Examining the best case scenario for the New England Patriots in the 2020 NFL Draft.
I’ve been clear that the New England Patriots should draft Jalen Hurts of Oklahoma in the first round or very early second to maximize this draft.
They should also undertake a dramatic and systematic total restructuring of their entire offense to move into the new era of NFL football.
But that is the stuff of wish lists.
It is unlikely to happen under the Emperor Palpatine of Foxborough, the surly and enigmatic head of football operations, Bill Belichick. It would be more than a shock if he were to deviate from his past plan, even though he has now lost two of the most important components of that system to free agency and trade.
But to be realistic, there are lesser options at quarterback that still might allow the team to be a winner in this weekend’s draft. In addition, there are also several other positions which if not addressed correctly would be a great mistake by the Patriots.
In this article, I’ll present some thoughts on the positions that absolutely must be addressed in this draft and some possible draftees. Some of these additions might help the New England Patriots make up the losses they have suffered in free agency and other ways (which are huge).
Other additions will help fill deficiencies in the 2019 team that ultimately cost them a bye week in the playoffs. The loss to the Tennessee Titans was unfortunate as the subsequent Baltimore Ravens loss could have provided them with a home game in the AFC Championship game, albeit against the reigning Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs.
First, the New England Patriots need to draft a quarterback high in the draft whether it’s Jalen Hurts or someone else. They cannot go into the 2020 season with the two quarterbacks they now have.
This is a prescription for a 5-11 season. I’ve made my preferred choice clear, a mobile type to change the entire offensive scheme. But there are other ways to go.
Let’s explore all this in more detail.
New England’s drafting a quarterback high is a must
The New England Patriots will likely have to move up in the draft to get a quarterback like Jordan Love from Utah State if he is their choice. He’s talented, has good size and will compete immediately. Love had a great 2018 but fell off in 2019 with an interception filled season. He can also run a bit which will be helpful but he’s no Jalen Hurts in that phase of the game. Another possible choice is Jake Fromm from Georgia. NFL.com cites an important trait that Fromm possesses should the Patriots think someone else can replace Tom Brady in that offense.
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"Heady quarterback who is light on physical traits but sees the game like a pro signal-caller most of the time. Fromm has big-game experience and proved to be a worthy challenger against Alabama as a freshman and sophomore."
A selection of Love, Fromm or even Jacob Eason of Washington State (NFL.com talks about his great arm but unfortunately he is immobile) is a step forward for New England and a good first step toward a successful draft.
Not drafting a quarterback with great potential high is a huge negative when rating this draft for New England Patriots. Hurts is their absolute best option but this team is often set (or stuck is maybe a better word) in their ways and a deviation from the past is not to be expected, unfortunately.
If they take a quarterback, it will likely be Love, Fromm or Eason though a long-shot sleeper is always a possibility for them.
Get a playmaker
The New England Patriots offense cost them their season in 2019. Even the best quarterback in history couldn’t overcome their deficiencies in skill players. No wide receiver caught more than 29 passes other than star Julian Edelman. This position needs to be addressed early.
A great choice would be Antonio Gibson who can play both running back and wide receiver. Gibson’s versatility fits any offense, mobile or static. He can also return kicks. Another mid-round possibility is James Proche of SMU.
Proche’s resume screams PRODUCTION. Over 200 hundred catches the past two seasons.
If the Patriots want to trade up, they can’t do much better than Chase Claypool of Notre Dame. He has a tremendous size which they need. He’s a tremendous athlete with great speed and athleticism. He’s also versatile in that he can be deployed all over the field as a receiver and even an H-Back. No draft that includes Claypool can be a total failure.
At tight end, I’ve waived the banner for Harrison Bryant of Florida Atlantic whom they might be able to get in the late third round. He can really catch the ball. I also would certainly not be disappointed at all if they called the name of Cole Kmet the multi-faceted tight end from Notre
Dame. He will go higher and if a quarterback is taken in the early rounds, the Patriots will have to trade up to get him. He’s worth it.
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.
Address offensive line needs
Mel Kiper of ESPN said Thursday on ESPN that Cesar Ruiz guard/center of Michigan might be a good pick for New England at 23.
He’s right. (He also noted a trade down in the first round and taking Jalen Hurts was a possible option.) They need back-up at center and guard and/or to replace Joe Thuney if he’s traded. Ruiz is a very solid choice in the first round. Again, a road grader and a draft grade lifter for sure.
In addition, the Patriots need to draft an offensive tackle at some point to add depth. Isaiah Wynn is terrific but injury-prone.
Their third-round pick in 2019 Yodney Cajuste never saw a play due to injury. Depth is a must at all positions on the offensive line. I suggested Matt Peart of Connecticut as a possibility before in about the third-round range. He’d be a great fit.
In 2019 they had to go to the waiver wire to even fill the left tackle position (Marshall Newhouse) and they also made poor trades in-season to try to replace the injured. They traded for guard Jermaine Eleumenor (Baltimore fleeced them for their fourth-round pick on Saturday) and tackle Corey Cunningham.
Neither played very much or very well. Eleumenor was recently re-signed. (Made absolutely no sense to me.) Failure to remedy depth at all offensive line positions in this draft has to be considered a demerit. It is a prescription for the same type of disaster that afflicted them last season.
Draft a linebacker or two
The New England Patriots lost three good linebackers to free agency.
Kyle Van Noy and Elandon Roberts went to Miami. Jamie Collins is off to Detroit. They need to fill the linebacker/edge positions in the draft. At least two picks are necessary or the draft will have to be considered deficient.
Guys like Daniel Bituli of Tennessee and Anfernee Jennings of Alabama are late-round possibilities for depth. NFL.com says about Bituli:
"“Throwback linebacker with size, toughness and aggression. He has power and contact balance that keeps him from getting pushed around and can stop runners dead in their tracks as a box thumper.”"
There’s your replacement for Roberts. Anfernee Jennings is more of an edge type and would be nice depth option to help replace Van Noy and Collins. Jennings obviously played top-level football, was a captain at Alabama and could fit as a depth replacement for Van Noy and Collins late in the draft.
Many commentators feel that the Patriots will go early and hard on linebackers in this draft. Frankly, I think other needs have to take priority. On the edge, they have Donte Hightower, (who also can play inside), John Simon, and the emerging Chase Winovich. They also have Ja’Whaun Bentley inside and have just signed free agent Brandon Copeland who plays outside. with this depth, I just don’t see the pressing need to go very high in the draft at linebacker.
Summary on the New England Patriots 2020 draft needs
One last comment on the New England Patriots draft needs.
First a note on that topic, “draft needs”. The argument has raged on for years, do you draft for need or draft the BPA, Best Player Available? There are arguments on both sides, I suppose. But not for me.
But a team loaded with tight ends that drafts a tight end, leaves itself thin in other positions that are weak. Witness New England’s incomprehensible decision in the 2019 draft to NOT even draft one tight end to help replace the irreplaceable Rob Gronkowski. They should have drafted 2 or 3. That was utterly incomprehensible.
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They did draft a running back in the third round, however, Damien Harris.
Running back was a position in which the team had reasonably decent depth and talent. A pick in a late-round (especially of a big back) would certainly have seemed reasonable.
They, however, proceeded to use a premium pick on this position. He played hardly at all during the entire season. Meanwhile, the tight end position was abysmal in all regards. Pass-catching and even blocking. It cost them.
I side completely with proponents of drafting for need. With one caveat, if a truly great talent slips down to a position of absurdity, then he has to be considered. That notwithstanding, I feel drafting for need is always the way to go.
A final note, I did not address the position of defensive tackle in this draft. I think it definitely could be bolstered with a late-round or undrafted free agency run stuffer.
A DT like Bravvion Roy from Baylor would be perfect.
Roy is unheralded but very productive. A bit short for nose tackle but big, think a poor person’s Vince Wilfork big at about 332 pounds. He’d be a great addition even in the sixth round. So there, DT is covered. Drafting a defensive tackle would be a nice addition late in the draft. So take Roy.
Final, final note
So that’s it, my Final, final pre-draft notes on the New England Patriots 2020 NFL draft. It begins Thursday night, but maybe not for New England, except for a trade. I’d like to see that trade down in the first if they can still get Jalen Hurts.
If that happens or they take Hurts anywhere else for that matter, this Draft is an A+++ from my perspective. He’s the key for me. Anything else, I’ll have to grade much more harshly.
Enjoy the draft, everyone. In these tough times for our nation, it’s an event we can look forward to.