With The First Pick
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NFL Training Camps: New England Patriots Rookie Report

By Jon Dove

INDIANAPOLIS, IN - MARCH 05: Defensive lineman Derek Rivers of Youngstown State participates in a drill during day five of the NFL Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium on March 5, 2017 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
INDIANAPOLIS, IN - MARCH 05: Defensive lineman Derek Rivers of Youngstown State participates in a drill during day five of the NFL Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium on March 5, 2017 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /
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Despite winning the Super Bowl the New England Patriots had an aggressive offseason where they added talent through trades, the draft and free agency.

The New England Patriots 2017 NFL draft didn’t feature many selections because of trades to acquire veteran talent. One of those trades brought in a playmaker like Bradin Cooks by trading their 1st round pick to the New Orleans Saints.

However, the Patriots were still able to add some high upside prospects through the draft. Their first pick was defensive end Derek Rivers who played at Youngstown State. Rivers features the ideal athletic profile for the position.

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His long arms, size and solid frame give him the ability to hold up against the run. Rivers also has the overall athleticism and speed to develop into a top notch pass rusher. The only concern is that it may take some time for him to adjust to playing against a higher level of competition.

New England also added Deatrich Wise Jr. on the defensive side of the ball. He’s another long and athletic defender with a ton of upside. Wise is a little more polished than Rivers and might see the field earlier.

Antonio Garcia was a great selection for the New England Patriots. He’s an athletic and nasty offensive lineman with versatility. Garcia played tackle at Troy, but could easily shift inside to guard to begin his career.

The biggest thing that Garcia needs to work on is added some bulk to his frame. He’s a little thin through the hips which hurts his ability to anchor after contact.

Overall, the Patriots aren’t expecting this year’s rookie class to be world beaters. They already have established starters in place at most position. However, each of their picks come with plenty of upside and will provide immediate depth.

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