Two operating backs, a quarterback, one troubled nook and an entire lot of offensive depth.
The Patriots made all seven of their scheduled alternatives Saturday, the ultimate day of the 2022 NFL Draft. The Pats opened with a shock, including Arizona State cornerback Jack Jones within the fourth spherical at 121st general.
Jones is a 5-foot-10, 177-pound cowl man with wonderful ball abilities who initiatives initially as a nickelback. He grabbed three interceptions, pressured three fumbles and batted away six different passes final season. Jones visited New England pre-draft, and clocked prototypical occasions for a Patriots nook at his Pro Day, operating a 4.50 within the 40-yard sprint and a 6.90 within the 3-cone.
Jones and Houston’s Marcus Jones, a third-round decide, at the moment are anticipated to bolster the staff’s secondary.
Jack Jones performed three seasons at Arizona State, the place he got here off the bench in 2019, missed most of an abbreviated 2020 season for preventing in apply and began in 2021. Jones transferred to Arizona State in 2019, following a one-year cease at junior school and two preliminary seasons at USC. A former five-star recruit, he left USC within the spring of 2018 after being dominated ineligible academically and coping with off-field points.
That spring, he pleaded responsible to a second-degree misdemeanor cost of economic housebreaking and served 45 days of home arrest after allegedly breaking right into a Panda Express. Because of his off-field considerations, most media draft evaluators seen Jones as a sixth or seventh-round prospect.
Six picks later, the Pats added the draft’s quickest operating again in South Dakota State’s Pierre Strong. The 5-foot-11, 203-pounder recorded the highest 40-yard sprint time on the NFL Combine at 4.37 seconds. He’s a home-run hitter, who averaged 7.2 yards per carry in school, largely towards FCS competitors.
But Strong additionally confirmed out towards FBS Colorado State final yr, dashing 13 occasions for 138 yards and two touchdowns. He later met with Patriots operating again coach Vinnie Sunseri in the course of the draft course of, and mentioned Saturday he’s studied movie of Damien Harris.
“I just know New England can run the football and run it well, so, that’s great to hear, great news for a running back,” Strong mentioned. “So let’s get to work.
Strong is a additionally two-time captain and dependable receiver, who would possibly substitute veteran James White within the coming years. The chief query about his recreation is fumbling, after he misplaced the ball 5 occasions in 2021. Strong now joins White, Harris, Rhamondre Stevenson, J.J. Taylor and Devin Ozigbo on the staff’s depth chart, plus one other rookie, sixth-rounder Kevin Harris.
Harris went 183rd general, following a three-year stint at South Carolina. He stands at 5-foot-10 and 221 kilos, an easy bruiser who rushed for 4.3 yards per carry final season after present process again surgical procedure. However in 2020, he led the SEC in dashing and averaged greater than 100 yards per recreation.
Harris ran a 4.62 within the 40-yard sprint and has little make-or-miss potential, but in addition comes with zero ball-security considerations. He fumbled as soon as in school, whereas scoring 23 touchdowns and making 16 begins over his profession.
Between the 2 operating again picks, the Pats could have discovered their subsequent long-term backup quarterback in Western Kentucky’s Bailey Zappe.
Zappe was a traditionally productive passer in school, who broke a number of FBS information. He accomplished 69.2% of his passes for five,967 yards, 62 touchdowns and 11 interceptions final season. But at 6-foot and 215 kilos with unremarkable arm energy, scouts see Zappe as a lifelong backup who depends totally on his pre-snap processing, contact and accuracy.
After drafting Harris with the primary of three sixth-round picks, the Patriots reached into the Div. II degree to pick out Northwest Missouri State defensive lineman Sam Roberts. Roberts is a 6-foot-4, 293-pound energy rusher, who gained the 2021 Cliff Harris award as one of the best defender exterior of Div. I. He tallied 6.5 sacks and 18 tackles for loss final yr.
He was the one defensive lineman the Patriots drafted. According to The Athletic, Robert was initially speculated to enroll as an offensive lineman, however flipped to protection as a result of this system ran out of scholarships. After redshirting in 2016, he broke out for six sacks in 2018, recorded 5 the next season and had his 2020 season canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Over his profession, Roberts blocked 5 kicks and completed as a first-team Division II All-American. He is a lifelong Patriots fan.
“It seems like it’s a little fairytale ending almost. You grow up watching this team and then they end up picking you in the draft. It’s just like, wow,” Roberts informed reporters. “I’m at a loss for words, and it’s been like two hours now.”
The Patriots’ last sixth-round decide grew to become LSU offensive lineman Chasen Hines, a 6-foot-3, 327-pounder with lengthy arms. Hines began 16 video games at proper guard the previous two seasons and beforehand gained expertise as a backup heart and left guard.
Hines flipped from protection to offense in 2018, indicating he has untapped potential as a blocker, notably contemplating the explosion he displayed posting high marks within the vertical and broad jumps on the NFL Combine. Last yr, the 22-year-old dedicated only a single penalty in eight video games.
If he makes the staff, Hines initiatives as a backup for brand new beginning proper guard Mike Onwenu, with first-round rookie Cole Strange beginning at left guard.
Inside the staff’s offensive line room, Strange and Hines can have extra rookie firm, due to the Patriots’ last decide, Michigan offensive sort out Andrew Stueber. A 6-foot-7, 325-pound proper sort out, Stueber made the All-American second staff final yr and began for 2 seasons at Michigan.
He’s additionally performed proper guard, the place some evaluators consider he’ll stick within the execs. Stueber, a Connecticut native who grew up a Patriots fan, drew excessive reward from ESPN NFL Draft analyst Todd McShay in the course of the community’s telecast.
“I’ve just got a feeling about this guy. … Something about him and the way he’s always doing the right thing, he’s going to hang around for a while,” McShay mentioned.
Source: www.bostonherald.com