New England Patriots: Best case scenario in the 2020 NFL Draft

Help at running back

The New England Patriots also need to retool their backfield. They started the job by signing free agent fullback Danny Vitale. Danny can flat out play and can either replace James Devlin if he is not ready to play or coexist with him. Vitale can do a lot. He’s just been underutilized as an offensive talent.

This draft has some great running back choices who may be available in the third and fourth rounds who could help. Michael Warren II from Cincinnati, AJ Dillon from BC (check out colleague Jason Haskins’ article about Dillon) and Zack Moss of Utah are three big backs who come to mind.

Landing any of these three will be a big plus in remedying their inability to convert almost any short-yardage situation. I have speculated previously that this single deficiency might very well have cost the Patriots their entire season in 2019.

If you recall, there were several if not many instances of where a yard or two for a first down extending a drive or to punch the ball into the end zone might have made all the difference in their season.

One loss (maybe against Miami?) cost them a bye week and ultimately lost them the wild card game. Having a big back do the short-yardage work could have made all the difference. Ultimately, their only option became Tom Brady. Not good enough.

Cam Akers from Florida State would also be a great addition but that’s going to take a trade up from the third round. Draft any one of these, the overall draft grade increases a full grade.