PatsPropaganda

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Draft Review – Who are the eight new Patriots?

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Picture – OU Athletics

We are only two days removed from an exciting draft, one that saw the Patriots select eight rookies to join their team ahead of the 2021 NFL season. Already the discussion has moved to training camp and what positional battles lay ahead, so, let’s have a quick dive into the new recruits!

QB Mac Jones | Round 1 (15)

After weeks, if not months, of speculation about what the Patriots would do on the first night of the draft, they ended up staying with their given pick at 15, and selecting Mac Jones out of Alabama.

Jones, who originally committed to the University of Kentucky, opted to instead enroll with Alabama and redshirted his first season in 2017. After Tua Tagovailoa got injured in 2018 and eventually declared for the 2020 Draft, Jones took over as the starter for the remainder of his collegiate career in Alabama.

I was intrigued by Jones heading into this year’s Draft, in his final college season, he set the NCAA record for pass accuracy (77.4%) and led the Crimson Tide to the CFB National Championship, you can’t teach winning.

In the days prior to the first round, Jones was considered the 49ers top pick at number three, but, as it turned out, they had other ideas as Trey Lance was selected after Trevor Lawrence and Zach Wilson. Jones’ fall didn’t last past 15 as the Patriots selected a first-round quarterback for the first time since taking Drew Bledsoe in 1993.

Observations:
Accurate – Set the NCAA record for passing accuracy last season, something which is a top priority for signal-callers in the NFL.

Winner – Regardless of the juggernaut team around him, Jones still had to do the business, and he did last year, leading Alabama to Nick Saban’s seventh National Championship.

Competitiveness – Highly competitive and spoke of how he always wants to win in whatever he does. Being competitive in a regime under Nick Saban should translate well to a Belichick regime here in New England.

DT Christian Barmore | Round 2 (38)

Another Crimson Tide alum, Barmore was acquired by the Patriots following a trade with the Bengals to move up in the second round.

[Read more…] about Draft Review – Who are the eight new Patriots?

Patriots add defensive support on night two of the Draft

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Gary Cosby-USA TODAY Sports

Night two didn’t bring any additions to the receiving group like many of us, including myself, may have hoped for. But, the Patriots managed to get consensus top defensive tackle in the entire draft, along with an intriguing edge rusher.

Pick 38 – DT Christian Barmore

A trade-up with the Bengals early on last night gave the Patriots the chance to land their second-straight Alabama prospect of the draft. Christian Barmore is a big, disruptive tackle who was at the top of his position in this years class.

Noel wrote about Barmore in his pre-draft DT primer – “Explosive, bully to blockers, finds the ball, quick, impressive production within the SEC. Needs to be better conditioned. Versatile. The best pass-rushing DT in the draft class. Can struggle in the run game.”

Table by CFB Sports-Reference

Eight sacks last season from the DT position in the SEC is impressive, questions will be about how he can support the run defense, something which the Patriots struggled with last season.

[Read more…] about Patriots add defensive support on night two of the Draft

Here’s what went down in round 1 of the 2021 NFL draft…

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(AP Photo/Steve Luciano)



And so there you have it folks. Round one complete. Records were not broken; four quarterbacks were not taken in the top four, but five were taken in the top 15. The positions were pretty spread out with the top 10 seeing three wide receivers and two cornerbacks selected.

If you missed the full breakdown, don’t worry, we’ve got you covered:

Pick 1 Jacksonville Jaguars – Trevor Lawrence QB Clemson

Pick 2 New York Jets – Zach Wilson QB BYU

Pick 3 San Francisco 49ers – Trey Lance QB North Dakota State

Pick 4 Atlanta Falcons – Kyle Pitts TE Florida

Pick 5 Cincinnati Bengals – Ja’Marr Chase WR LSU

Pick 6 Miami Dolphins – Jaylen Waddle WR Alabama

Pick 7 Detroit Lions – Penei Sewell OT Oregon

Pick 8 Carolina Panthers – Jaycee Horn CB South Carolina

Pick 9 Denver Broncos – Patrick Surtain II CB Alabama

Pick 10 Philadelphia Eagles (trade) – DeVonta Smith WR Alabama

Pick 11 Chicago Bears (trade) – Justin Fields QB Ohio State

Pick12 Dallas Cowboys (trade) – Micah Parsons LB Penn State

Pick 13 LA Chargers – Rashawn Slater OT Northwestern

Pick 14 New York Jets (trade) – Allijah Vera-Tucker OG USC

Pick 15 New England Patriots – Mac Jones QB Alabama

Pick 16 Arizona Cardinals – Zaven Collins LB Tulsa

Pick 17 Las Vegas Raiders – Alex Leatherwood OT Alabama

Pick 18 Miami Dolphins – Jaelan Phillips DE Miami

Pick 19 Washington Football Team – Jamin Davis LB Kentucky

Pick 20 New York Giants (trade) – Kadarius Toney WR Florida

Pick 21 Indianapolis Colts – Kwity Paye DE Michigan

Pick 22 Tennessee Titans – Caleb Farley CB Virginia Tech

Pick 23 Minnesota Vikings (trade) – Christian Darrisaw OT Virginia Tech

Pick 24 Pittsburg Steelers – Najee Harris RB Alabama

Pick 25 Jacksonville Jaguars – Travis Etienne RB Clemson

Pick 26 Cleveland Browns – Greg Newsome II CB Northwestern

Pick 27 Baltimore Ravens – Rashod Bateman WR Minnesota

Pick 28 New Orleans Saints – Payton Turner DE Houston

Pick 29 Green Bay Packers – Eric Stokes CB Georgia

Pick 30 Buffalo Bills – Gregory Rousseau DE Miami

Pick 31 Baltimore Ravens – Jayson Oweh LB Penn State

Pick 32 Tampa Bay Bucs – Joe Tryon LB Washington  

Patriots pick QB Mac Jones in the first round of 2021 Draft

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VIA: MARK J. REBILAS-USA TODAY SPORTS

The New England Patriots have selected a quarterback in the first round of an NFL Draft for the first time since they took Drew Bledsoe in 1993. Mac Jones, the former CFB National Champion with Alabama is heading to New England.

Lawrence, Wilson, and Lance went 1,2,3, then Justin Fields, who many thought could end up in New England was taken by the Bears after they gave up a haul of picks to move up to Pick 11.

Jones talking on the post draft video conference call for Patriots.com

In my breakdown of the expert mock drafts earlier this week, I said “Now, taking him (Jones) at 15, if the team loves him, I’m fine with, but I don’t want them to give up their future capital for Jones.” – This is exactly how things panned out, the Patriots were patient and managed to get their QB for the future.

I for one am pretty excited by this, now Jones wasn’t the top QB on my list, but the team has some belief in him, and that goes a long way with me, I just want to see how he progresses in camp now.

The Belichick-Saban connection continues as Schefter notes, that relationship will have played a huge part in this pick, remember, the Patriots had a chance to take Jordan Love last year whilst being in the same QB situation, but didn’t. They could have passed on Jones here, but they clearly like him enough to use their 15th pick.

Patriots Draft Blog – Night 1 LIVE

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(AP Photo/Steve Luciano)

Welcome to night one of the PatsPropaganda draft live blogs! I’ll be posting all throughout this evening for all of the drama from the first round. Get involved in the discussion or send me a question to our Twitter @PatsPropaganda!

Hosted by Tom Shaw-Mellors (@ShawMellors)
Please refresh the page for live updates below.

LIVE UPDATES 🠗

23:28- It’s getting towards 5am here in the UK, I’m going to call it a night unless I hear the Patriots fly back into the late first round this evening. Thanks for tuning in! GO PATS!

23:26- Browns select CB Greg Newsome II with Pick 26.

23:22- Jags take RB Travis Etienne with their second pick tonight, Lawrence’s fellow Clemson Tiger is also heading to Jacksonville.

23:16- A Few more picks have been made, the Vikings select OT Christian Darrisaw, the Steelers then took RB Najee Harris from Alabama with the 24th pick.

23:10- Mac Jones on wanting to join the Patriots all along…

23:02- CB Caleb Farley, another top prospect goes to the Titans at Pick 22.

22:53- Colts select DE Kwity Paye, one of the few edge rushers worth taking in the first round now off the board.

22:50- A Mac Jones conference call is coming up….

22:45- A couple more picks to report on, Washington takes LB Jamin Davis & the NY Giants take WR Kadarius Toney which is a slight surprise. I don’t imagine we’ll see the Patriots again this evening.

22:32- DL Jaelan Phillips goes to Miami with Pick 18.

22:28- Lost my way after that pick, LB Zaven Collins went to the Cardinals and OG Alex Leatherwood is heading to Las Vegas.

22:24- Damien Harris is happy!

22:21- Well, we were oh so patient for this, but the Patriots have their potential franchise QB in Mac Jones, and I am all in. – I need a drink.

22:12-

PICK 15 – QB MAC JONES

THE PATRIOTS HAVE A QB – IT IS OFFICIAL

22:08- Jets took G/T Vera-Tucker, a solid pick and support for Wilson on the line.

22:08- THE PATRIOTS ARE FINALLY ON THE CLOCK.

[Read more…] about Patriots Draft Blog – Night 1 LIVE

Are the Patriots hitching a ride to quarterback crazy town this 2021 draft season?

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(Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)


And with the 15th pick in the 2021 NFL draft the New England Patriots select….

Ahh the words Patriots fans are longing to hear, with much more concern, wonder, trepidation, and perhaps even downright fear than maybe they have for a long time.

Another thing that has definitely not happened in a long time (possibly ever) is the top four picks in a draft being quarterbacks, online Michigan betting sites such as GambleOnlineMichigan.com feature the best options for bookmakers that give odds on who they might be. You have to go back to 1999 to where quarterbacks were the first three picks in the draft with Tim Couch, Donovan McNabb and Akili Smith. Now if you’re simply talking the first round, then yeah just in the last decade, 2018 and 2020 were both years of four quarterback picks with Baker Mayfield, Josh Rosen, Sam Darnold and Lamar Jackson taken in the first 32 of 2018 and Joe Burrow, Justin Herbert, Tua Tagovailoa and Jordan Love wrapping up 2020. But the actual top four picks? Are we heading to crazy town this season?

More ghosts of histories past shows the Patriots first round picks being rather tackle (defensive and offensive) orientated. Not exclusively of course, and you could argue a lot of that was due to the success of Tom Brady at quarterback. A young new talented quarterback was not required early in the draft for quite a while, and the last time the Patriots addressed any quarter back selection in the first two rounds was pick 62 in 2014 with Jimmy Garoppolo.

But how different is 2021, right!?

Cam Newton and Jarett Stidham are still in the fold, but the production for both in 2020 left a lot to be desired. The question is what could they produce in this coming season; many fans are still very skeptical that it will not be much at all, and so fans look to the quarterback draft prospects with crossed fingers (and some of them, toes too!).

The situation is: the top four picking teams, Jacksonville, New York (Jets) San Francisco and Atlanta could all take a quarterback and pretty much could do with taking a quarterback. The next few picks, Cincinnati, Miami, Detroit and Carolina are arguable teams that wouldn’t be in the market for a rookie ball thrower. Selection number nine goes to Denver, the next team on the list potentially requiring a quarterback.

We are already seeing the jump of a previously second round rumoured player Mac Jones being in the choice of those top four (to clarify, some people predict him being taken third by San Francisco); could we see second or third round quarterbacks coming off the board within the first thirty two? Did I say next stop crazy town already?

With ten draft picks this year and a closing window of roster spots it isn’t in the realms of impossibility that the Patriots trade up. This year’s draft class is heavy with talent at certain non quarterback areas and although free agency spend was high there are still a few holes the Patriots could do with filling with some of the fruitful young talent. 

So here we are, single digit days away with so many unheard ofs in this up and coming draft. Fans agonize as we await that loaded sentence and just know there is a seriously good chance the pick will be… a tackle!

Patriots Draft Primer – Special Teams Ace

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The NFL Draft kicks off on Thursday night so today we will look at a few future replacements for Matthew Slater. Trying to keep up with all of the movement ahead of Draft weekend is hard, the top online sportsbooks are updating the odds on where some future skill position players might get taken.

Where we stand:

The Patriots have the best Special Teams Unit from top to bottom in the entire NFL. When you have a generational talent in Punter Jake Bailey you need to surround him with weapons on the outside. Currently the Patriots are stacked with Matthew Slater, Justin Bethel, and Cody Davis.

Bethel just signed a new contract keeping him in Foxboro through 2023, Davis is signed through 2022, and Slater has one year left on his current deal. Matthew is a key part of the Patriots dynasty both on and off the field. The true locker room and spiritual leader of the squad. Those intangibles are nearly impossible to replace but something tells me that Slater will hang them up and retire after this season. He seems focused on his family, faith, and life after football too much to not walk away with his health on his on terms. A lock for the Patriots Hall of Fame no doubt. With that being said, Slater has earned the right to keep signing one-year deals with the Patriots until he says otherwise.

Justin Bethel is one of the more underrated players in the NFL. The duo of Slater and Bethel is a nightmare for opposing special teams coaches. Add in Jake Bailey and this trio very well could be the best punting unit ever assembled. Davis showed some promise last year prior to his rib injury and I expect to see him elevate his game next season.

What we need:

With Slater (turning 36), Bethel (turning 31), and Davis (turning 32) all on the second half of their careers the Patriots will look to restock on Special Teams Aces. No coach in the NFL values the art of special teams more than the Dark Lord Belichick. This will be a late round draft pick or UDFA who comes in and probably sits on the Practice Squad for a year before he really contributes. Good chance this person could also find themselves with the “Foxboro Flu” and end up on season ending IR prior to cutdown day. Either way expect this person to most likely have a redshirt year in 2021. 

The Patriots could also look to play Joejuan Williams more in the gunner role as he saw increased snaps on special teams in 2020 due to injuries.

Draft Options:

There are 3 main prospects and one bonus prospect. I lean towards Avery Williams as being the Patriots’ guy due to his impressive career at Boise State, position versatility, and high ceiling. Spend an early 6th rounder to get him.

Avery Williams (CB) – 7th Round – Boise State

Coverage and return ability. 9 career special teams touchdowns. Good mechanics. Leader both on and off the field. Workhorse and tough. Safety, Corner, Running back flex, and special teams capability. Undersized and draws excessive penalties.

Racey McMath (WR) – 7th Round/UDFA – LSU

Athletic build, good speed, plays through contact, only two career drops, blocks well. Stuck behind an impressive list of LSU WRs so Racey used special teams to get on the field. Made 6 tackles and 1 forced fumble playing gunner. Speed, size, and power combination made him a special teams threat. Good work ethic. Has slot potential but does not project primarily as an NFL WR. Below average production when on the field as a WR. Star potential as an NFL Gunner.

Robert Rochell (CB) – 4th Round Grade – Central Arkansas

While Rochell will not be a special teams only player his entire career it could help him see action early on. This could be a great depth piece while we have Gilmore and Jackson this year then assuming one of them walks during free agency next season the Patriots have Rochell to slide in.

Great mix of speed and size. Nice footwork, instinct, and reaction time. Smart player that plays to his advantages. Great utilization of long arms. Jumps in on run support. Needs to add build to his body. Struggles with hip timing. Bites on initial route. Lack of top competition. NFL athleticism.

*Bonus Prospect* – Miller Forristall (TE) – UDFA Grade – Alabama

Miller was his high school’s quarterback until a guy named Trevor Lawrence came along and then Forristall flipped to TE. Miller struggled to put up great numbers while at Bama but played all four years that he was healthy mainly as a blocker. For his career he totaled 44 recs for 505 yards and 5 TDs. He is an above average blocker with a high compete level. I could see the trust between Saban and Belichick getting Forristall a camp invite where he sticks on the practice squad during 2021. His projected role would be a blocking TE, special teams contributor, and hybrid flex.