FanHouse Chad Jackson

Who moved to the head of the NFL class during the draft? Find out with FanHouse's team-by-team 2009 Draft Grades.

No team enjoys wheeling and dealing on draft weekend quite like the New England Patriots. The 2009 draft was no exception, as they made a series of moves resulting in 12 picks, and the stockpiling of even more selections in 2010.

As a result, the moves left the Patriots with no first-round selection for the first time since 2000, which is also the same year they selected some guy named Tom Brady.

After a drama-filled Day 1 of the NFL combine -- thanks entirely to Andre Smith magically disappearing -- Sunday has been more about the important on-field stuff: a bunch of guys in tights running 40 yards at a pop. Because, as even casual fans know, the correlation between straight-line speed and NFL success is off the charts.

Of course, that doesn't keep teams from falling in love with players who bust out sub-4.4 40s. Last year, Chris Johnson ran an impossibly fast 4.24 at the combine and parlayed that into a first-round pick courtesy of the Titans. This morning, wide receivers Darrius Heyward-Bey (Maryland) and Percy Harvin (Florida) turned in times of 4.32 and 4.37, respectively.

In recent years, the Giants have good success with finding competent pass catchers to surround Eli Manning. Off-field baggage aside, Jeremy Shockey was among the league's best tight ends, and Plaxico Burress quickly became a favorite target when he arrived in 2005. And there's Amani Toomer and most recently, 2007 second-rounderSteve Smith.

One player who has had yet to fulfill the promise the Giants envisioned when they drafted him in '06 is Sinorice Moss. The former University of Miami star has had an uneven NFL career, and his biggest professional accomplishment to date is that his brother happens to be Santana.

Despite his struggles, Moss is hopeful:

"I mean, honestly, I don't know what to think about [being the only active player not to play against the Rams]," Moss told the Daily News Friday. "I'm going to keep working and stay positive, like I've been since Day 1. And when that times come, just be a humble person and go out there and shine." ...

"I haven't spoken to anyone about being traded," Moss said. "That's not even on my mind. My mind is to do what I have to do for the team, and when I get my opportunities, make some plays. I would love to be here. This is where I want to be."

The Miami Dolphins have worked out former Florida Gator Chad Jackson and may offer him a contract.

Jackson was recently cut by the New England Patriots after he caught just 13 passes in 14 games in 2006 ... and didn't catch a pass in an injury-plagued 2007. No one picked him up off of waivers due to him being in the middle of a four year deal. Now, with no contract glued to him, Miami is interested.

And well they should be. Miami isn't very deep at receiver right now. Ted Ginn, a second year player, is their main guy. After that is ... uh ... hmmm ... oh, Greg Camarillo! Oh ... and Devone Bess! Did I mention Ernest Wilford? How could I forget Derek Hagan?

The point is that there is no risk bringing Jackson in for a look-see. He's a big, speedy receiver who had a decent preseason. He's familiar with the AFC East and would have a good chance to pick up some playing time.

Three seasons ago, everyone knew the Steelers desperately needed a wide receiver in the draft. It was a glaring enough need that everyone assumed the Steelers would take a wideout in the first round, which meant the Steelers were linked to three names: Santonio Holmes, Chad Jackson and Sinorce Moss.

With Antwaan Randle El leaving in free agency, it was hard to find a mock draft that didn't have the Steelers taking one of the three. And several suggested the Steelers would trade up to get Jackson.

Good job by the Steelers to pick the right guy.

Three years later, Holmes appears ready to challenge for a spot in the Pro Bowl this year. The other two potential Steelers picks rank as big-time busts. Jackson has just been released by the Patriots and Moss just barely made the Giants roster--he was considered in danger of being cut this week.

Holmes was considered the surest bet, based on his extremely productive career at Ohio State. Jackson was considered the riskier pick with the highest upside--as he put on a show at the scouting combine, and Moss was considered a useful wideout/returner, although his size meant he may be more of a slot receiver.

It's an old story by now: two years ago, then-Florida wide receiver Chad Jackson had a jaw-dropping NFL combine. He busted out a 4.3-something 40, smoothly ran routes and snagged passes, and he subsequently saw his stock go through the roof.

In the days and weeks leading up to the draft, he, along with Santonio Holmes, were the two highest-rated wideouts and thought to be first-round picks. As it turned out, only Holmes went in Round 1, but the Patriots traded up in the second round to grab Jackson, who was supposed to replace Deion Branch.

Didn't come close to working out that way; he caught just 13 passes for 152 yards his rookie season, and played in just two games last season without registering a reception. There was speculation that this could be Jackson's make-or-break year, and according to the Boston Globe's Mike Reiss, the verdict's in: break.

A few days before training camp began, Patriots 2006 second-round pick, wide receiver Chad Jackson, told the Boston Globe that this was the season he was going to put it all together.

Injuries and inconsistency conspired against him, and in two forgettable years, he only managed 13 receptions and was active in just 14 games. As I wrote at the time, "Jackson's career has been mostly a disappointing, but the Patriots will probably settle for something less than what Jennings or Holmes have done and something more than what they've seen from him during his first two seasons."

Well, New England was probably hoping for a little more than they saw from Jackson during last night's preseason game against the Ravens.

The third-year player, who hopes to compete for the Patriots' No. 3 receiver job, had just one reception for 0 yards. He dropped another pass after getting slammed by linebacker Jarret Johnson, and was involved in a public dispute with Matt Cassel after the quarterback's pass was intercepted by Fabian Washington in the first quarter.

Other than that, he conjured memories of Randy Moss. It's important to remember that it is the preseason, so maybe we shouldn't put too much stock in his performance. On the other hand, for a guy trying to make the team, such efforts are a much bigger deal than, say, Tom Brady, who can skip out on practice to attend a Coldplay concert and no one bats an eye.

Jackson hasn't quite reached that comfort level with Bill Belichick yet.

The Patriots drafted wide receiver Bethel Johnson in the second round of the 2003 draft. Three years later, he had 39 career receptions and was looking for work. Johnson landed in Minnesota for the 2006 season, but is now out of the league.

That same year, the Patriots again used a second-round pick on a wideout, this time Chad Jackson. Jackson was drafted to replace Deion Branch, and to date, his career has been beset by injuries and inconsistencies. He has just 13 receptions in two seasons, but he's only been active for 14 games over that time. And just like Johnson, Year 3 will determine whether he has a future in New England or elsewhere.

Jackson has followed the career of the wide receiver drafted with the pick the Patriots traded (No. 52 overall) - along with a third-rounder - to get Jackson. That player is the Green Bay Packers' Greg Jennings, who last season had 53 receptions for 920 yards and 12 touchdowns, which tied for second in the NFC behind the Dallas Cowboys' Terrell Owens (15).

"Guys like Jennings, Santonio Holmes [of the Pittsburgh Steelers] was in my class and a couple of other guys. I feel like I can do the same thing," said Jackson. "That's why I got drafted as high as I did. Now I have to take advantage of the opportunity to show what I can really do."

Much has been made of the brain power possessed by Bill Belichick and Scott Pioli, primarily because of their deft personnel maneuverings. For the most part, it's warranted. (Although I think we can all agree that landing Tom Brady had everything to do with luck and absolutely nothing to do with being the smartest dudes on the planet.)

But at the Boston Globe's Mike Reiss writes, there have been mistakes. The decision to trade up in the second round of the 2006 draft to select Chad Jackson is one of the Patriots' few strategery missteps. Jackson could eventually work out, but so far he's been a wash.

Compounding matters, New England traded up from 52nd to 36th to take him; they sent their second- and third-rounder to Green Bay for that right, and the Packers ended up with wide receiver Greg Jennings and guard Jason Spitz.

Jennings started 11 games as a rookie, hauling in 45 receptions for 632 yards and three touchdowns; last season, he started 13 games, had 53 receptions for 920 yards, and 12 TDs. By comparison, Jackson had one start in 06, and missed all of last season with a knee injury. As for Spitz, he's in line for the right guard job after starting 25 games the previous two seasons.

The point: despite all the scouting and statistical analysis and Magic 8-Balls, the NFL draft is still more art than science. Even when you have Killface calling the shots.

This was all a consequence of the Patriots underestimating Deion Branch's willingness to hold out after David Givens signed a too-rich-for-their blood contract with the Titans during the 2006 offseason.

In April of '06, New England traded up in the second round to take Chad Jackson, the second receiver drafted behind Santonio Holmes. Their proximity on the draft board is where the similarities end for these two players. Holmes has emerged as one of the best young wideouts in the league, and Jackson has split time rehabbing various ailments and watching games from the sidelines in his civvies.

Some of that has to do with adding Randy Moss, Wes Welker and Donte' Stallworth a season ago, but for Jackson, Year 3 could be make or break.

"It's an important year for me. This is what they drafted me for," Jackson said yesterday following the second day of passing camp. "I'm going to go out there, show the coaches what I can do, and show the fans what I can do. I'm going to help this team any way I can.

"How can you not (look at it as an opportunity). Donte's gone. There's a big spot open, like everyone's saying. Hopefully I can work hard, learn my playbook, and do what I need to do to get that spot."