The New England Patriots made a splash in free agency, big-time. So then, what’s needed now from the draft to get the former champs back on track. The answer is a lot.
After Bob Kraft’s negative comments about past drafting, the Patriots’ personnel crew had certainly better be on looking to make this one a success.
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With the ostensibly good (how good is yet to be determined) additions in free agency, the team now has to use their 10 picks in this draft to fill in the blanks of this team and make it ready to contend once more.
One way to do this is as obvious as the nose on one’s face, and Mr. Kraft has also chimed in, the Patriots need to sort out their quarterback situation for the future.
Having only signed Cam Newton for one season, who takes the helm in 2022 and beyond is a major question.
And this is the first thing to take care of in this month’s draft. Even the owner seems to agree.
Forget about trades for another veteran, even Jimmy Garoppolo, a long-time favorite. The past era is over folks. It’s time to move on and set the foundation stone in place for the future.
First, the New England Patriots must select a young quarterback high in the draft.
The first is obvious and won’t be belabored here. The Patriots need to address the quarterback situation. Now.
The owner has weighed in. Hopefully, the head of football operations, Bill Belichick understands, and the new personnel director, Dave Ziegler almost certainly is well-aware of the importance.
If not, hello, anyone home? This team needs a building block for the future.
This is in no way meant to disparage Newton. Cam got a raw deal last season being called Brought in on short notice with almost no preseason and no one to help after Julian Edelman went out with an injury.
He was thrown to the wolves and still, still nearly managed absent a few numb play calls to get the lousy 2020 Patriots into the playoffs. Instead of being vilified in the media, he should have been glorified.
Newton did amazingly well with the poor compliment of offensive-skill players available to him. Why this is so invisible to many observers is perplexing.
They should be able to grasp that the guy had no one who was open to throw to. Cam was not the problem as his re-signing clearly indicates.
And yes, Trey Lance of North Dakota State would fit nicely.
Second, the New England Patriots must add a big running back for short-yardage situations.
Sorry to belabor this point, but I’m going to. The Patriots need a big back. Period. End of any logical discussion.
Relying on Tom Brady in 2019 and Newton in 2020 to do that job was foolhardy, at best.
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If they get hurt and you lose your top quarterback, you lose your season. Get a big back to fill this hole. It’s as wide as a gap that Trent Brown can open but if don’t have a basher to fill it, you’re toast.
It ain’t rocket science. The Patriots had no confidence in their mediocre stable of running backs to gain a first on short-yardage or to burst it into the end zone from one or two yards out. No one.
They have never even tried to replace touchdown-maker LeGarrette Blount since 2016 and it has cost this team big-time. Belichick has a stable of smaller backs and that needs to be augmented or the deficiencies in short-yardage will go on, and on.
If you can’t extend a drive, or score near the goal-line you are limited to kicking field goals and ultimately losing games because of it, even if you do have a reliable kicker like Nick Folk, one of their best signings of the offseason.
It’s time to fix that or 7-9 or 8-8 will still be in the cards in 2021. Just draft Rhamondre Stevenson, he’ll do nicely.
Third, the New England Patriots need a top wide receiver.
Panic alert! This in no way means to suggest that the Patriots take a wideout in the first two or three rounds. No way. Their track record is abysmal. Or worse.
This suggestion says draft in the fourth and lower rounds. Take a couple or a few.
The Patriots’ wide receiver situation is still iffy. They have the recently signed Nelson Agholor and Kendrick Bourne. If things work out, maybe they’ll catch 50 apiece. That’s decent production but not earth-shattering, by any means.
Yet, if Edelman is back (a really big “if and maybe looking increasingly unlikely), and Jakobi Meyers continues to improve, they may be ok. They need to bring in a few guys in the draft who can play, but not too high up, please.
Bring in several in varying rounds and hope against hope that at least one makes the grade. That’s all that can be expected from a New Patriots’ personnel operation that in the past has flopped on several second-round receivers who couldn’t catch a basketball.
Will Mr. Kraft’s irritation make a difference? Can’t wait to find out.
Fourth, The New England Patriots need to beef up their offensive line depth.
That allusion is meant both literally and figuratively. It’s clear if one reads this author’s missives on offensive linemen, that big and good is far better than smaller and good.
Witness Trent Brown and Michael Onwenu as current examples on the Patriots offensive line. They are massive and they are good players, as well. Replicate that in the line’s depth and you are in the right place.
Here, I say, roll the dice early and often in the third and fourth rounds and later to snap up a couple of behemoth linemen who will add to the Patriots’ possibly dominant offensive line contingent.
Two have already been mentioned in this space. Deonte Brown from Alabama and David Moore from Grambling State. Brown sits at about 364 pounds.
Moore is listed at 320 (not to be believed, sorry). Both are big interior lineman and both can play. Moore adds another dimension valued in New England, versatility. He can also play center. Nice asset.
Brown is the better of the two and if the Patriots’ are sitting in the third round with a pick and he’s available, it’s a no-brainer, folks. He’s a player. Later on, Moore will fit nicely, as well. Two more very big, and very good young offensive lineman to add to the team’s depth. Awesome.
Another former sleeper who impressed at the Senior Bowl is Quinn Meinerz of Wisconsin-Whitewater. Meinerz wowed ’em at the Senior Bowl and he has been climbing the draft charts since.
He’s mountain man strong and at 6’3″ and 320 pounds, not a behemoth in size but he more than makes up for it in strength.
He’s climbing the draft polls and he’s looked upon as a second-round pick. That may be a bit high for a little tested but dynamic interior line prospect, though he can also snap and play center.
But he’s worth a mention if New England sees another Joe Thuney there. If they roll the dice, no issue here.
Yet, Thuney himself was only a third-round pick, Shaq Mason a fourth, and the terrific young phenom Onwenu a sixth. So gems are available anywhere if you know how to find them.
Offensive tackle also needs a boost in the draft as the Patriots’ depth there consists of guard/tackle Owwenu, who is likely to step in for the aforementioned new KC Chief, Thuney, and really little else.
That absolutely has to be addressed, as well.
Fifth, the New England Patriots need to draft a couple of edge players.
The Patriots signed Matt Judon who can rush the passer. Looks good, especially if he can up his game from last season’s six sacks. Even if he doesn’t, he’s still likely to be the Patriots’ best edge producer in 2021.
The return of Dont’a Hightower from opt-out should also help. But neither is a youngster in football years. Josh Uche a second-round pick in 2020 is, but the jury’s still out on him. His contributions last season were minimal.
One good note is the return of Kyle Van Noy. Van Noy would have led the Patriots in sacks in 2020 as would Judon. He’s a good player. Miami’s loss is the Patriots’ gain and he’ll be a key piece toward improving a lackluster linebacking corps.
Yet, the Patriots should still bring in some youth at the position. Both Hightower and Van Noy are about 30 and Judon is closing in on that age. They need some good young players as special teamers to fill in when the above are injured and ultimately start.
No question, the Patriots have to draft two or three edge players who may help to assuage the listless pass rush that has plagued New England for years. It’s time, Just do it.
I very seldom like the Patriots’ drafts. But, who knows. Things may change this year. Kraft has spoken.
Let’s see if his disappointment in past drafts leads to a banner draft this month. Let’s hope so. You just never know when a sixth-round pick will turn the team and the league upside down, now do you?