You know how I wasn't going to bash Pitt for reaching, well, New England, you get no such courtesy. Weddle is not considered a first round talent by, basically, anyone. Plus, Utah played a very easy schedule and still sported the 78th ranked passing defense in D1 football. Very few safeties are considered first round talents, and serviceable options can be found throughout the draft. Tommasse preemptively responds to the idea that Weddle is a reach by pointing out that the Pats have no second round pick and that Weddle wouldn't reach them in the third. The problems with that argument, is A: So what? Picking a player super early because he's your guy is always bad draft strategy, and B: You have a second first round pick. That second point is the biggest factor in making this such a baffling pick. With an aging LB corps and a star CB who may refuse to play, New England is not without needs. If you feel you absolutely must have Weddle, your first pick should have been used on best available talent, while you attempted to trade down the second pick. No one was going to draft Weddle in the next three picks; New York, New Orleans and Philadelphia have no pressing needs at safety. If you couldn't find anyone to trade your pick at 28, then you can select Weddle. It's still a reach, but it's at least justifiable.