Round 3 Pick 69: Azareye’h Thomas, CB, Florida State
Outside of Christian Gonzalez, the Patriots don’t have a cornerback who excels in man-to-man coverage. While their secondary has depth, they don’t have a CB2 caliber player.
Drafting Azareye’h Thomas can add needed size and pass covering ability to the Patriots' defense. Thomas’s size at 6 '1 ½”, 197 pounds, and his 10' 2” broad jump are needed to become a good corner in the league.
Thomas finished his junior season with one interception, four pass deflections, and 53 total tackles. Lance Zierlein highlighted Thomas’s “long arms are formidable weapons of catch disruption”.
Thomas, who turns 21 in July, would be a good fit and can learn from the veterans in the secondary group. I believe the secondary needs size, and with Terrell Williams in at defensive coordinator, I believe he’ll want size in his corners compared to his time with Detroit.
Round 3 Pick 77: Jalen Royals, WR, Utah State
Now that the defense has added some guys, it’s time to help Maye get some pass catchers. The wide receiver position always has depth in the draft and this year’s class is no different. I believe that drafting Jalen Royals in the third round would be a steal for the Patriots.
Besides Pop Douglas, the Patriots don’t have a receiver capable of being a playmaker and creating separation. During his time at Utah State, Royals did just that. In just seven games, Royals had 55 catches, 834 yards, and six touchdowns before suffering a season-ending foot injury.
Bleacher Report’s Dame Parson’s scouting report of Royals perfectly describes what the Patriots need at wide receiver.
"Royals is a good and precise route runner with short-area quickness that puts pressure on cornerbacks. He generates separation with suddenness out of his breaks against man coverage."Dame Parson, Bleacher Report
Last year, the Patriots drafted Ja’Lynn Polk and Javon Baker. Neither of them is known for creating separation. The Patriots need a receiver that creates separation, and I believe Royals is that guy. Drafting him gives Maye and Josh McDaniels another playmaker.