Patriots Take Maroney, Jackson Thomas on Day 1 of NFL Draft (4/29/06)

The 2006 NFL Draft kicked off with the Houston Texans taking North Carolina State defensive end Mario Williams who set the school record for sacks while he was with the Wolfpack. The New Orleans Saints took current Heisman Trophy winning running back Reggie Bush out of USC. The Tennessee Titans took Texas quarterback Vince Young third overall and the Green Bay Packers took Ohio State linebacker AJ Hawk fifth overall. The New England Patriots shocked the world when they took Minnesota running back Laurence Maroney 21st overall. Maroney was part of the two headed rushing attack with the Gophers with current Dallas Cowboys running back Marion Barber. He rushed for over 1,000 yards three years in a row and earned All-Big 10 honors his junior & senior seasons. Corey Dillon had a down season in 2005 and Maroney could definitely pull off the two headed monster attack with him like he did with Barber. The curious part was he was taken over Memphis star runner DeAngelo Williams (drafted by Carolina) and LSU runner Joseph Addai (taken by Indianapolis). Even though injuries derailed the Patriots last year, getting younger at the running back spot is definitely a good move to make....if they picked the right guy.

                                                    21st overall - Laurence Maroney

The Patriots then made a bold move when they traded their second and third round picks to the Green Bay Packers to move up in the draft to take Florida wide receiver Chad Jackson 36th overall. Jackson thrived under Gators coach Urban Meyer in 2005, leading the SEC in receptions and Florida to a 9-3 record with a victory over Iowa in the Outback Bowl. Jackson was first team All-ACC with 88 catches for 900 yards and 9 touchdowns. He declared for the draft after his junior year and the Patriots moved up to get him. Belichick is convinced he's a stud and they needed to replace David Givens who shuffled off to Tennessee. Having him and Deion Branch might be the tonic Tom Brady needs to lead the team back to the Superbowl...if it all works out.

                                                   36th overall - Chad Jackson

With the pick traded to them by the Patriots, the Packers took wide receiver Greg Jennings out of Western Michigan 52nd overall. With the 3rd round pick they got from the Patriots, the Packers took Louisville center Jason Spitz 75th overall. With their own third round pick, the Patriots selected Texas Longhorns tight end David Thomas. Thomas was an integral part of the Longhorns offense under quarterback Vince Young and their national championship victory over USC. He was a two time All-Big 12 and caught 10 passes for 88 yards in the national title game. The departure of Christian Fauria necessitated another tight end and this seems like a great choice. If he could thrive under Vince Young, now he's got Tom Brady to work with. 

                                                       86th overall - David Thomas

Just like that the Patriots shored up offensive positions with a tight end, running back and receiver. Their defense was as good as anyone but the injuries and reliance on role players finally came back to haunt the Patriots against the Broncos in the AFC Divisional Round. Loading up with younger, faster talent should make the Patriots contenders again this coming season....in theory anyway.