New England Patriots: 5 wishes for the 2022 NFL Draft
New England Patriots draft wish list item No. 2: DE Josh Paschal, Kentucky
Josh Paschal is someone that is easy to root for. In 2018 he was diagnosed with malignant melanoma, was treated for it over the course of 12 months, and still played that season. He was also a three-time team captain, three-time SEC Academic Honor Roll member, and he also made the Dean’s List twice during his time at Kentucky.
Paschal is just as good on the field as he is off. He had 15.5 tackles for a loss and 5.5 sacks in 2021, as well as three career blocked kicks, showcasing his value on special teams. He was a member of the Associated Press First Team All-SEC, and has been called “the most underappreciated defensive player in the SEC” by SEC Network analyst Gene Chizik. Belichick finds value in underappreciated players all the time.
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Paschal bullies blockers in the run game. He practically rag dolls iso blocks and swallows ball carriers. He might not be a dominant pass rusher, but Paschal can pressure the quarterback from either the end or tackle spot. And he can have a role on special teams. Belichick would love Paschal’s versatility.
Paschal plays a lot stronger than his listed weight, enabling him to play in a 3-4 defense as well as a 4-3. And don’t rule out lining him up at outside linebacker sometimes too. Belichick would have a lot of fun finding ways to get the most out of Paschal.
To get their hands on versatile Paschal, it might require a trade to early in the third round. Numerous simulations have Paschal gone between New England’s 54th (second round) and 85th (third round) selections.