Patriots: How Bill Belichick passed on future QB in 2020 NFL Draft
Here’s a snapshot of a draft opportunity not taken by the New England Patriots in their once again mediocre 2020 edition of the NFL draft.
It’s not really a shock that the Patriots draft operation muffed a golden opportunity in the 2020 draft to select a possible next Russell Wilson-type quarterback who is a prototypical new-age NFL quarterback. That would be Jalen Hurts from Oklahoma.
It just so happens after their trade out of the first round he was available when they picked in the second. And hopes here were sky-high that after trading down nicely, as a previous article noted, they could still get their man and additional pick(s) to boot. Great. Or not.
"New England traded the 23rd overall pick to the Los Angeles Chargers, according to NFL Media’s Ian Rapoport. In return, the Patriots received the 37th and 71st overall picks from Los Angeles."
Yet, the “brain trust” of the blue, silver, red, and white nevertheless passed on this player thus necessitating the possibility of having to trade up dramatically in 2021 to get their future quarterback or roll the dice and settle on a lesser option.
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Why the Patriots decision on Jalen Hurts was so bad
A previous article touted Hurts as a possibility for New England in last year’s draft. It was right on target. So what happened with Jalen Hurts in 2020 that makes the Patriots non-decision to draft him so awful?
Well, let’s take a look at the situation in a bit more detail.
First, Hurts was a spectacular college player at Oklahoma. He literally did it all from the quarterback position. In 2019, He threw for 3861 yards, 32 touchdowns, and 8 interceptions, and a completion percentage of 69.7.
Hurts also ran for 20 touchdowns and 1298 yards that same season. That he was available to the Patriots after their trade down and out of the 23rd pick in the first round was a bit incredible.
Great stats. But that’s just part of the story. The young man is a leader and a winner. Seems like those attributes should be appreciated anywhere in the NFL but especially, especially in New England.
All signs pointed, hopefully, to the New England Patriots making that selection with the No. 37 pick overall in the second round. Hurts was there for the taking. The perfect pick and a second-rounder to boot.
Instead, they selected Kyle Dugger, a safety. Now Dugger had a pretty decent rookie season and might be a player. Let’s at least hope he is.
But a chance at a future possible franchise quarterback (and a dual-threat one, at that) as the backbone of your team? Too good to pass up. You just take him and get a safety later if you have to.
If you’re devoid of a quarterback, as it has been noted here on numerous occasions, you are toast. The New England Patriots passed on Hurts who later went at pick No. 53 to Philadelphia.
Interestingly, Philly already had a top-flight quarterback in Carson Wentz while New England had essentially no one.
Yet, Philly still traded their top, though oft-injured quarterback, Wentz, the second pick overall in the 2016 draft to make way ostensibly for Hurts.
Wentz was traded from Philly to Indianapolis for a third-round pick this year and a second conditionally next. Who’s Philly going to lean on next? Probably, Jalen Hurts.
Hurts played in 15 games last season and started four. His completion percentage was a pedestrian 52 percent with 6 TD’s and 4 interceptions. Not amazing, for certain. Yet, he also rushed for 354 yards and three scores on the ground demonstrating his dual-threat ability.
Meanwhile, New England has no top young quarterback to groom of any consequence and after their starter, Cam Newton, who is on a one-year contract, no one at all.
Speculation is rife and hopes are high that they will move up aggressively in the draft to get a young slinger. Believe it when you see it. Likely, not going to happen.
Next. Patriots 2021 NFL mock draft 3.0: Bill Belichick shocks the NFL. dark
More likely it will be a tepid move, later on in the draft to try to find a gem in the mire. The Patriots are a year too late and a lousy second-round pick too short (a bunch of whom they have whiffed on badly). They muffed that draft to a fare-thee-well…again.
So, we are on to the 2021 draft. Bill Belichick has received a not-so-subtle message from owner Bob Kraft. It said, draft better. Let’s see what eventuates later this month.
Hopefully, a top quarterback is part of the New England Patriots draft-day plan. If not, they’ll have thrown yet another draft out the window. But that’s nothing new, now is it?