Draft

To say I was weak on my defensive line research is nothing compared to my running back scoping.

At the moment my personal opinion is that the Patriots don’t need to think about running backs this year. 

I appreciate there are many of you out there who are running back enthusiasts, and I applaud you! I applaud any player position enthusiast to be honest. 

And so to that end, I took a little time to go back and assess some of the combine info, and read the scuttlebutt on running backs for 2022. 

During my research, I came across a possibly sleeper guy who could be a great Rex Burkehead replacement, and that is Wan’Dale Robinson out of Kentucky. He is noted in the draft and combine information as a wide receiver but previously at Nebraska, Robinson played as a running back. This kid could be a great Swiss Army Knife, and whilst the market for wide receiver can be hot and crazy, he is a projected fourth round guy, and look at how hot the market is for Deebo Samuel right now, a wide receiver who can carry the ball out of the back field. 

Now, whilst I am not claiming in any way that Robinson is on the same level as Samuel, he is one of those players that when on the field, defenses may be uncertain as to why, and we all know that Bill likes some versatility in his ranks. 

So perhaps running back is a low priority in my fan opinion but with the draft you never really know what anyone is going to do!

With the recent signing of DeVante Parker, the feel in the air is that the Patriots might not be on course for that top round wide receiver. 

I know how that will upset many of you John Metchie fans, but there could be a back-up plan. 

The Patriots still don’t have that typical slot receiver, known to some as the Julian Edelman, although it could be argued that Parker is a bit of a Swiss Army Knife when it comes to his skill set. 

Out of Western Michigan is Skyy Moore. A 5’10” kid who has said to have moulded himself on the mighty squirrel JE11. 

Now, I know some may not approve, but when a guy says he models himself on Edelman, it’s difficult not to pay attention to him. 

Wide receivers have been going at hefty price tags this free agency and unsurprising the draft class has been possibly affected as a reflection with Moore being projected as a later round guy initially, is now being talked about as a first rounder. 

This may not work out great for the Patriots with plenty of need going into this year’s draft, and that 21 spot kinda, sorta wanting to be filled with a top cornerback or linebacker, depending upon which side of the fence you fall. 

He has great movement skills and no issue getting off the line. He is short, but at 195 pounds, he’s not exactly small! One of the downsides is that he is said to have performed well, but against lower level opponents. 

No clairvoyancey here, but Moore has some definite pluses for this Patriots team who could do with a slot receiver. Should he go at 21? Will he? That’s another bag of tricks entirely, and I am not for a moment saying the Patriots should use their first round pick on him. 

My goal here was to shine a light on a guy who I think might be a good Patriot. Just my two cents, especially because it feels that at the moment the Patriots have so many holes to fill. Could a top wide receiver really be what they need at 21? Many say yes, and they would be well within their rights to. I’m not so sure myself if I’m more on the cornerback or offensive lineman bandwagon, but it really depends upon who falls when the Patriots are sitting there, waiting to make that 21st pick. 

Keep an eye on Pats Propaganda as I scope out a couple more Patriots possible prospects for this 2022 draft. 

The linebacker class this year is filled with quality, and I think many of us are hoping the Patriots will tap into that resource. 

Studying the selection at the combine, one guy really caught my eye but with the way things are transpiring, it would seem less and less likely that the Patriots will get this kid. 

The significant need, it feels is mostly cornerback, and if the Patriots want the top CB, they probably have to use their 21st pick for one. 

However, if they see something they like in a later round cornerback, and do go younger and faster at linebacker in the first, Chad Muma the linebacker out of Wyoming is on my wish list. 

But that’s a name you probably all recognise by now. He was a tackling machine in college with serious range and explosiveness. 

So, if 21 is too rich, I understand and don’t disagree. It’s just tricky when you spot such a good player, and want him on the Patriots (as well as about ten others). But to that end I’ll leave you with another decent-looking linebacker who may not be that top round talent, but could be a good back up plan maybe. 

Malcolm Rodriguez is a smaller guy at just 5’11” but the key is he wrestles. This guy may be small, but he is powerful with a high football IQ, and we all know how Bill likes them smart… I mean I don’t blame him, looks aren’t everything you know… but I digress. 

He has short arms, and this is definitely something being used to downgrade him in this draft, but his balance is great with a low centre of gravity, and he’s powerful. 

If the Patriots look at addressing cornerback and offensive line earlier on in the draft, I will be on the edge of my seat, hoping they scoop this guy up as a later round linebacker, and I kinda hope you will too!

I know many of you may groan at the idea of the Patriots taking an offensive lineman, but a position of need is a position of need, regardless of how exciting it may be, and I kinda get excited about the O-line. It’s the protector of your most precious commodity, the quarterback. So I’m ready to make O-line sexy baby!

The trade away of possibly the top offensive lineman after Joe Thuney Shaq Mason, stunned many of us, well me anyway. The leaving of Karras stunned us less, but still upset and concerned li’l me. I personally saw the line as really decent, strong, especially if you get back a good healthy Trent Brown, which they have at the moment. But coach thought differently, and now the left side at tackle and guard looks a little sparse. 

Now, there is a guy who’s entered the roster that we haven’t seen yet in Drew Desjarlais, and I have heard some rather good things. A top guy in the CFL, released simply because he wanted to move into the NFL, Desjarlais is an unknown to most fans. Drafted 4th overall in the first round of the CFL 2019 draft by the Winnipeg Blue Bombers. He was named CFL Western All-Star during his second season. In 2021, he started all 14 games, playing left guard, and Winnipeg’s line allowed the fewest sacks in the league that year.

Now, there is plenty of talent in the draft class at cornerback, linebacker, wide receiver, some of the possibly more pressing needs of the Patriots, depending upon who you ask. To that end, I am looking for them to take skill position talent earlier on, but if they didn’t, there are some quality offense guys in this year’s draft. 

I thought I’d have a look at two levels. We have the early round, they’d have to use their top pick on, and then there’s a later round kid. 

If Bill looks at an early round O-line guy there’s a smorgasbord of talent to go in the first round, I think I have one favourite, I think…

There’s the huge 6 foot 7 inches of Trevor Penning out of Northern Iowa, an epic run blocker, but with a possible drop in skill when it comes to pass protection. PFF have him projected around 35, and whilst I am but a mere fan, I think this is possibly crazy, and can’t imagine this guy dropping into the second round. He is a certifiable beast. 

A serious athlete at the offensive tackle position going into the 2022 draft is Bernhard Raimann from Central Michigan. Austrian born this 6’6” kid commenced his football career as a tight end (additional brownie points for him!) but added weight, and progressed into an athletic tackle. He’s said to have a smaller arm length than preferred at this position, but I’m pretty sure his athleticism can make up for that as he can seriously move for a big guy. 

When you’re looking at the later rounds there may be a few names to have a look at even though you aren’t getting that top of the crop talent. 

Cam Jurgens of Nebraska is a top athlete, but with a few areas he needs to develop. Plays center predominantly, but with the leaps and bounds he took recently relocating him on the line could be considered. And let’s face it, the Patriots don’t have much in the way of back up center now that Steady Teddy Karras has gone. And with his lightening speed off the snap, Jurgens could be an interior offensive lineman the Patriots might get some benefit from. 

Another late round pick out of Chattanooga is the tackle Cole Strange. He has high-end explosiveness out of his stance, and gets on defenders quickly but a lean lower half. Projected in the third round, he could definitely be someone the Patriots would have a spot to pick him up. 

Fans call for sexy, and defense isn’t usually sexy, but they do say defense wins you championships, and who says championship winning isn’t sexy, huh?

Cornerbacks and linebackers are the defense that are on Patriots fans minds at the moment, and quite rightly, but we need a bit of further investing too, Christian Barmore needs some support!

Lawrence Guy is an epic football player but as we have touched upon recently some of the solid members of the Patriots are getting kinda older and slower. 

To that end, it maybe that Coach looks over the draft for a few line defenders. 

The Patriots seem to have a bit of a weakness when it comes to stopping the run but I have to admit the defensive line has definitely been a weakness of mine looking at the draft this year. It ranks low on my list of immediate needs. 

But even I couldn’t have missed the big run stuffer of Jordan Davis. Now to be fair, pick 21 is looking rather far-fetched after how his combine results came through, so unless there’s some craziness at the top, and Davis is still on the board when they reach 21, Patriots Nation probably need to think later for defensive line. 

Looking at a guy for the later rounds that has semblance to the Patriot’s own Guy (see what I did there) would be Phidarian Mathis out of Alabama. A great all-around skill set that makes him a plug and play option in the NFL. 

So that’s maybe the high and low(er) of the defensive line, with plenty in between.