Read more: Looking at the remaining draft

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Draft CoveragePatriots’ remaining draft capital is one of the most valuable in
the Read more: Looking at the remaining draft NFLNew Womens Joejuan Williams Jersey ,5commentsRead more: Looking at the remaining draft needs for the PatriotsEDTShareTweetShareSharePatriots’ remaining draft capital
is one of the most valuable in the NFLMark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY SportsEntering
the second day of the 2019 NFL draft, no team holds more than eleven picks. The
one team to own this much capital? That would be the reigning world champions.
After drafting N’Keal Harry with the 32nd overall selection yesterday, the New
England Patriots still hold a league-high eleven picks — five of which coming up
later today: the Patriots own two second-rounders (#56 and #64) and three
third-round picks (#73, #97, #101).Of course, volume and value are not the same
when it comes to draft picks. Enter the value chart system which assigns a
number to each available draft choice based on its overall worth as an asset.
Here at Pats Pulpit, we usually work with the one created and maintained by Rich
Hill — but his is not the only one out there used to assess how much capital a
team really owns heading into the different draft rounds.No matter on what basis
the remaining six rounds of 2019’s player selection meeting get analyzed,
though, one thing stands out: the Patriots and their eleven picks are generally
near the top of the list when it comes to total value. A look at the chart
comparison compiled by René Bugner shows that New England either comes in as the
team with the second or the third most valuable capital left:J.J. = Jimmy
Johnson; C.S. = Chris Chase; R.H. = Rich Hill; J.F. = Jason FitzgeraldGraphic by
René BugnerAs can be seen, there are only slight differences between the four
charts when it comes to values and rankings — the Baltimore Ravens being one
noticeable outlier. One conclusion that can therefore be drawn from the graphic
above is that the Patriots are in a prime position to manipulate the board to
their liking over the next two days, and especially considering the picks they
hold heading into Friday’s event.What put them in this position was not only
some smart trades made last year — the 56th and 73rd selections were picked up
via 2018 draft day trades with the Chicago Bears and Detroit Lions, respectively
— but also the NFL’s compensatory draft picks formula. As a result of losing
some high-priced players in free agency last year, New England was awarded the
maximum four additional picks. Two of them come at the end of the third
round.With compensatory selections being tradable since the 2017 draft, the
extra selections have received added value. The ever savvy Patriots have been
taking advantage of this, and 2019 is no exception. Their two third-rounders are
a big reason for the valuable draft picks portfolio they still own at this
point Authentic Joejuan Williams Jersey , and the flexibility it gives them. Sorry, Yogi. Maybe it is over before it’s over.Just look at most of the NFL division
races.The NFC West will be over if Seattle loses at Carolina on Sunday. The AFC
West looks done in favor of Kansas City.Both South divisions are runaways for
the Saints in the NFC, the Texans — yes, the formerly 0-3 Texans — in the
AFC.Pittsburgh appears to be more in a race for the top overall AFC seed than
any challenge in the North. Chicago has a choke hold on the NFC North.And did
anyone think New England would be challenged in the AFC East? Combine the three
other rosters in that sector and the resulting team might not challenge Tom
Brady and the Patriots.That leaves one division in serious doubt, and with some
serious turmoil: the NFC East.You’ll never hear a coach or general manager or
owner claim anything is in the bag until, well, it’s in the bag, tied up and
secured in a safe place. So don’t ask Sean Payton or Sean McVay or Matt Nagy
about playoff byes and home-field advantages.“For us, there’s so many different
things we can get better at,” McVay says, “and that’s the exciting thing about
it is with football, there’s this never-ending goal of continuing to improve and
focus on the little things. Whether that’s situational football, whether that’s
taking care of it or taking it away defensively. So, there’s a lot of things
within the framework of every single situation.“Then, it’s going to be about
continuing to improve and playing team football. If we do that Joejuan Williams Jersey Boys , then we think good things are going to happen, but it’s going to be a tough stretch. We’ve got some great games coming up. For us,
when we get back, the No. 1 focus will be on the Detroit Lions and then we’ll go
from there.”But it’s crystal clear what’s going on, even before we reach
December.Barring major injuries — the kind of thing that is destroying the
season for Philadelphia and Atlanta and Cincinnati — here’s what is going
on:AFCThe most interesting race is for which teams will wind up with a week off
in the postseason. Kansas City (9-2) has the inside position, followed by
Pittsburgh (7-2-1), New England and Houston, both 7-3. Sure, the Chargers (7-3)
could sneak through in the West, and the Colts or Titans in the South. Does
anyone really believe that will happen?Home field is a huge edge for the
Patriots, of course. They almost never lose at Foxborough in January.Oddly, the
Chiefs rarely win in KC in the postseason. They have lost their last six and
haven’t been victorious at Arrowhead in the playoffs since 1993, when Joe
Montana was their quarterback.The Steelers aren’t particularly dominant at Heinz
Field in the playoffs, either, but Houston is 3-1 at home in January.The
Chargers have a nice cushion for a wild card and do have a Thursday nighter at
KC remaining. No other team has a winning record in the conference.Pittsburgh
has the least enviable remaining schedule Youth Irving Fryar Jerseys , with home games with the Chargers and Patriots, and a visit to New Orleans. New England’s only other likely test is against
up-and-down Minnesota at Gillette Stadium.Kansas City has that home game with
the Chargers and a trip to Seattle as its most challenging contests, while
Houston has no one remaining that has a winning record and has won seven in a
row.Look for the Chiefs and Patriots to lock up byes, with the Chargers and — a
wild stab — the Colts grabbing wild cards.NFCChicago’s victory on Thanksgiving
Day with backup quarterback Chase Daniel said a lot about the Bears (8-3). They
are as opportunistic as anyone, and their defense is the best of any contender.
They do get the Rams (10-1) on Dec. 9, but at Soldier Field, and still have
matchups with the Packers and Vikings — neither of whom is balanced enough to
put together a closing streak.With that defense, Chicago usually should be
capable of winning anywhere, except that’s not how NFL 2018 is built. Playing at
the offensive machines from New Orleans (10-1) or Los Angeles would prove hugely
difficult. The Saints own a victory over the Rams, which could be decisive in
the race for top seed and, eventually, a spot in the Super Bowl. Still, New
Orleans has trips to Dallas and Carolina, home games with the Steelers and
Panthers, perhaps the most-testing schedule remaining.The Rams Irving Fryar Jerseys Stitched , meanwhile, face only one opponent currently with a winning mark (Chicago) the rest of the way. Dallas (6-5) unquestionably has the
inside track in the East, especially owning wins over Washington (6-5), which
has lost QB Alex Smith, and struggling Philadelphia (4-7). That might be the
only division race in doubt come late December. Don’t count on it being
undecided.Of prime interest, though, will be the chase for the wild card. Plenty
of big matchups remain, beginning Sunday with Seattle at Carolina, which also
has those two games left against New Orleans.Green Bay has an easier remaining
schedule than Minnesota, and Seattle, like Carolina, has a tough road.Look for
the Rams and Saints to earn byes, with Carolina getting a wild card in the NFC.
The other? Ask us around Christmas.