level. He may see his name called early in round two.

Janoris Jenkins, North Alabama: Jenkins was dismissed from Florida and wound up at North Alabama for the 2011 season. His talents are unquestioned, but his off-field baggage shied teams away from picking him in round one.

Brandon Boykin, Georgia: This nifty slot corner did it all in college, including scoring a touchdown on offense, defense and special teams as a Bulldog. He could provide value as both a slot cornerback and potential punt returner.

Josh Robinson, Central Florida: No player ran faster at the Combine, but Robinson is more than just a workout warrior. He recorded 10 total interceptions during his three college seasons.

DEFENSIVE LINE
Adding Chandler Jones in the first round brings versatility to the edge of the Patriots' defensive front, but the team relied heavily on Vince Wilfork in 2011 as its interior anchor. Finding some beef to supplement Wilfork and fellow starter Kyle Love would go a long way in New England.

Jerel Worthy, Michigan State: Once viewed as a sure-fire first round pick, Worthy slipped into round two and should be a target of several teams looking to improve their run defense.

Devon Still, Penn State: Like Worthy, Still heard his name as a possibility in the first round during the mock draft season. The 2011 Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year has very good size (6’5”, 303 pounds).

Kendall Reyes, Connecticut: A local product from the state of New Hampshire, Reyes was a captain during his time at Connecticut. Some believe he is more of a one-gap player than a two-gapper, so he may not be a perfect fit in New England.

Brandon Thompson, Clemson: Thomspon impressed at the Combine by putting up 34 reps on the 225-pound bench press, and is considered capable of contributing both as a run-stuffer and pass rusher from the inside.

SAFETY
As mentioned previously, the Patriots struggled mightily versus the pass in 2011. Injuries played a part with the safeties, as top performer Patrick Chung was limited to just eight games, and the second round offers players who can add both depth and value.

George Iloka, Boise State: This imposing safety (6’4, 225 pounds) didn’t record any interceptions during his senior season, but he still appears capable of making big plays at the next level.

Antonio Allen, South Carolina: This tackling-machine had four games during 2011 with 10+ tackles, including a 17-tackle effort in the season opener against East Carolina.

Brandon Taylor, LSU: Taylor didn’t attract the same attention that his college secondary teammates Morris Claiborne and Tyrann Mathieu did, but he was a productive member of arguably the best defense in college football in 2011.

WIDE RECEIVERS
Although the Patriots currently have 10 wide receivers on the roster, the team still may look to find more competition heading into training camp. Most of the veteran receivers on the roster likely wont be counted on to contribute on special teams, so Belichick may chase a youngster who can help cover and tackle on the core units (punt, punt return, kickoff, kickoff return).

Stephen Hill, Georgia Tech: This physical specimen, who some believe could become the best receiver from this draft, may not last long on day two, as the Rams at the top of the round would make sense as a landing spot.

Rueben Randle, LSU: Randle has tremendous size (6’4”, 208 pounds) and was productive during his final season in college, totaling 917 yards on 53 receptions. He too is a player that may not last long in the second round.

Alshon Jeffrey, South Carolina: Production has never been a problem for Jeffrey, but questions about his ability to control his weight hurt his draft stock.

Mohamed Sanu, Rutgers: He broke Larry Fitzgerald’s Big East record for most receptions in a single-season in 2011 with 115, and his size and soft hands make him an intriguing pro prospect. He ran a 4.65 forty at the NFL Combine, however, which appears to have caused his stock to slip.

The Patriots have two second-round picks tonight (Nos. 48 and 62 overall), but those are their only two remaining picks in the entire draft. The team is without selection in Rounds 3-6. ESPNBoston.com's Mike Reiss explains what he expects the team to do with the picks in the video above:

"You figure they might make one of them and then trey to parlay the other one into a chip either later in this draft, a couple chips later in this draft, or maybe even something into next year's draft," says Reiss, who does not anticipate the team trading a future pick for a selection in this year's draft.

"Clearly this is a draft unlike any other we've seen in terms of volume. You'd have to go back to 2002, when Belichick took just six players, for the lightest draft."

In his second-round mock posted earlier today, Reiss predicted the Patriots would select Georgia cornerback Brandon Boykin and Clemson defensive lineman Brandon Thompson with their second-rounders. He explains those picks in the video above.

The second round of the draft starts at 7 p.m. Keep it here all night for full coverage.

Reporter Mike Reiss was a guest on ESPNBoston Radio with Adam Jones on Friday, and the interview can be heard here.

1. What made this year different for the Patriots to trade up.

2. Chandler Jones and why he was available at No. 21.

3. How fast to expect contributions from Chandler Jones and Dont'a Hightower.

4. Where Hightower might fit in the defense.

5. What to expect from the Patriots in the second round.

6. Devin McCourty and where he might fit in the defense in 2012.

7. Sharing thoughts on the AFC East teams in the draft.

Friday's ESPNBoston.com Patriots chat focused on the team's aggressive moves in the first round, and what the team might do from here. The chat can be recapped here and included some of the following topics:

1. Projecting how Dont'a Hightower will fit in the team's defense and which players it could affect the most.

2. How the combination of performance, physical makeup and people involved made this the right year to trade up.

3. Projecting what Belichick might do with his second-round picks.

4. Would cornerback Janoris Jenkins be a consideration?

5. Overall thoughts on the first round -- great fun.

Gathering up some reaction on the Patriots' draft from around the country:

1. Pass-rushing boost lauded. SI.com's Peter King liked the Patriots' approach, writing: "I think the Patriots, moving up twice and making both picks in the round (shock!), did what I thought they should have done last year -- take pass-rushing difference-makers in Chandler Jones and Dont'a Hightower. I've said for the past year I thought New England should have taken either Jabaal Sheard or Brooks Reed last year. Bill Belichick made up for it Thursday night."

2. Early grades are in. Pete Prisco of CBSSports.com gives out early grades and Chandler Jones gets an A-plus, while Dont'a Hightower only a C.

3. Big night for Patriots. Clark Judge of CBSSports.com likes what the Patriots did in terms of focusing on defense. "Big, big evening for New England and Bill Belichick. The Patriots couldn't stop the Giants on their last drives in Super Bowl XLII and XLVI, so they resolved to do something about it, and they did with the additions of defensive end Chandler Jones and linebacker Dont'a Hightower. Jones would've been a higher pick had he not missed the last five games with a knee injury, and he's a perfect fit for a team that lost its top two pass rushers, Andre Carter and Mark Anderson."

4. Czar likes it too. John Czarnecki of Foxsports.com likes the two trade-ups. "If Hightower and Jones, the earlier pick, are as good as advertised, the Patriots had a very good opening night," he writes.

5. Count Patriots among winners. Chad Reuter of NFL Network puts the Patriots in his "winners" category. "Both can stay on the field no matter what formation the coaching staff calls up, harassing the quarterback and also playing the run very well," he writes, before noting that the second round could include a trade down. NFL Network analyst Mike Mayock also calls the Patriots a winner (link here).

6. Shift in strategy for Patriots. Dan Wetzel of Yahoo! Sports highlights how the Patriots ran a reverse from the way they normally work the draft.

7. Patriots wheeling and dealing. The Associated Press keeps it straight-forward, focusing on the team's trades and how addressing the defense was the priority.

So much to talk about when it comes to the Patriots and the draft -- looking back at round 1, looking ahead to round 2 -- so let's set up a chat today on ESPNBoston.com. The scheduled kickoff is at noon ET and questions can be asked in advance.

Projecting how the second-round might unfold Friday night:

33. St. Louis Rams: TE Coby Fleener (Stanford)
Quick hit: The idea is to make life easier on QB Sam Bradford with the draft's top-rated player at his position. The Colts might be willing to give something up to move into this spot.
First-round pick: DL Michael Brockers (14th)

34. Indianapolis Colts: OG Amini Silatolu (Midwestern State)
Quick hit: Get the franchise QB in the first round, then address protecting him.
First-round pick: QB Andrew Luck (1st)

35. Baltimore Ravens (via Minnesota): OLB Andre Branch (Clemson)
Quick Hit: Lost Jarret Johnson in free agency and could use some reinforcements; might have moved back here after Patriots traded up for Dont'a Hightower.
First-round pick: None. Traded out with Minnesota

36. Denver Broncos (via Tampa Bay): DL Jerel Worthy (Michigan State)
Quick Hit: Time to start beefing up the defensive front, and landing a player with first-round value in the second.
First-round pick: None. Traded out with Patriots, then Buccaneers

37. Cleveland Browns: OT Bobby Massie (Mississippi)
Quick Hit: Shoring up the right side of the line will help as this has been an offensive-minded draft for them.
First-round pick: RB Trent Richardson (3rd), QB Brandon Weeden (22nd)

38. Jacksonville Jaguars: DE Vinny Curry (Marshall)
Quick Hit: They seem to like taking smaller-school prospects and have a need opposite Jeremy Mincey.
First-round pick: WR Justin Blackmon (5th)

39. St. Louis Rams (via Washington): WR Rueben Randle (LSU)
Quick Hit: Jeff Fisher got his defensive linemen to build around in the first round; now focuses on another offensive weapon in the second round.

40. Carolina Panthers: WR Stephen Hill (Georgia Tech)
Quick hit: Explosive possibilities with Cam Newton throwing the ball, receiver Steve Smith on one side, and Hill on the other.
First-round pick: LB Luke Kuechly (9th)

41. Buffalo Bills: OT Jonathan Martin (Stanford)
Quick hit: Works out nicely for them to be able to address defense in first round, then come back with solid blocker in second
First-round pick: CB Stephon Gilmore (10th)

42. Miami Dolphins: OLB Courtney Upshaw (Alabama)
Quick hit: Slides into the second round and provides a tough pass-rusher opposite Cameron Wake.
First-round pick: QB Ryan Tannehill (8th)

43. Seattle Seahawks: LB Lavonte David (Nebraska)
Quick hit: Fast, instinctive linebacker fits well in Pete Carroll's scheme.
First-round pick: DE Bruce Irvin (15th)

44. Kansas City Chiefs: T/G Jeff Allen (Illinois)
Quick hit: Versatility fits well with Chiefs, who could use him at guard or tackle.
First round: DL Dontari Poe (11th)

45. St. Louis Rams (Via Dallas): CB Janoris Jenkins (North Alabama)
Quick Hit: Jeff Fisher hasn't been afraid to take risks before. If it works out, a Cortland Finnegan/Jenkins corner combo could dazzle.

46. Philadelphia Eagles: LB Ronnell Lewis (Oklahoma)
Quick hit: Athletic linebacker would provide a boost at a trouble spot in 2011.
First round: DL Fletcher Cox (12th)

47. New York Jets: WR Alshon Jeffrey (South Carolina)
Quick Hit: They could use another target and as they showed in the first round, they'll roll the dice.
First round: OLB Quinton Coples (16th)

48. New England Patriots (via Oakland): CB Brandon Boykin (Georgia)
Quick hit: Fills two needs with potential help in the slot and as an explosive returner
First round: DE Chandler Jones (21st); LB Dont'a Hightower (25th)

49. San Diego Chargers: OL Cordy Glenn (Georgia)
Quick hit: Big lineman should step in right away, whether it's at guard or tackle.
First round: OLB Melvin Ingram (18th)

50. Chicago Bears: WR Mohamed Sanu (Rutgers)
Quick Hit: Hoping he develops as a third option to complement newsly-acquired Brandon Marshall and Earl Bennett.
First round: DE Shea McClellin (19th)

51. Philadelphia Eagles (via Arizona): RB LaMichael James (Oregon)
Quick hit: After two defensive picks, offensive-minded Andy Reid adds another offensive weapon.

52. Tennessee Titans: C Peter Konz (Wisconsin)
Quick hit: Some projected him to go here in the first round; they've been aggressively looking at the position in free agency.
First round: WR Kendall Wright (20th)

53. Cincinnati Bengals: DL Derek Wolfe (Cincinnati)
Quick hit: Bengals stay close to home to add more depth after losing Jonathan Fanene (Patriots) and Frostee Rucker (Browns) in free agency.
First round: CB Dre Fitzpatrick (17th), G Kevin Zeitler (27th)

54. Detroit Lions: CB Josh Robinson (Central Florida)
Quick hit: Starting cornerback Eric Wright departed in free agency, but the other 21 starters are all back.
First round: OT Riley Reiff (23rd)

55. Atlanta Falcons: C Ben Jones (Georgia)
Quick hit: Center of the future can help at guard and be ready to slide over when Todd McClure retires.
First round: None. Traded to Browns in 2011 for WR Julio Jones.

56. Pittsburgh Steelers: RB Lamar Miller (Miami)
Quick hit: With Rashard Mendenhall sidelined, a speedy option to pair with bigger backs already on the roster.
First round: G David DeCastro (24th)

57. Denver Broncos: DL Devon Still (Penn State)
Quick hit: Doubling up along the line in the second round to build a nice foundation.

58. Houston Texans: OT Mitchell Schwartz (California)
Quick hit: Could be the answer at right tackle after Eric Winston was released.
First round: DE Whitney Mercilus (26th)

59. Green Bay Packers: CB Trumaine Johnson (Montana)
Quick hit: Has the length that Packers generally prefer at the position.
First round: DE Nick Perry (28th)

60. Baltimore Ravens: G Brandon Brooks (Miami-Ohio)
Quick hit: Big blocker could be part of the answer to replace Ben Grubbs, who departed in free agency.

61. San Francisco 49ers: DL Kendall Reyes (UConn)
Quick hit: Excellent value and fits well in this type of scheme, where two-gapping isn't a big priority.
First round: WR A.J. Jenkins (30th)

62. New England Patriots: DL Brandon Thompson (Clemson)
Quick hit: If they don't trade for more picks, the 6-foot-2, 314-pound run-stuffer could add some beef up front.

63. New York Giants: TE Dwayne Allen (Clemson)
Quick hit: Would be another need pick to address area ravaged by injuries.
First round: RB David Wilson (32nd)

In a story now posted on ESPNBoston.com, Mike Reiss writes on what was the most exciting Patriots first round in Bill Belichick's 13-year tenure running the football operation.

"Two trades up the board? Unprecedented," Reiss writes. "There is something refreshing about seeing Belichick, whose reputation is more about trading back and acquiring value, instead falling in love with two players and making the aggressive move up. He had made just two trades up in the first round over the past 12 years (2002, 2003). Quarterback Tom Brady isn't getting any younger, after all."

The focus on difference-makers is exactly what was needed, Reiss opines.

"Improving depth was a necessity, so that was nice, but Belichick knows the best place to find difference-makers at the most reasonable cost is the draft. So instead of quantity, which has been his modus operandi over the past three years when making 33 picks from 2009 to 2011, this turned out to be a quality-driven draft."

To read the piece, CLICK HERE.