Okay, so the draft may be long gone, but the weight of that draft may be sitting heavy on some younger players shoulders, and not just from this year.
The expectations on a high draft pick are, as expected, high.
With the way that the draft turned out in 2021 (and I’m pretty sure plenty of years prior) is this really a fair perspective?
I am not knocking Mac Jones, no sir I am not. I’m ready to get behind this guy, and that isn’t because he was drafted 15th overall… although that doesn’t hurt! But my point on this one is he was originally pegged as second round talent. Then the quarterback frenzy began and within mere weeks, he was rocketed to possibly the third overall selection.
Wowzers!
Now okay, he didn’t GO third overall, he went 15th, but he was the fourth quarterback chosen in the top, well… 15!
What about N’Keal Harry?
I think this guy has nations divided! Patriots Nation that is. He was a first round selection… at 32, so like the last one in round one… But I don’t think that the issue at hand here was his actual draft position selection more so the fact that players taken after him have proven to be so very much better.
Now not so little N’Keal hasn’t had the greatest of success what with being 115th overall on the PFF stats for wide receivers in 2020. Eep. Especially when undrafted Jakobi Meyers ranked 25th!
How heavy does that round 1 shirt weigh on Harry’s shoulders? To be honest, there are plenty of other factors, but I want to look at the flip side for minute.
This years New England Patriots final pick in the seventh round was Tre Nixon, also a wide receiver. So has this guy got less to worry about?
Well, put it in perspective, last year a player picked even later than Nixon, chosen 250th overall in the seventh round, this particular tight end was expected by many to fill the HUGE shoes of Rob Gronkowski and be a TE1. A role he wasn’t really skilled enough to fill, but worked as hard as he could to produce.
So don’t get resting on those laurels, Mr 242 Tre Nixon.
Now I’m not just singling out N’Keal here, but the Patriots draft history has been really rather light on high round draft picks, let alone high offensive player choices.
Does their sum of previous parts weigh heavy on the kid’s shoulders too?
Or is this guy just not quite what they thought he was going to be?
Sony Michel was drafted in 2018 at the number 31 spot and I don’t think I would be remiss in saying people were quick to judge too, but he managed to perform really well, mostly. You could add how his college team mate Nick Chubb was picked at number 35 and well, we’ve all seen what that guy can do!
The pondering will be is Harry good, great, in the wrong system, or just a bust? Is this kid being crushed by the weight of the draft? And if so, how heavy is the weight of that number ONE on Mac Jones?
Like everything, time will tell, but as always, it’s fun to find out! Go Pats!