According to Kellen Voss of Clutch Point "The New England Patriots did what they do best in the 2020 NFL draft: They traded out of the first round, and drafted some quality, overlooked defenders who can help boost an aging defense."
As predicted Belichick went trade happy throughout the draft, making eight trades and getting rid his orginally draft picks.
While the Patriots did address the defense, filling voids of players who heard the sounds of cash register bells. Belichick also addressed the offense with tackles and pass catching Tight Ends.
Not to be forgotten, he also addressed thee elephant in the room, selecting a kicker from Marshall. Thus making sure special teams would be ready for 2020.
One thing we have learned thanks to Belichick, it takes three phases to win a superbowl. Many think the Patriots reached when drafting Rohrwasser, instead of taking one of the receivers still available.
People aren't happy that the Patriots didn't start axing key players to sign a Marquise wide receiver. There are still gripes that can be heard loud and clear around the world about the Patriots signing undrafted free agents Riley, Zuber, Thomas, and Stidham's former pass catcher; Hastings from Auburn.
People are quick to point out that Harry had such low stats. Ask yourselves, When's the last time a Rookie missed not only Majority of the preseason but Majority of the regular and then led the league in stats? It doesn't happen unless one is playing madden.
Not only was Harry Injured but so was Sanu and Edelman. It was clear that Sanu was so focused on the pain and worried about getting hit, that he wasn't focusing on catching the ball, even when wide open.
Edelman put up one of the best years of his career. Both Edelman and Sanu should've been placed on the season ending IR and to had surgeries to repair their bodies.
However, that's not very becoming of Patriots receivers and the pair waited until after the season to have long overdue operations on their mangled bodies. Team before self, just another part of the Patriots Way.
One Bright spot being ignored is with Stidham's favorite receiver. "Meyers’ 63.4 percent catch rate is the sixth-highest for any rookie during the Belichick coaching era in
New England," according to Justin Trombino of Musket Fire.
Voss however, doesn't see a bright spot with the Patriots receiving core and Is going strictly off their stats as how good they are. Stats don't mean everything.
"In their recent ranking of wide receiving corps, Alex Chippin and Michael McClymont ranked the New England receiving room as 31st in the league.
This ranking makes sense, as the combination of a reliable, yet injury-prone Julian Edelman and the next two largely unproven wideouts in Philip Dorsett and Jakobi Meyers combining for 55 catches and under 800 yards, give New England a relatively weak receiving core compared to the rest of the league."
Thankfully the Patriots have been smart this preseason with their signings. Hoyer was probably the smartest decision they could've made in the free agency market, especially with Brady no longer desiring to be part of the Patriots or Pats Nation.
Speaking of Brady, Brady left Stidham in a good position however; unlike most former franchise quarterbacks in league history. Whether it was by choice or not, Brady allowed Stidham to develop with the first string during practice last season. Opportunities like that rookies don't normally get.
The Patriots could still sign a free agent receiver as there doesn't seem to be a market at the moment. Former Patriots Jordan Matthews, Demaryius Thomas and Austin Carr would improve the team's receiving core, once the Patriots free up some cap space.
The Patriots are already putting the 2020 Patriots in the best position to succeed both now and in the future. Adding one or all three of these guys to the receiver competition could be just enough to push the Patriots over the edge.
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