The Patriots value route running and strong perhaps more than other team in the NFL. Sure, they want guys who can run and separate but running a good route and consistently catching the football are the most important receiver traits they look for. Seth Williams posses those traits and then some. At 6-3 211, he has good size, strong hands and he is one of the purest route runners in……
We have talked extensively about the importance of versatility when it comes to the Patriots. Bill Belichick looks for it in every player he drafts and evaluates. Jamar Johnson would be that type of player. He offers tremendous versatility because he can play all three downs and in all situations. Johnson is far from an elite athlete but he is a good football player who can contribute in a myriad……
The Patriots have gone down this road before. They drafted Purdue inside linebacker Ja’Whaun Bentley in 2018. Bentley has flashed potential as a thumper at MIKE backer but he hasn’t played to the level the team was hoping for. Barnes is a similar player but more athletic and little bit better in coverage. Do the Patriots go down this road again in their search for a true middle linebacker? We……
Nickel and dime cornerback are invaluable in this era of spread offenses. Now more than ever, you need five to six quality cornerbacks on your roster if you want to contend for a Super Bowl. Bill Belichick knows this better than anyone. That is why he has emphasized the defensive back position as much as any position during his tenure in New England. Cornerback has always been a priority for……
The Patriots utilize more three safety looks than any other team in the NFL. Bill Belichick truly believes that three safeties can allow you to match up with any team you play because safeties can play in all three levels. Divine Deablo is the type of player Belichick covets in the middle rounds. He can play in the first and second level on early downs and he has enough and……
Bill Belichick likes undersized, hybrid outside linebacker, defensive end types who can rush the passer. From Mike Vrabel to Rob Ninkovich to Chase Winovich to Josh Uche, the Patriots have a long history of drafting or acquiring players that can play in all perimeter situations. Jackson is that type of player. He has a non-stop motor and despite lacking certain physical traits, plays above his skill level. Jackson was a……
We know the Patriots affinity for slot receivers and versatility. Shi Smith fits both descriptions to a tee. Smith is a pure slot receiver who could be a factor at all three levels of the passing game. He can play in the slot and depending on the down and distance, could also split wide and play on the line. He could also be a factor in the return game, an……
You are going to find this hard to believe but there is no quarterback in this draft class that has been more scrutinized than Kyle Trask. Trask put up huge numbers last season at Florida throwing for 4,283 yards and 43 touchdown passes. He profiles as a first round talent but some draft evaluators are doing everything they can to down play his production and focus on his slow footwork……
Joe Thuney was a relative unknown out of N.C State when the Patriots drafted him in the third round (Pick 78) of the 2016 draft. It didn’t matter however because what the Patriots liked about Thuney was his size, versatility and toughness. Texas Tech guard Jack Anderson has many of those same traits and offers similar versatility. Like Thuney, he was a multi-year starter for the Red Raiders. Anderson started……
The Patriots upgraded the receiving corp in free agency by adding Kendrick Bourne and Nelson Agholar. Agholar in particular gives them some much needed speed but they need more. Enter Elijah Moore, who at 5-9 1/2 179 isn’t the biggest receiver but was a three year starter at Ole Miss and was highly productive. Moore is explosive and can impact a game both as a receiver and as a return……