3 Patriots Draft Picks Who May Not Make the 53-Man Roster
3. Marcellas Dial, DB (Round 6, Pick 180)
New England only used one 2024 pick to address its secondary, opting to take South Carolina defensive back Marcellas Dial in the sixth round. The ex-Gamecock made life tough for opposing players throughout his three-year run, amassing 28 broken-up passes, 83 solo tackles, and three interceptions across 36 games.
I think I’m going to push the “move Marcellas Dial to safety” agenda this offseason. He’s an absurd athlete at 6-foot, 190 pounds.
— Keagan Stiefel (@KeaganStiefel) April 30, 2024
🏈 4.46 forty
🏈 40.5” very
🏈 10’9” broad jump pic.twitter.com/IqNX7lKSVd
Still, Dial has a lot to work on if he hopes to be playing meaningful football come September. His game does have some holes, with scouts questioning his technique and ball tracking.
He also isn't great at recognizing plays before the snap, nor is he that strong in run support. He missed five tackles while dropping two INTs last year, per Pro Football Focus.
It also doesn't help that nobody knows what position Dial will play as a pro. During his time in college, the 23-year-old DB spent time on the outside, in the slot, and as a safety, leaving many to wonder where he'll fit in on an NFL roster. That's without mentioning how New England already has a plethora of DBs under contract that Dial must surpass to earn playing time.
If Dial can't quickly improve on his shortcomings, he's going to stick out during training camp and not in a good way. If he can't do that, he might need to look elsewhere to begin his NFL career.
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