Chowder and Champions
Fansided

New England Patriots: Belichick had a huge miss in the fifth round

By Michael DeVito

KNOXVILLE, TN - OCTOBER 20: Deonte Brown #65 of the Alabama Crimson Tide comes off the ball during the first half of the game between the Alabama Crimson Tide and the Tennessee Volunteers at Neyland Stadium on October 20, 2018 in Knoxville, Tennessee. Alabama won 58-21. (Photo by Donald Page/Getty Images)
KNOXVILLE, TN - OCTOBER 20: Deonte Brown #65 of the Alabama Crimson Tide comes off the ball during the first half of the game between the Alabama Crimson Tide and the Tennessee Volunteers at Neyland Stadium on October 20, 2018 in Knoxville, Tennessee. Alabama won 58-21. (Photo by Donald Page/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
3 of 3
Next
MOBILE, AL – JANUARY 30: Offensive Lineman Deonte Brown #65 of the American Team during the 2021 Resse’s Senior Bowl.
MOBILE, AL – JANUARY 30: Offensive Lineman Deonte Brown #65 of the American Team during the 2021 Resse’s Senior Bowl. /

So, why was Deonte Brown the better pick for the New England Patriots

This space was no stranger to touting Brown as a future Patriot before the draft and now it is lamenting the fact that he was there at a much lower pick in the draft than anticipated. The call here is that the Patriots muffed it.

Brown was potentially as huge a mistake as he is a huge football player. Profootballnetwork.com him at 6’3 and 1/4″ tall and weighing in at 344 pounds.

More from New England Patriots

Let’s just say, he’s a huge man and leave it at that. If he is reminiscent of another huge man drafted by the Patriots in 2020 in the sixth round, Michael Onwenu, you’re on the right track. Brown, as well, can play.

First, he was a starter on the best team in the nation, Alabama. That says a lot. Here are a couple of excerpts from thedraftnetwork.com about Brown,

"Starting in 24 of 46 career games, Brown possesses a beefy and wide-bodied frame with a well above average amount of strength at the point of attack. Physically, he is an effective run blocker with lots of attractive skills. Aggressive in the running game, he shows high strength levels and awareness. In Alabama’s downhill run scheme, he’s allowed to stay on track and road grade any target that’s directly in front of him… Having an anchor that’s nearly impossible to knock over, his wide frame also enables him to engulf and cover up rushers. Brown is able to negate interior pressure effectively."

Also, if you happened to see the 2020 East/West Shrine Game in 2020, Michael Onwenu showed he could measure up with the best in college football.

In the Reese’s Senior Bowl this year, Brown did the same. If you watch offensive line play which just happens to make all other aspects of the offense work, you couldn’t miss him.

His size stood out and so did his play. He was solid. When you can play well in a game against the best of the best (at least seniors), it’s usually not a fluke. Brown wasn’t and isn’t.

Next. New England Patriots rumors: Tom Brady is coming home Week 4. dark

So, to sum up, the opportunity cost of drafting Cameron Mcgrone was huge in the person of Deonte Brown. Mcgrone may turn out fine, but not likely this season. Brown is ready to go, now.

It was a huge missed opportunity and may haunt the Patriots in the future, especially if Onwenu has to move from guard where he is likely projected to play, back to tackle due to injury.

Hopefully, that won’t happen, but injuries do happen and having Brown would have been a terrific safety blanket for the most important unit on the team. It was a missed opportunity, indeed.

Home/New England Patriots