Round 1, Pick 22 – Caleb Farley, CB, Virginia Tech
Right now, the Patriots appear to be set at cornerback with Stephon Gilmore an All-Pro starter on the boundary, Jason McCourty providing a dependable veteran presence and J.C. Jackson coming off a 2019 season that saw him rack up 10 pass deflections and five interceptions.
However, Gilmore is a free agent in 2022 and Bill Belichick’s history suggests the odds of him giving the former Buffalo Bill another contract at age 31 are slim.
The Patriots selected Joejuan Williams in the second round of the 2019 draft, but that should not prohibit them from selecting Farley and setting themselves up excellently for the future at cornerback.
At 6’2″ and 207 pounds, Farley possesses an exciting blend of size, speed, length and physicality. He has adapted to the position remarkably quickly having started his career with the Hokies as a wide receiver. Pro Football Network’s Bill Richette agrees on his ball skills:
"“More often than not, if the ball is coming toward Farley, he is either intercepting the pass or making sure the intended target is not coming away with the ball. Farley was second in the ACC in pass breakups with 12, behind only Florida State’s Asante Samuel Jr., who had 14. His four interceptions were tied for the lead in the ACC, and only six players in the country had more. Those interceptions, combined with the 12 pass breakups, meant he led the ACC in passes defended last season” (Richette via PFN)."
Already adept in press and man coverage, Farley is incredibly refined for a player of his inexperience at the position and had 12 passes defensed and four interceptions with one returned for a touchdown in 2019.
There is arguably no better place for Farley to make the leap from polished prospect to elite NFL corner than under the tutelage of Belichick in New England.