With The First Pick
Fansided

Super Bowl LII: Top five players who weren’t first-round NFL Draft picks

By Maxwell Ogden

EDEN PRAIRIE, MN - FEBRUARY 01: Tom Brady #12 of the New England Patriots warms up during the New England Patriots practice on February 1, 2018 at Winter Park in Eden Prairie, Minnesota. The New England Patriots will play the Philadelphia Eagles in Super Bowl LII on February 4. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
EDEN PRAIRIE, MN - FEBRUARY 01: Tom Brady #12 of the New England Patriots warms up during the New England Patriots practice on February 1, 2018 at Winter Park in Eden Prairie, Minnesota. The New England Patriots will play the Philadelphia Eagles in Super Bowl LII on February 4. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images) /
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FOXBOROUGH, MA – JANUARY 21: Leonard Fournette #27 of the Jacksonville Jaguars carries the ball as he is defended by Trey Flowers #98 of the New England Patriots in the first quarter during the AFC Championship Game at Gillette Stadium on January 21, 2018 in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
FOXBOROUGH, MA – JANUARY 21: Leonard Fournette #27 of the Jacksonville Jaguars carries the ball as he is defended by Trey Flowers #98 of the New England Patriots in the first quarter during the AFC Championship Game at Gillette Stadium on January 21, 2018 in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) /

4. Trey Flowers, New England Patriots

Drafted: Round 4, Pick 101 (2015)
Position: Defensive End
2017 Season Statistics: 14 games played, 62 tackles, 6.5 sacks, 2 fumbles forced
2017 Pro Football Focus Grade: 87.4 (No. 15 amongst edge defenders)

It’s uncommon that teams are able to find high-level edge defender as late as the fourth round of the NFL Draft. That’s exactly what transpired in 2015, when New England Patriots starter Trey Flowers came off the board at No. 101 overall.

Flowers may not be a household name, but he’s one of the most reliable and consistent edge defenders in the NFL—and the Philadelphia Eagles will soon find that out.

Pro Football Focus rated Flowers as the No. 16 edge defender in pass rush situations and the No. 21 edge defender in run defense. Those may not be elite marks, but it’s rare that players at his position are strong against both the run and the pass.

Flowers provides that rare blend of abilities, which enabled him to be one of just 13 edge defenders who played at least 900 snaps in 2017.

Against the Eagles, Flowers will be tasked as much with getting after Nick Foles as he will be helping against the run. Philadelphia has multiple grinders at running back, but it also has the speed element and a creative offensive system.

If Flowers plays as well as he’s capable of playing, the Patriots’ defense should be able to do enough to at least contain the Eagles’ explosive attack.

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