4 New England Patriots rookies Bill Belichick need to hit on in 2022

The New England Patriots needed to get faster this offseason and Bill Belichick addressed that issue doing the 2022 NFL Draft.

While he didn’t exactly address the team’s needs the way fans and critics predicted with mock draft after mock draft, he did select some intriguing and strange prospects who could turn out to be steals in the draft or end up being head scratchers.

Bill Belichick left New England Patriots fans and critics scratching their heads

With needs at corner back and linebacker, Belichick’s decision to trade back in the first round and then reach for an offensive lineman he could’ve selected in the third round drew criticism summed up nicely by NBC Sports’ Peter King, who questioned Belichick’s thought process and approach to the draft.

"“Picking Cole Strange, a decent prospect from Tennessee-Chattanooga, 29th overall was a naïve move by Bill Belichick,” King wrote in his Football Morning in America column.  “There was no indication he’d have gotten picked before New England’s next pick at 54; even if he was picked before then, so what?”"

That wasn’t the only head-scratching selection.  Belichick went on to address the team’s need at wide receiver but not before passing on a few prospects with the Strange move.  He also selected two running backs at positions where many believe he should’ve addressed the team’s linebacker needs.

But Bill Belichick is a six-time Super Bowl winning coach for a reason.  And because of that, he really needs to hit on this draft primarily due to past failures in the draft.  It’s one thing to select a player who just doesn’t pan out, it’s another to select players higher than they should be selected.  So clearly, the players selected will need to show that Belichick’s genius is stronger than ever or at least still relevant.

Here are four players Belichick and the New England Patriots need to hit on in 2022.