The New England Patriots acquired defensive end Kony Ealy in a trade with the Carolina Panthers and their head coach believes Ealy can flourish in New England.
New defensive end Kony Ealy and the New England Patriots have combined for appearances in the last three Super Bowls. The Patriots have won two, but sandwiched in between was an MVP-type performance by Ealy in a Carolina Panthers loss to the Denver Broncos in Super Bowl 50.
The former Missouri star recorded three sacks, forced a fumble and had an interception off Peyton Manning. Overall, it wasn’t the stats that were impressive, it was how quick he looked on the field. That quickness and the youth he brings to the position is what the Patriots need.
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So, why was Ealy available for essentially eight spots up in the third-round of the NFL draft?
Not only did he lose his starting position in 2016, he is also nearing the last year of his rookie deal. Those two reasons make him expendable at relatively low cost, but according to former head coach Ron Rivera, the Patriots are getting a player who has yet to reach his potential.
"“They’re getting a guy that I think that hasn’t quite really, truly tapped his potential,” Rivera said at the NFL Annual Meeting this past weekend, via the Boston Herald. “He’s showed it, he flashed it in the Super Bowl. Again, if they can get him back to that point, I think they can get a very explosive pass rusher.”"
Rivera believes that once under Bill Belichick’s guidance, Kony Ealy will have the opportunity to reach his potential or at least find a niche in the defense.
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"“I think being around a program like what coach (Bill) Belichick has established in New England will be really good for him,” Rivera continued. “I think it’ll be an opportunity for him to grow and take another step. I think it’s a good situation. I really do.”"
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Ealy will have an opportunity to form a pretty dynamic duel with defensive end Trey Flowers. He is excited to join the New England Patriots and look forwards to learning under Belichick and veteran players like Rob Ninkovich.