Ozzie Newsome couldn't foresee that the Patriots would change the way they value draft slots as a result of the change in the rookie wage scale? Amazing if true, but I have trouble buying that argument.
Is the rookie wage scale a big factor in the 20s where the Pats are picking?
2010 21st pick: Jermaine Gresham, five-year, $15.85 million deal - with $9.6 million guaranteed
2010 27th pick: Devin McCourty, five-year, $13.2 million with $7.825 million guaranteed
2010 25th pick: Tim Tebow, five-year contract $11.25 million (up to $33 million in incentives), $8.7 million guaranteed.
2010 31st pick: Jerry Hughes, five-years, $12.6 million, $7 million guaranteed
2011 21st pick: Phil Taylor, four years, $8.1 million (~$6.5 million guaranteed)
2011 27th pick: Jimmy Smith, four years, $7.46 million (~$6 MM guaranteed)
2011 25th pick: James Carpenter, four years, $7.46 million (~6 MM guaranteed)
2011 31st pick: Cameron Heyward, four years, $6.7 MM (~5.5 MM guaranteed)
I don't know. Maybe the rookie scale played in, but I don't think the differences in contracts between the slots were large enough to dissuade the Pats if they really wanted somebody.