New England Patriots Drafting Specific Role Players

The New England Patriots Have Focused on Taking Players to Fill Very Specific Needs to Prepare for the 2016 Season

Bill Belichick loves to draft players higher than anyone else thought they would go and the 2016 draft has been no exception. The pattern in this draft for the Patriots has become clear: draft guys who can fill in a specific hole rather than taking the best all around player at that position.

The Pats are an already strong roster who are thinking Super Bowl every year they still have Tom Brady and these picks are all about getting them there. Here are the new Patriots and the exact need they fill through the first 4 rounds:

60th Overall: Cyrus Jones, CB Alabama

Need Filled: Slot Corner

The first pick from the Patriots came at the end of the second round in the form of a 5’10, 200 pound cornerback. Jones may not have the size teams generally look for but he does have great ball skills and speed in the middle of the field. Many felt Jones would be taken later than the second round because of these size concerns, but he has enormous value for the Patriots who need a slot corner. This was a big reason the Patriots lost in the AFC Championship last year- even Peyton Manning could exploit this gap in the secondary which was being filled by Justin Coleman and Leonard Johnson. The Alabama prospect will likely never be able to hold his own on the outside in the NFL, but he should be a starter at slot corner right away.

78th Overall: Joe Thuney, OL NC State

Need Filled: Versatile Backup OL

I normally list the specific position along the offensive line for drafted lineman, but Thuney was taken by the Patriots specifically because he has experience at every position along the offensive line. He was expected to go later partly because it’s not completely clear where he’ll play at the next level, but versatility is Bill Belichick’s favorite attribute in a prospect. Last season when injuries plagued the offensive line in New England there was a huge need for backups who could play every spot because it seemed that every week there was a new need up front. This specific hole in their roster was one of the reasons the Patriots didn’t go all the way last year.

91st Overall: Jacoby Brissett, QB NC State

Need Filled: Garoppolo’s Replacement

With Tom Brady recently signing an extension it seems the QB spot is locked up in New England for another few years. That’s exactly why this pick makes sense: Jimmy Garoppolo will be a free agent coming up and if he has any market at all he’ll likely be leaving the Patriots. That means the current back up quarterback will currently be traded before he can leave on his own, but he’ll stick around for now in case Brady ever actually has to serve that suspension. The pick was more surprising because of the other available players, but if there’s anyone to trust with taking late round quarterbacks it’s the Patriots.

96th Overall: Vincent Valentine, DT Nebraska

Need Filled: Run Stopping 1-tech

The Patriots already had Terrance Knighton, Malcom Brown and Alan Branch so at first the need didn’t seem that great. However, the Patriots like to have a rotation on the middle and they lost Sealver Silinga who was their run stopping nose tackle. Valentine is a big boy at 6’4 329 pounds and when he plays his best he is simply immovable. He’s not going to get after the QB much so he was expected to go a bit later than he did, but he can be plugged in at the 1-tech on the Patriots d-line and make lanes for the talented linebackers in NE to clean up the rest. The middle of the line needed one more anchor to be put in the mix and this was the exact type of big guy they wanted.

112th Overall: Malcolm Mitchell, WR Georgia

Need Filled: Vertical Threat Receiver

The Patriots are absolutely loaded with quick slot players who can catch it short and make plays and their passing game has been based on that in the past couple of years. Other than Gronk, they’ve lacked downfield targets because Aaron Dobson and others just haven’t panned out. Mitchell doesn’t have mind boggling speed, but he gets by defenders and can go up and grab the ball in space. He averaged an impressive 15 yards per reception last year as he was finally at full strength after suffering an ACL tear a few years back. His main problem that lead to his fall was his having played for quarterbacks who lacked the ability to see and throw downfield. These problems won’t follow him to Foxboro, where he’ll play for one of the best quarterbacks ever to play the game. This will add that last component to their passing game needed for a Super Bowl run and will allow them to move on from some of their less successful prospects.

The Patriots didn’t have a first round pick but they’ve made some nice selections anyways. A lot of these guys look over drafted because they are in many ways one dimensional, but they offer great value to the Patriots who picked them specifically for their excellence at one specific job. When your team is as talented as this one it’s all about finding those exact qualities that will push your team over the edge and bring home a Lombardi Trophy. Time will tell if it worked.