The 2020 NFL Draft is in the Books. The New England Patriots started the draft with 12 draft picks and ended with 9 selections overall. Belichick made 8 trades throughout the three day draft process. The Patriots answered almost all of their team needs, and are sure to fill remaining holes via the undrafted free agent signings. Overall it looks like CBS Sports is giving the Patriots a draft grade of a B. Here are some short draft profiles on every draft pick by various analysts and a list of the current UDFA signings by the Patriots at the time of this blog.
Kyle Dugger Pick 37 S Lenior Rhyne
"He has very good versatility to be able to help the team in a variety of ways. Dugger has the range to play deep safety. He can be left alone on an island in a deep zone and still do well. Dugger can also come up and play in the box to help stop the run. His versatility will help him stay on the field in all situations for an NFL team." Joe DiTullio Game Haus
"He has rare traits that cannot be coached, making his development promising. Once Dugger is comfortable, he’ll be a quality starter. Thanks to his size and length, Dugger can be used in many different ways by defensive coordinators. If needed he can line up in the box as an outside linebacker and shifted in the slot to cover receivers." - Joe Deleone Big Blue View
"The debate with Kyle Dugger lies with where he's best implemented. A bit of a tweener, Dugger is at his best in instances where he's tasked with rallying to the football. There's a terrific skill set to work with, mold and develop at the next level but Dugger is an elite athlete who entering the league would benefit from a "find the football" role. Likely puts him on the field as a WILL to start but his dynamic athleticism and stature project best as a developmental SS and special teams ace." - Crabbs Draft Network
Josh Uche Pick 60 Edge Michigan
"Michigan EDGE Josh Uche projects as a starting EDGE in a “multiple” defense. While he has the ability to play as a SAM in a 4-3 defense, his greatest asset is his versatility to line up as a defensive end one play and a true off-ball linebacker the next. He will be best used in a defense that will allow him to move around the front seven and use that versatility to create mismatches and uncertainty on the offensive line.
Uche has a great first step and is sudden off the line of scrimmage, and that is his greatest weapon as a pass rusher. He is able to get less athletic tackles on their heels immediately, which lets him win with either his speed or converting his speed to power. Uche favors a rip move, and it should get better as he gets more experience. He already shows a good ability to use his hands and arms to keep blockers from locking in on his chest plate, but he could stand improvement in beating them efficiently." - Chris Pflum Big Blue View
"Balancing Uche's skill set and athletic potential against his inexperience and lack of instincts makes him a challenging evaluation. He's unlikely to find sustained success as a situational rusher, but it should be in play for a team to turn loose his rush instincts and agility inside the pocket as a blitzer. He plays with closing burst, can tackle and is smoother in coverage than expected, but the difference in becoming a pro linebacker instead of a short-term, hybrid athlete will depend largely upon improving his second-level instincts and finding an eclectic defensive mind to unlock his potential." Zierlein NFL.COM
Anfernee Jennings Pick 87 Edge Alabama
"Overall, Jennings is a good player who feels “NFL ready.” He simply lacks high NFL upside, may end up playing ILB, where he would do well, and as an EDGE rusher, probably is a #3 rotational player as opposed to every-down starter." - Alex Kozora - Steelers Depot
"Stand-up 3-4 outside linebacker with an average rush, but good strength and technique at the point of attack. Jennings knows what it takes to win and plays assignment-oriented football using length and physicality to set hard edges. He plays with a tough field demeanor and can lay the lumber as a striker but is just an average athlete in space. His frame and toughness could make him an eventual starter as a run-thumping 3-4 OLB, but he needs more development as a rusher in order to reach his potential." Zierlein NFL.com
"Alabama EDGE Anfernee Jennings is a true technician as both a pass rusher and run defender. His processing skills, responses and technique all shine as an experienced defender for Nick Saban in the SEC. He has good functional strength, hand usage and overall fundamentals. With that said, his lack of an explosive athletic profile and twitch are concerning when forecasting the impact he will make at the next level. Jennings has the upside to become a quality starter as a base end in a 4-3 defense at the next level. " Marino TDN
Devin Asiasi Pick 91 TE UCLA
"Asiasi is a powerfully built tight end who offers intriguing athleticism and untapped potential. Smooth off the snap, showing good core flexibility to dip and slip by defenders attempting to jam, as well as surprising suddenness in his acceleration and breaks. Moves well for a big man, including when hurdling over defenders (Utah) or racing past them (USC). Can open up and get moving very well, presenting a difficult matchup for opponents. Naturally powerful blocker who delivers a strong initial pop on defenders with the lateral agility and balance to shuffle and mirror. Terrific core flexibility and length to make late adjustments, recovering on snaps in which he appears to be beaten." - FLM
•"Color me intrigued by the growth and potential of Asiasi in a less than loaded tight end draft class. Despite only one year of production he is a reliable pass catcher who can be lined up all over the field and used on all three levels. He has shown good aggressiveness to pass and run block and has improved to the point where it looks like he may enjoy it now. He’s not explosive and didn’t show the ability to create after the catch but it’s hard to find a tight end that can do everything. I’m curious to see his Combine numbers and if he impresses there he may hear his name fairly early in the draft." - Tom Mead Steelers Depot.
Dalton Keene Pick 101 TE Virginia Tech
"Keene has some versatility, is a good blocker and solid after the catch. As a receiver he can be used in the short area on delayed releases and check downs. As a blocker he is tenacious, has good technique and sustains his blocks. He is lean and has room to add some strength and needs to work on his route running if he wants a bigger role. I think he’ll have a role as the #3 tight end to be used mostly as a run and pass blocker as a fullback or on the wing and will be a core special team player." - Tom Mead Steelers Depot
"Dalton Keene projects as a move piece TE at the NFL level. Keene is an intriguing receiver who was underutilized at the college level but constantly flashes athleticism after the catch and ball skills to haul in passes that test his catch radius. There's some irregular framing of blocks and he's too often overextended at the point of attack — an issue that needs to be solved for him to transition from H- back role to gaining reps as a more traditional in-line tight end. High upside in the pass game. " - Crabbs TDN
Justin Rohrwasser Pick 159 K Marshall
"This past year was the best of his collegiate career. Rohrwasser made 86% of his field goals, including a 50 and 53 yarders. He also averaged 60.1 yards per kickoff. He earned Conference USA Special Teams Player of the Year honors, first team all-conference honors and was Marshall’s Special Teams MVP. At his Pro Day this spring, Rohrwasser made 12 of 13 field goal attempts with a long of 58 yards. His only miss was at 66 yards, which went wide right." - Mark Daniels Providence Journal
"He was the Conference USA Special Teams Player of the Year in 2019, the first time a kicker won the award since 2005.CBS Sports had Rohrwasser ranked as the eighth-best kicker and 530th best prospect overall, yet he was the first kicker selected in the draft.Rohrwasser’s top moment came against Western Kentucky, when he was iced twice before drilling a 53-yard game-winner." - CBS Boston
Michael Onwenu Pick 182 G Michigan
"Michael Onwenu projects as a reserve guard at the NFL level with starting potential in very specific circumstances. But while he has experience in a variety of blocking schemes, he does not have scheme versatility. Onwenu might be able to seize a starting job, but only if his future coach can scheme to take advantage of his rare size and power, while scheming away from his athletic limitations. Onwenu should only be asked to pull, play in space, or on the run as infrequently as possible. He will play faster than he will time thanks to good awareness and processing speed allowing him to get into position in a timely manner. In the right circumstances, Onwenu’s low center of gravity, lower-body fluidity, arm length, and rare power could make him an intriguing “anvil” to a more mobile blocker’s “hammer”.
As with all bigger players, teams will have to pay close attention to Onwenu’s weight, body composition, and conditioning." - Chris Pflum BigBlueView
Justin Herron Pick 195 OT Wake Forest
"Justin Herron started for Wake Forest across four seasons, bouncing back nicely from an ACL tear in 2018. There are positive components to his work in pass protection in terms of how he frames rushers and keeps them at the end of his reach. He’s patient and works to stay square on the perimeter while showcasing adequate foot quickness. Herron’s lack of functional strength and body control in the run game are restrictive to creating vertical push. Herron profiles as a developmental backup that offers versatility but may need to move inside to guard at the next level. He projects best to a zone blocking run scheme." - Marino TDN
"Herron is flexible and athletic with the foot quickness to compete in a camp as a zone-blocking guard. However, he's often in a state of flux and having to fight for survival due to suspect hand usage and body control. He may not have enough play strength to withstand NFL defensive tackles in one-on-one situations, but he does have intriguing athletic traits and may be looked at as a developmental prospect." - Zierlein NFL.com
Cassh Malula Pick 204 LB Wyoming
Runs A 4.53 forty. Maluia wasn't really on the draft radar this year, but the Patriots are really good at finding those under-the-radar players that don't exactly stand out on tape. He's stocky at 6-foot, 248 pounds and plays very well downhill from the linebacking position. Because he has special teams value mostly, head coach Bill Belichick is on board. There's no guarantee that Maluia will develop into a starting linebacker, but the Patriots might be able to use him situationally and on special teams.
Cassh Maluia is the less heralded linebacker prospect out of Laramie this fall, but he may have helped himself with a fine pro day showing of his own despite lingering questions about the refinement of his aggressive play and coverage skills." - Matthew Kenerly Mountain WestWire
Dustin Woodard Pick 230 C Memphis
"One of the more athletic interior linemen in this class, Woodard is flying a bit under the radar after not receiving a Combine invite. His film is unspectacular at times but he is a hard nosed player who moves well and plays physical. He would be a good camp player to compete for depth on the interior." - Zach Hicks from StampedeBlue
"Dustin Woodard out of Memphis is the pick as a result. Though he’s an undersized offensive lineman at only 285 pounds, he plays with solid strength and is a great mover as a pulling guard..." "will need to bulk him up but, as a developmental late-round prospect, the upside is there." - Cody William's NFL Spin Zone
UDFA Signings: (Will Try To Update)
QB J’Mar Smith, Louisiana Tech
RB J.J. Taylor, Arizona
WR Will Hastings, Auburn
WR Isaiah Zuber, Mississippi State
WR Sean Riley, Syracuse
WR Jeff Thomas, Miami
TE Rashod Berry, Ohio State
LB Kyahva Tezino, San Diego State
LB De'Jon Harris Arkansas
DT Bill Murray, William & Mary
DT Courtney Wallace Jr Louisiana Tech
CB Myles Bryant, Washington
Edge Nick Coe, Auburn
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