New England Patriots: 3 bad decisions that has 2021 season on the brink
New England Patriots poor drafting has also helped send them to the bottom of the AFC East
The Patriots drafting except under Chuck Fairbanks years ago and to some extent, Bill Parcells has been a disaster.
Put just their second-round gaffes under the microscope and the scene isn’t pretty. Their track record is horrendous.
Most recently, the Patriots had two first-round picks in 2018. One went on an offensive tackle, Isaiah Wynn, and the other on running back, Sony Michel.
Wynn has been a constant injury worry but previously had looked good when he played. Now, for whatever reasons (he is now on the Covid list), he hasn’t played well at all this season.
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Unfortunately, rookie phenom Mac Jones has paid the price for his linemates’ poor performances in the way of multiple sacks.
In Michel’s case, first, his fifth-year option wasn’t picked up by the team and then he was sent packing for a mediocre return to the LA Rams.
On those two first-round picks, let’s also recall two facts that make those choices even more stinging.
Baltimore’s fabulous Lamar Jackson and Cleveland’s outstanding running back Nick Chubb were both available and the Patriots could have had both with those picks
The aforementioned pass on Nick Chubb, Michel’s Georgia teammate really stings now. Chubb is far and away the better back and he has the statistics to prove it.
Chubb has 31 touchdowns to date in his three-plus years in the league. He’s a big strong, tough, and speedy back. He plays for Cleveland, not New England where he should be playing.
As for Lamar Jackson, well, he’s just an amazing dual-threat quarterback but the sting of not picking him has been ameliorated by the lucky grab of Mac Jones. Enough said about that.