Notes from the Film Room: Projecting Patriots 2019 Rookie Class

I’ve spent the past week diving into any Patriots rookie film I can find and obviously there’s a ton out there. Each player sure has their Patriots-esque traits and seeing why the team picked them was pretty clear in almost every case.

How does each new rookie pick fit in? What’s their ceiling and who will they be in direct competition with? Let’s dive in now that I have a much better sense of all of them.

N’Keal Harry – WR

Harry was my favorite pick of the draft and what immediately jumps off the film is his size, yards-after-catch and ability on contested catches. That’s a huge plus for a Patriots receiver who projects to the outside and I think he’s a far better fit than when the Pats have gone small/fast in recent years with guys like Brandin Cooks and Phillip Dorsett.

Unless Josh Gordon or Demaryius Thomas are ready/available there’s a good chance for Harry to take the starting wide receiver spot opposite Julian Edelman. That can be an every-down position. And being a YAC monster means if he can earn Brady’s trust off the line he’ll get a lot of balls thrown his way like Gordon did immediately, a similar kind of player.

Maybe it’s a bit much to expect a rookie receiver to step into a starter’s role but based on his physicality and route running Harry has a really good chance to be an immediate contributor.

Joejuan Williams – CB

Williams is the perfect cornerback fit and that’s why it’s hard to hate it even if the Pats seem pretty set at the position. Williams’ size is what makes him stand out along with his accompanying length. Along with his physicality, he’s an ideal man cornerback.

Could he step in and beat out J.C. Jackson, whom I’ve got pencilled in as the starter opposite Stephon Gilmore? Absolutely. But he also could simply be a matchup tool initially if he needs some time to acclimate. What’s clear is that the Pats excel at finding and developing corners and they haven’t had one who checks all the boxes like Williams in a long time.

Chase Winovich – DE

It would be easy for me to call Winovich my favorite player of the draft and he’s close, but I’m still leaning Harry by a nose because I think Winovich will need some time to develop as most defensive ends do when they enter the NFL.

But like those taken by the Pats before him, he checks all the boxes. Ideally, I think his fit is in the old Rob Ninkovich spot at left defensive end. Winovich was a hand down defensive end, but his combine performance left no doubt that he has the athleticism to play some snaps standing up as Nink used to do.

The edge/defensive end position is largely unproven but with the departure of Trey Flowers, it’s a major need for someone to step up. Maybe it will be done by committee as it was in the early days of Nink, or maybe Winovich brings the same kind of fire and toughness and steps right into an early down role.

Damien Harris – RB

I think there were people knocking the selection of Harris. I’m not sure, I didn’t see much of it but that seemed to be the scuttlebutt. Couldn’t disagree more, as Harris is a one-cut runner with some upside as a pass catcher, not to mention a team captain. He’s really good insurance for Michel and Burkhead and even White to an extent.

The more I watched of him the more upset I was that I missed him on my Big Board. He had the 11th-best combine 40 times for running backs but it’s his power that will probably be most appealing this season. He shares traits with all the Patriots’ current backs and while there’s isn’t an immediate need for him to step in, he could find himself playing a bigger role sooner than later if injuries strike again like they did last year.

Yodney Cajuste – OT

Tackle is a pretty big need with Trent Brown and LaAdrian Waddle leaving but I’m unsure how ready Cajuste is to step right in. His size, length and play demeanor are all plusses, but his feet need work and he has limited experience in the running game.

If anything it would seem that the third swing tackle role might be Cajuste’s ceiling for 2019 as Dante Scarnecchia molds him. At this stage it looks like Cole Croston will be Cajuste’s biggest competition for a role.

Hjalte Froholdt – OG/C

Froholdt doesn’t have the feet issues that Cajuste does. He’s an athletic interior lineman who played mostly at left guard but can also play center. That versatility is huge. But the bigger point is that Froholdt is very much in the Joe Thuney/Shaq Mason mold of movers. He can get out into space and has great athleticism and demeanor to finish blocks.

Froholdt might be the most underrated pick of the Patriots draft. He’s still raw but of course the Patriots don’t mind raw because they have the best offensive linemen coaching in the league. He’ll step right into competition with Ted Karras and James Ferentz.

Jarrett Stidham – QB

Like all college quarterbacks, Stidham is really hard to project. He certainly had his great throws and games but inconsistency and a down senior year with limited talent on Auburn hurt him. He checks the basic boxes – size, leadership, athletic ability, even his arm is better than you might think for his draft status.

But knowing a young quarterback can put it together at the NFL level is impossible and Stidham is just like Danny Etling in that regard. A B-level prospect who you can’t sleep on but you’re not sure if he’ll even be on an NFL roster in a year. There are traits to be excited about and maybe in an NFL system with NFL players he’ll blossom. He and Etling will go head to head for the third QB spot and hopefully, they bring the best out of each other.

Byron Cowart – DL

Cowart is a scheme projection as he was mostly a defensive end at Arkansas but he’s more likely to slide inside for the Patriots. So the question is really whether he’s a Lawence Guy-type (he’s an inch and 15 pounds smaller than Guy) or if he’s a Dietrich Wise kind of defensive end with less interior potential.

Either way there’s some use for him, though if he could excel inside on early downs it might be his most direct line to a roster spot. Depth behind Guy and Mike Pennel is non-existent and there’s no clear favorite to be that rotational player.

Cowart has good length and athleticism and is disruptive even if his stats don’t jump off the page. He’s one of then more fluid projections who should see time at a number of spots in training camp, including defensive tackle, right defensive end and interior sub rusher.

Jake Bailey – P

The ultimate Belichick troll pick, Bailey’s fit is obvious — he’s going to try to take Ryan Allen’s job. Allen held off Corey Bojorquez last season and Bailey has close to the leg Bojorquez did. Allen’s only on a one-year deal so that is an advantage for Bailey, who will get a four-year deal for less money than the proven Allen will command. His right-footedness could be a small detractor though too.

Ken Webster – CB

I slept on Webster in the early days post-draft but no longer. Like Williams he’s a physical corner though he’s more compact (5’11” 200). With the cornerbacks on the Pats’ roster dripping with talent and matchup strengths, Webster will have his work cut out for him. He’ll compete with Keion Crossen and Duke Dawson as the immediate guys on the bubble. Proving he can play inside might really help his cause.