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Patriots Draft Fits

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Credit: SportingNews

With the 2022 NFL draft just days away lets take a look at a list of potential Patriots fits. Anything marked with an asterisk (*) is not only a fit, but should be on the big board.

WR

*Jahan Dotson – Penn State (Day 2)

*John Metchie – Alabama (Day 2)

Calvin Austin – Memphis (Day 3)

*George Pickens – Georgia (3rd-4th)

Alec Pierce – Cincy (3rd-4th)

*Kyle Phillips – UCLA (Day 3)

*Khalil Shakir – Boise State(Day 3)

Romeo Doubs – Nevada (Day 3)

*Jaquarri Roberson – Wake Forest (Day 3)

*Bo Melton – Rutgers (Day 3)

*Slade Bolden – Alabama (Day 3/UDFA)

OT

*Trevor Penning – Northern Iowa (1-2)

Daniel Faalele – Minnesota (Day 2)

Darian Kinnard – Kentucky (Day 2)

*Zach Tom – Wake Forest (Day 3)

Kellen Diesch – Arizona State (Day 3)

Dare Rosenthal – LSU (Day 3)

Tyler Vrabel – BC (Day 3)

*Vederian Lowe – Illinois (Day 3/UDFA)

CB

*Andrew Booth – Clemson (1)

*Kaiir Elam – Florida (1-2)

*Roger McCreary – Auburn (1-2)

*Coby Bryant – Cincy (Day 2)

Tariq Woolen – UTSA (Day 2)

*Cam Taylor Britt – Nebraska (Day 3)

*Zyon McCollum – Sam Houston (Day 3)

*Marcus Jones – Houston (Day 3)

*Josh Jobe – Alabama (Day 3)

Jack Jones – Arizona State (Day 3)

Jalyn Armour Davis – Alabama (Day 3)

Kyler McMichael – UNC (6-7)

LB

Nakobe Dean – Georgia (1)

*Christian Harris – Alabama (Day 2)

Brandon Smith – Penn State (Day 2)

*Brian Asamoah – Oklahoma (Day 2)

*Chad Muma – Wyoming (Day 2)

Leo Chenal – Wisconsin (Day2/3)

*Quay Walker – Georgia (Day 2)

*Troy Anderson – Montana State (Day 2/3)

*Channing Tindall – Georgia (Day 2)

Damone Clark – LSU (Day 3)

Mike Jones – LSU (Day 3)

*Micah McFadden – Indiana (Day 3)

OG

*Zion Johnson – BC (1)

*Andrew Stueber – Michigan (Day 2)

Ed Ingram – LSU (Day 2)

*Cole Strange – Chattanooga (Day 2/3)

*Dylan Parham – Memphis (Day 2/3)

**Jamaree Salyer – Georgia (Day 2/3)

*Ben Petrula – BC (7/UDFA)

*Alec Lindstrom – BC (Day3)

IDL

Jordan Davis – Georgia (1)

Devonte Wyatt – Georgia (1)

Perrion Winfrey – Oklahoma (Day2)

*Travis Jones – UConn (Day 2)

*Phidarian Mathis – Alabama (Day 2)

S

*Daxton Hill – Michigan (1/2)

Jaquan Brisker – Penn State (Day 2)

Lewis Cine – Georgia (Day 2)

DE

Jermaine Johnson – FSU (2)

Boye Mafe – Minnesota (2)

*Nik Bonitto – Oklahoma (Day 2)

Kingsley Enagbare – South Carolina (Day 2)

*Drake Jackson – USC (Day 2)

Josh Pascal – Kentucky (Day 2)

QB

Bailey Zappe – Western Kentucky (Day 3)

Jack Coan – Notre Dame (UDFA)

RB

Ty Chandler – UNC (Day 3)

*Hassan Haskins – Michigan (Day 3)

*Kyren Williams – Notre Dame (Day 3)

*James Cook – Georgia (Day 3)

Sincere McCormick – UTSA (Day 3)

*Brian Robinson – Alabama (Day 3)

Tyler Badie – Missouri (Day 3)

Jerrion Ealy – Ole Miss (7/UDFA)

Tight End

Trae Barry – BC (UDFA)

Chigoziem Okonkwo – Maryland (6-7)

Other/Late Flyer/UDFA

Matt Araiza – SDSU Punter (6-7)

Connor Heyward – Michigan State FB/TE (7)

Britain Covey – Utah WR (7-UDFA)

Bubba Bolden – Miami Safety (Day 3)

CJ Verdell – Oregon RB (7/UDFA)

Steven Gilmore – Marshall CB stephon’s brother (Late Day 3)

Josh Sills – Okla State IOL (Day 3)

Josh Ross – Michigan LB (Day 3)

Trestan Ebner – Baylor RB (UDFA)

EJ Perry – Brown QB (UDFA)

Coby Tippett – URI CB (UDFA)

Jared Bernhardt – Ferris St QB (UDFA)

James Houston – Jackson St Edge (7-UDFA)

Josh Onujiogu – Framingham St. Edge (UDFA)

Patriots Roster: So Many Questions, So Few Answers!

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(Photo by Billie Weiss/Getty Images)

As we count down the days to training camp we wait to see who, what and maybe. 

At the moment, we know only a little, really just who was signed and who has formally requested to be traded – I think that’s a new one. 

There are just so many questions to be answered, and many might not be answered until the end of August. 

There are lots of “good chances”. There’s a good chance Cam Newton is the starting quarterback, there’s a good chance Stephon Gilmore reworks his contract. I hope! 

But who makes that 53 man roster? 

How many running backs do they take with them? Will the drafted rookie be used or will he end up as a common Patriot running back with a redshirt year? Who will be the wide receivers? And with the two tight end sets they have might it even matter? Do they bring in another wide receiver, do they even trade N’Keal Harry, or will he play, or even be benched?

What does the o-line look like, just how strong is that defense? On paper both look pretty darn great. 

Will the Patriots have two kickers? (Okay, this last one is mildly crazy, but have you seen the kid’s leg? Boom!) And I find this fascinating, is it feasible to have two kickers on a 53 man roster? 

Common answer would be no. 

The most logical answer is no.

And that’s fair, but I kind of think kickers are underrated. 

The Patriots were spoilt. For 20 years they had a great quarterback. They also had a damn fine kicker for a lot of the time too. 

Then when Stephen Gostkowski took a turn for the worse fans were critical. That’s fair enough, but they say you don’t know how good you’ve got it until it’s gone. (No sh** Sherlock!)

Fortunately, Nick Folk has been solid and consistent. But can he keep it up? He moves into his 14th season in the NFL, and he’s on his 4th team with the Patriots. 

Do they roll the dice on the new kid? The one who can bomb it from 60+ yards… but can he keep it between the sticks? 

There’s just so much, and it’s crazy how the Patriots are into year two ATB (after Tom Brady) and there’s so much more we do not know than year one ATB. 

How great is that though? The fact that the Patriots have depth. I find myself in conversations of who might make the roster and there’s really good players that I just can’t make fit! 

In a few mere weeks we will see some of these kids in action (as such), and then in seven weeks (at the time of writing this) we will know. WE WILL KNOW! 

Ain’t being a football fan fabulous? 

Go Pats! 

Quick Hits on Patriots Positional Groups

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As I not-so-patiently wait for the first rookie helmet/number reveal it’s a good time to run through the Patriots position groups heading into mini-camps. There’s still some team building to be done over the course of the summer — re-works (Hi Gronk!), extensions perhaps — but for the most part the Patriots’ main core is set.

Like nearly all Patriots’ teams, this one has some question marks and some noticeable lack of depth at certain spots. But the Pats will do what they do, let competition and injuries play out and then figure things out from there.

Here are two notes on each position group.

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McDaniels is Staying with Patriots

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The Patriots have done the seemingly impossible by only increasing and adding to the drama and intrigue since losing Super Bowl 52. Josh McDaniels spurned the Colts after a long sit-down with Robert and Jonathan Kraft and Bill Belichick and will remain with the team.

Belichick is still locked for 2018 according to Mike Reiss, but it would appear McDaniels is now the successor-in-waiting, even if no assurances were made.

Given how the Super Bowl unfolded I think pretty much everyone can agree it was on defense where the changes were most needed. McDaniels and Brady have a special relationship as we saw in Tom vs. Time — keeping that intact for the rest of Brady’s career will ensure they squeeze every last bit out of the quarterback.

Brady and McDaniels can just keep on trucking, welcoming back Julian Edelman and Malcom Mitchell to an already-deep group.

The questions for them start at tackle and running back. I would bet a two-year deal like they did with Matt Light in 2011 makes sense with Solder. Then it’s a coin toss with either Dion Lewis or Rex Burkhead. Keep one, add in mid/low-level free agency and draft. It will be interesting to see how they evolve.

After almost losing everyone but Belichick, getting back McDaniels and all the coaches he was taking with him (ST Joe Judge, QB Jerry Shuplinski) is a welcome relief. I don’t know what exactly it means for Belichick, whether he plans on transitioning to more of a general manager role or just peacing out, but it appears McDaniels will be the next head coach, maybe as soon as 2019.

Re-Living Super Bowl 49

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Hard to believe it’s been a year. (via Patriots win Super Bowl on Butler’s interception – YouTube)

This moment will never be topped because I can’t imagine ever being so assured of defeat only to steal a victory at the last possible moment. It also just goes to show how much has to go right to win a Super Bowl. You not only have to play your best game, but you have to make all the clutch plays, something only one team will do.

(Source: https://www.youtube.com/)

PatsPropagaganda 2015 Season Wrap

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It’s hard to believe another season is in the books and with it my ninth season of blogging the Patriots and sixth here writing PatsPropaganda.

First and foremost I have to thank everyone who once again supported the site, bought t-shirts, asked questions, read my stuff and kept me entertained during one of the more blah years of Patriots football. I write this site because of you and as I always say every year, you’re why I keep it going. So thank you to every one of you and your messages of support mean the world to me and keep me going.

Some highlights to share include once again partnering with NRG Energy and getting to send a bunch of fans and friends to games over the season. Also sent out plenty of signed merchandise and swag bags, so thank you to NRG Energy for the second year in a row of giving me a chance to help spread the word about all the great things they’re doing – real things that actually matter for this planet far more than football does.

Thanks as well to Tide for their partnership on the #OurColors campaign! I’ll be shopping at NFLShop.com for the foreseeable future because of them.

Highlight of the year for me was going to Pats-Jets game in Week 7. We had a great giveaway contest and sent a great Jets fan to the game (I know I know). That was also the game I made my yearly trip home for and got to go to a Patriots game with my Dad for the first time since the 80′s. Special times.

Once again spent the pregame tailgate with awesome Patriots fans, giving away NRG swag and eating free food. Doesn’t get any better than that! Here’s the video I made of the whirlwind trip which had me in Boston for 36 hours total. All worth it of course, and not just because the Pats beat the Jets.

Finally, some notes on the future. In the coming weeks I’ll be migrating the site from Tumblr to a fully hosted Word Press site. This will open the door to expanding if I so choose, but is immediately aimed at making the site more user friendly for what is most important – the writing content. Hopefully there will be no major glitches. The Tumblr version will remain as it currently is, and the new main site will be unveiled sometime in February (or sooner if the mood strikes me).

I am also helping to start a new blog called The Rams Report that will be based out of Los Angeles following in similar fashion to PatsProp, you guessed it, the new LA Rams. Right now we’re starting to look for writers, especially anyone LA-based, so if you or anyone you know are interested please email ramsreport16 at gmail.com.

And now we’re on to the Patriots 2016 season starting with free agency and the draft (Hoodie help us). Last year we savored a fourth Super Bowl but this year I’m already getting excited for the 2016 campaign. The injured guys will be back with the team almost completely intact. Brady’s still in his prime. The schedule is a beast. This should be one to remember.

It’s Time for a Patriots Power Running Resurgence via BetonSports.com

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The Patriots season might be over, but things are already in motion for next year’s campaign, and with limited roster turnover, the Pats’ Super Bowl Odds should be near the top of the pack for 2016. 

The question right now, as they plan for the offseason, is how do they stay fresh and avoid complacency?

After reading this interesting piece from WEEI.com, it’s worth pondering if it’s time for the Patriots’ offense to begin their next evolution. Look, Tom Brady is Tom Brady, and there’s no use suddenly trying to go to the run-and-shoot or the wishbone because he does what he does and he does it amazingly well, but as Brady will hit 39 this season, how can the Patriots protect and extend the playing career of their best all-time quarterback?

The Patriots offense has gone through many evolutions over Brady’s career. Early on he wore the “game manager” label, but slowly became more and more efficient and knowledgeable within the offense, earning the remark that his “favorite receiver was the open one”.

Deion Branch and David Givens were his early weapons and when they exited it opened the door for the free agency and trade haul of 2007 with Randy Moss, Wes Welker and Donte Stallworth. That offense would go on to set records and fall just short of a perfect season.

Then came the return of Branch in 2010, and combined with Welker, and young tight ends Rob Gronkowski and Aaron Hernandez, it became the “death by a thousand cuts” offense which pushed offensive pace to a new level.

This iteration is largely what we still see today, as it maximizes Brady’s strengths – reading the defense, accurately throwing the ball short. When it’s clicking it’s unstoppable, but as we saw against the Broncos, and in other season-ending defeats to teams who can generate pass rush pressure with only four defenders, it can break down at times.

When that happens the offense can look flat and suicidal for Brady and his receivers.

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Now you might’ve noticed there’s one small thing I’ve left out of this discussion of the Patriots offense, and that is the running game. And I’m not talking about the passing down back role held by the likes of Kevin Faulk, Danny Woodhead, Shane Vereen and then the combination of Dion Lewis and James White this season. That’s a huge role in the offense and a vital one, but that’s not what we’re here to talk about. 

We, like the Patriots, have forgotten about the power running game.

Ironically, the great grandfather of the Patriots’ offensive system (The Erhardt-Perkins Offense) was originally predicated on smash mouth ball control and didn’t ask running backs to get involved in the passing game. Obviously that has been flipped on its head now. 

The kind of powerful running backs the Patriots could lean on have slowly disappeared from New England over the last 15 seasons. The first two Super Bowls were heavily reliant on Antowan Smith, the third was a ton of Corey Dillon. Even Laurence Maroney had his moments like 2007′s AFC Championship, but since Maroney’s quick rise and quicker fall, the power back role has almost been an after thought. 

Unless you want to talk about the Sammy Morris years. Which I don’t. 

LeGarrette Blount is the closest thing we’ve had to one of those old fashioned war horses and while he’s had some big games, mostly against the Colts, he often struggles to generate early momentum against tough fronts. Stevan Ridley showed some spark at times, but lacked the faith of the coaching staff to truly fill the power back role and be a consistent closer. 

At the end of this season the Patriots were left to pull Stevan Jackson off the retirement scrap heap, and while he gave them a touchdown in the AFC Championship, he was well past his prime of being an impact player.

All this leads us back to now being the time the Patriots must re-commit to the power running game. They essentially have carte blanche this offseason at the position with Blount a free agent and just unknown Tyler Gaffney sitting with Brandon Bolden on the depth chart. 

With limited pressing needs they should return to their roots with multiple impact additions, both in the draft and free agency.

The simple fact is that the Patriots at the end of the 2015 season could not run the ball even against light boxes with sub-package secondaries behind them. They were one-dimensional and forced to send Brady back to pass over and over. The result? The defense could attack him and Brady paid the price for it too many times.

The Patriots were lucky he escaped the season finale in Miami without a broken leg, much less so the AFC Championship where he was hit more than any other quarterback in a decade.

The cupboard cannot be left barren heading into training camp. The Patriots must add at least two explosive new running backs who can compete and insure each other against injury. Preferably ones with size and young, fresh legs.

The results would be fantastic. And they have the personnel to immediately help – Gronkowski, Edelman and LaFell are all excellent blockers, and guard Shaq Mason is one of the most athletic young pulling guards in the game. They have the pieces and could make teams who want to play them with their nickel or dime defense pay mightily.

Best of all it takes the pressure off of Brady and the constant punishment which he won’t be able to endure and walk away scratch-free from much longer.

The Pats always stay ahead of the curve. This time, staying ahead of the curve means going back to their original roots.