Where is Mac Jones Ranked?

Mac Jones was said to be the most NFL ready quarterback entering the draft. There were disputes on whether he was a first or second round prospect, with those who said he was the latter saying "Mac's only going in the first due to lack of talent." The way he was talked about it was reasonable to think Mac would be a bottom of the barrel starter, someplace in the 25-32 range. Mac exceeded that tier.

At the end of the season, depending on what site was looked at, Mac Jones was ranked as an average quarterback. Some place between 14-18. Looking at NFL.com on February 16th, they had Mac as the 16 ranked quarterback. The dead average position for a starter. That's not bad after a rookie season and it shows that when it's said that his ceiling is low, it's because he's so much closer to it than the other guys that came out with him. 

Mac Jones's 67.6 completion percentage was the 8th best a starter, he was 13th in yards with over 3800. Mac's 4.2 touchdown percentage was 16th among starters. He only had a 2.5 interception percentage which was 20th. Now some of these areas are tied to his talent around him, I get it but the Patriots did improve that talent this off season.

Mac only had one 4th quarter comeback and that was his only game winning drive, which had him ranked for 21st. That is one of the best ways to determine how good a quarterback is. The problem is not every quarterback that is good or elite finds themselves having to pull their team out from a loss. Not every good quarterback has to have game winning drives or 4th quarterback comebacks.

So we're forced to go off stats and opnion based off what is seen. Mac doesn't have the experience of other quarterbacks, so that may influence some of what we see. I am going to put the quarterbacks into three tiers. Those that are better than Mac, those that are close to equal and those that are worse. Since modern quarterbacks rely on their legs, some quarterbacks maybe ranked better then expected. This will be my opnion based off of 2021.

Brady, Allen, Rodgers, Stafford, Herbert, Burrow, Mahomes, Murray, Hurts are better than Mac. I have seen people knock Murray but he ran for 429 yards and 5 touchdowns. NFL.com has Murray ranked as the 8th best and he should definitely be a top 10 due to his legs. The same with Hurts. Watson is not being added until I see that he will be cleared to play but, he would be in this tier.

My first tier only had 9 guys excluding Watson, meaning some of these guys are borderline top 10 and some are borderline basement guys. Prescott, Carr, Wilson, Tannehill, Cousins, Jackson, Ryan, Bridgewater, Wentz, Garoppolo, Golf are all equivalent to Mac Jones as of the end of the 2021 season. Some of those guys again were products of their team or talent around them, I get that but based off of everything, this is the group Mac finds himself around. These are average guys. They are above average to average game managers. These are system quarterbacks.

Winston, Tagovailoa, D. Jones, Mayfield, Heinicke, Fields, Hill, Mills, Lawrence, Lance, Darnold, Newton, Dalton, Taylor, Rudolph, Wilson, Trubisky, Pickett, Mariota, Fitzpatrick. These are the below average game managers. They can barely do what's asked and cannot carry a team. Some are in development and others are on the way to holding a clipboard. There maybe some other's I've missed that belong with these guys.

NFL.com had Mac Jones ranked 16th, I think that's a fair spot to start the 2022 season. With the coaching situation, Mac is going to have to be extra to improve from that rank. Mental breakdown is the only way I see Mac digressing. Mac is in development still, so middle of the pack is where he should start and a fringe top 10 is where I expect him to crack by season end. I don't know if he'll ever crack the top 10 but the fringe should be reachable for him. 

Where do the Patriots rank?

The NFL released the league power rankings. I'm a believer that one has to start where the team finished and then add in additions and departures to determine ranking. I don't factor in the schedule because that's another subject. There have been countless seasons where teams that were good on paper had a bad schedule and fell off for one reason or the other.

Dan Hanzus of NFL.com listed the power rankings. The Buffalo Bills were given the top spot and the defending superbowl champions, the Los Angeles Rans were bumped down to number two. And the defending AFC champions were knocked down to fourth. The Patriots were twelveth in 2021 winning the sixth seed but got blown out to the Buffalo Bills.

Hanzus has the Patriots ranked seventeenth in the league and tenth in the AFC. Before the draft people were talking about expectations for the team and some were saying the Patriots over achieved for a team in a rebuild. Typical if a team is in a rebuild. They get better every advancing year or that's the theory. So early in the offseason, Vicariously Patriots wrote that they expected the Patriots to finish with at least a wildcard birth.

The Patriots lost a good portion of their staff, along with their top cornerback. They also have an uncertainty at linebacker but they did trade for DeVante Parker. And it's too early to tell how they did with their draft. It's one thing to expect them to win the seventh seed in the AFC, which is very well possible. However, expectations and initial power rankings are two different things. 

This writer believes fourteenth to sixteenth was a fair ranking. Seventeenth is only a spot off but still middle of the pack. That's not bad granted they're the tenth AFC team listed. All four AFC West and three of the AFC North teams are ranked above them. So being a middle of the pack team should work in their favor, as the other teams are going to beat up on each other. With that, if the Patriots are ranked correctly, fans should be happy when they look to determine the Patriots record predictions in the coming weeks.

OTAs are in New England

The last time there was anything news related to talk about was May 17th or 18th. It's now May 25th and there's something new to talk about as OTAs are now taking place. Since the 18th, there has still been talk in the media about the coaching staff and the draft. Those are just stories the media is running with to fill content need. There really isn't anything new going to come out until August concerning the coaches and the draft is done so unless Robert Kraft says something. Anymore criticism over the draft is to trash the Patriots.

Mac Jones has learned that he cannot be walking around like Jay Cutler at the end of his career and that he needed to get into NFL game shape. This is something most players know and a former Patriots quarterback turned into a brand. 

Mac Jones said, “I just cleaned up my diet. I’ve learned more this offseason than I probably ever have about nutrition, sleep, wellness, all that stuff. At the same time, I need to be able to maintain my weight and be able to take hits,” he continued. “There’s a fine balance for every player. I’ve definitely trimmed down on the body fat, and I’ll get a chance to bulk up before the season starts and be able to absorb hits.”

Attendance: This is OTAs and people need to remember that. There was talk about N'keal Harry not showing up. How the must be the writing is on the wall. However, Matthew Judon, Isaiah Wynn, and Nick Folk weren't present. Does that mean the writing is on the wall for them also? There were like 12 Patriots not in attendance on day one of OTAs 

The outside corner position has been a huge topic of conversation since before the 2021 season ended. The Patriots added some pieces to the secondary to address the need. However, the media hasn't been so kind, questioning the team's moves. The good news is one of the two rookies is showing signs of life. Referring of course to Jack Jones who slipped down draft boards due to off field issues at college.

Paul Perillo wrote, "Another fluid athlete who stood out was Jack Jones. The rookie cornerback moves effortlessly and also showed the ability to high-point the ball effectively during drills. Toward the end of practice he worked with J.J. Taylor and Malcolm Perry returning punts and Belichick spent a couple of extended periods discussing his techniques during the drill."

Receivers With the trading for DeVante Parker and the drafting of Tyquan Thornton people knew there would be changes with the Patriots order at receiver. It looks like that maybe taking place. Could we see Agholor moved to the Z role and Thorton out to the slot? Evan Lazar of CLNS spoke about what he saw coming from the receivers.

Lazar wrote, "Unfortunately, Patriots rookie Tyquan Thornton was limited in today’s session, so we didn’t get to see the rookie in live drills. However, DeVante Parker is acclimating himself quickly into the offense and was heavily involved at receiver. Parker had the play of the day during team drills when he snuck behind New England’s secondary for a long touchdown pass from Brian Hoyer on a deep post pattern. Parker had fresh legs and some legit burst coming off the line in his reps. Based on the way things are going, it shouldn’t surprise anyone if Parker is New England’s starting “X” receiver, not Nelson Agholor or Thornton."

Alex Barth was keeping an eye on the linebackers but without pads, how much can really be taken away from their practice. The linebacking core is apparently showing life with one player getting Barth's attention. And that's a player returning from injury.

Barth wrote, "Monday was the first chance we’ve had to see McMillan since that injury, and he appears to be picking up where he left off. He was heavily involved in the practice, and appeared to be moving well. Speaking with the media after practice, he told reporters he’s 'pretty much full go.' "

Patriots 2022 first round pick Cole Strange is already showing why he was drafted in the first round with several media members hyping him up. Andrew Callahan had Strange as the player of the day.

Callahan wrote, "Strange started at left guard and hardly moved from that spot during team drills. His elite athleticism was evident on several outside runs. Strange won’t be able to fully showcase his talent until the pads come on, but the Patriots clearly think highly of what the rookie has shown them to date."

The Patriots are using Malcolm Perry everywhere. Fans thought D'eriq King would be doing what we're hearing from Perry. The Patriots signed Perry to the practice squad last season and to a future's contract this off season. NESN's Zack Cox was one of many to take notice of how evolved Perry was.

Cox wrote, "Jack Jones, Perry and running back J.J. Taylor took punt-return reps. Bill Belichick stopped by during that period to give Jones, a rookie fourth-rounder, some 1-on-1 instruction...." "Perry, a former quarterback at Navy, threw passes to a small group of receivers and tight ends after practice. The Patriots also utilized his versatility on their scout-team offense during one 11-on-11 period."

Quarterback There was a lot of negativity when the Patriots took Bailey Zappe in the fourth. People went as far as to say he would never start in the league and would be a career clip board holder. Others thought he was one of the best quarterbacks in the draft class. Khari Thompson took note of Zappe's practice and had praise for the rookie.

Thompson wrote, "While it might not say much with no pads on (or given who the Patriots’ other quarterbacks are), Zappe appears to have the liveliest arm in the room. He showed it off on one fastball down the middle of the field to tight end Matt Sokol, in particular.

He also threw the ball with the kind of anticipation, confidence, and accuracy not always typical of a rookie, slipping in some tricky throws to covered receivers in drills."

More from Zack Cox who was one of a few to notice how some players were playing linebacker. 

Cox wrote, "Linebacker Josh Uche, whom position coach Steve Belichick envisions “being a big part of this defense,” saw reps at edge and off-the-ball alignments. He’s a prime candidate to take on a larger workload following Kyle Van Noy’s offseason departure.

Uche and Deatrich Wise were New England’s first-choice edge rushers with Pro Bowler Judon absent, with Wise occasionally standing up and dropping into coverage. That’s a new wrinkle for Wise, who always has played as a hand-in-the-dirt defensive end."

James White looks like he might be a go come September as he's practicing and that could be huge for the Patriots offense. Jeff Howe had the following to say about White.

Howe wrote, "With White, who is bouncing back from season-ending hip surgery having previously noted that he still has a ways to go in his recovery, it's not surprising that he remains limited at this stage. That said, his presence for the team's OTAs, in any capacity, is a positive sign. In the absence of any setbacks this summer, While will look to reclaim his change-of-pace role in New England's backfield ahead of Week 1."

One last thing we saw how the Patriots were going to be using some of the coaches. As expected Bill worked with the offense, Judge worked with the quarterbacks, Patricia worked with the offensive line and surprisingly Fears watched on from the bleachers. The Patriots the media confuse people on occasion and this year seems no different.

Ray Rauth recently gave his opinion on the Patriots coaching staff. Rauth wrote, "I’m not surprised New England’s players aren’t happy. Greg Bedard was the first to report this and usually I don’t agree with anything Bedard has to say about the Patriots, but this time we’re on the same page. Both Judge and Patricia were failed head coaches, and though both had success as coordinators with New England (Patricia: Defensive Coordinator, and Judge: Special Teams Coordinator), I don’t have a lot of faith in either guy leading the Patriots offense..."

Overall thoughts: It's been seven or eight days with nothing to write. This is just OTAs so it might not mean anything but then again last year's OTAs didn't mean anything supposedly but they showed Mac being better than expexted. So take everything coming from this year's OTAs with a grain of salt. These practices might not mean anything or they could mean everything.

If You're Still Bitching About Tyquan Thorton, You're Holding A Bias.

Regardless if it was Matt Groh's or Bill Belichick's decision on drafting  receiver Tyquan Thornton, the Patriots were trashed for taking him. The initial thought due to the concensus board was that Thorton was a fourth round prospect. Afterwards, fans wanted the Patriots to replace Bill as GM and the media said the team didn't know what they were doing and that Matt Groh didn't have sources to tell him what round to take guys.

ESPN's Jeremy Fowler has come forth saying that intelligence now supports the Patriots taking Thorton where they did. This is just one of their draft selections that it appears that the Patriots actually drafted correctly. However, nobody is apologizing for trashing the Patriots draft. 

Here's what Fowler said, "New England is taking heat in media post-draft grades for reaching, but what emerged in pre-draft conversations is that Baylor wideout Tyquan Thornton wasn’t necessarily a reach for many teams. The Patriots’ second-round pick (No. 50) also was on the radar of the Packers, Saints and others as a Day 2 option. He combined the 4.28 speed with strong interviews, as teams liked his football acumen. Some saw him as a Day 3 prospect, to be sure. But he was a classic riser in the weeks leading up to the draft, and the Patriots visited with him very late in the process, which was telling."

This information shouldn't be that much of a surprise. After all, It's come out that some teams Cole Strange as a top 40 pick. And the Patriots got and are still getting blasted for using the number 29 selection on him. The 29th draft pick which is essentially an early second round pick with the talent available at that moment.

Now whether the Patriots can get the most out of him and make Thorton into an NFL player is another story. However as unpopular as it may be, the Patriots took Thorton when they should've. Anyone who has an issue still with the Thorton pick just has some type of bias, it doesn't matter if they wanted another player or don't like the Pats. It's still bias. The only shocking thing is that Baylor didn't come out and defend the Patriots and hype of Thorton.

Steve Belichick Spoke To The Media Back To Back And There Were Nuggets Of Truth In The Ramblings Of The Patriots Way.

Steve Belichick talked to the media Over May 16th and 17th. There was about thirty minutes of talking with not a lot of information coming out over the those two days. Which people should be used to by now. Here's some key take aways from his two interviews.

Tom Curran got Steve Belichick to say. "We'll have to shoot our shot and see how it goes," when Steve was agreeing that the current defense isn't as experienced as units from the previous seasons.

Steve Belichick was asked about the outside linebacker position and he said he likes guys thay "complement each other," and that they must have a good work ethic and love of the "game."

When asked about McGrone Steve said He hasn't missed a step even thought he"s been injured. He was also asked over the two days about Ronnie Perkins, Josh Uche and a few others. He really didn't say much about anyone of the others.

On Monday Steve said he "doesn't know" what his role is this year and he "doesn't really care." He's just gonna coach. His answer came off sincere.

Steve was asked if they're starting to prepare for the other teams now that the schedule was out. His answer was right now the staff is focused on coaching up the talent and not the other teams.

Steve was asked about what roles his father was going to have this season. Steve said his father does everything but to what degree this season "I don't know," and that "you have to adapt or die around here." Steve also implied that as part of the staff one has to know all phases of the game, not just what one coaches.

Steve was asked about if he was going to be the defensive coordinator in 2022. He replied, "I don't know, if I am great. If not..." Again, Steve seemed sincere in his answer. When it comes to the D.C. it's fair to assume Bill is keeping them in the dark at the moment or at least hasn't told them anything different from last season.

Then Steve was asked about Joe Judge and Steve said Joe's good with "fundamentals" and "evaluations," Steve than rambled for a bit. Steve went on to say personally that after a decade with the team, Steve's still developing, "growing" as a coach.

There are nuggets of information buried in the "Patriots way" answers that Steve gave. For the most part it's up to interpretation of what's said. As much as Steve knows what's going on, there seems to be just as much he doesn't seem to know about what the organization is doing. There's a saying, the less one knows the better. And for Bill, by not giving his staff the full information, it gives him power and allows him to keep the peace in the building.

Who Will Be The Patriots Most Impactful Rookie In 2022?

The Patriots drafted a lot of players in the 2022 NFL draft. Overall they selected ten players. And it's easy to say that Cole Strange will have an impact. After all Strange is a first round selection and if he doesn't perform well the Patriots are screwed as they really don't have another starting quality interior lineman to replace him. However, he's not the rookie that will have the best impact on the team, so what rookie will it be?

Jack Jones will be the most impactful rookie.

The Patriots are without Gilmore and Jackson. The Patriots signed Malcolm Butler whom everyone is hoping can still perform at near elite number two levels but they had nobody across from him going into the draft. Jalen Mills and Myles Bryant tried to fill that role in 2021 but were adequate at best. That's where Jack Jones comes in. As a fourth round pick, Jones was a high risk High reward selection. He is maybe half an inch under six foot tall and can play both man and zone coverage. Jones was a five star product coming out of high school but had issues off the field that derailed his college production. 

What did they say about him pre draft? 

Steelers Depot did a really good scouting report on Jones that is recommend. Link here. 

Erik Schlitt wrote, "He uses his instincts and above-average agility to mirror wide receivers, often stacking them and running the route for them. He can play in multiple defensive schemes and is capable of playing both on the outside and in the slot. His skill set, experience, and positional flexibility will appeal to teams."

What has Patriots Media said about him post draft?

Bernd Buchmasser wrote, "Jones projects primarily on the outside of the defensive formation. His short-area quickness — he ran a 6.9-second three-cone drill at his pro day — helps in case he moves into the slot on select downs, but his overall versatility is limited compared to other players in the Patriots’ secondary."

Overall thoughts

Jones will be a top 64 corner in 2022. The Patriots know how to develop corners, the question is can they develop Jack Jones. Jones had former New York Jets head coach Herm Edwards as a coach in 2021. And Edwards believes Jones fell in to the best possible fit for his skill set and ability. While Edwards wasn't the best NFL coach, he knows football. The Patriots do not need Jones to be Gilmore or J.C. Jackson. They just need him to be better than Chris Harris was for the Chargers or the tandem of Mills and Bryant did for the Patriots in 2021 on the perimeter. Jones can deliver that much. 

Josh McDaniels Gets His Quarterback Out Of New England And Only Paid A Sixth For Him.

In the 2022 NFL draft, the Patriots took Bailey Zappe, quarterback from Western Kentucky. The New England Patriots then decided on May 12th of 2022 to send Jarrett Stidham (and possibly a seventh?) to the Las Vegas Raiders. Stidham now joins Josh McDaniels and the Patriots get a sixth round pick for their former fourth round selection. Some Patriots fans are acting like the Patriots got one over on the Raiders but did they?

His career:

Over his career with the Patriots Stidham played in 8 games. He was always put in with the team trailing but close enough that the team could comeback. Now Stidham didn't look good in New England and at times he looked scared. As a passer he could hit the timing passes better than Newton but statistically there were times when his numbers matched Newton's. 

Stidham threw 48 passes completing 24 of them. He threw 2 touchdowns and 4 interceptions. One of which was a ball that Edelman dropped or redirected into the hands of a defender. 13 of Stidham 24 completions were for first downs. Stidham was sacked 5 times. He also ran the ball 9 times for 5 yards with 3 first downs.

Stidham's true completion percentage was 59.5 and his true rating was 76. Further more, analytics show only 2 of Stidham's passes were listed as interceptable. Stidham threw 4. Take that into consideration. He also had 1 drop.

His ties to McDaniels

During the 2020 season Cam Newton was playing horribly and people were wondering why the Patriots did not play Jarrett Stidham. In October of 2020 Josh McDaniels said the following.

"Competed his butt off this whole year trying to learn and improve as a football player. Really continues to work really hard and prepare just as he would if he was starting, which is what he did last year as a rookie. He’s an unselfish guy. He will do anything to help the team. Practices well, practices hard, prepares every week to be ready to go. I have a lot of confidence in Jarrett and I see a lot of growth in him each week that he’s here.”

Later that season McDaniels was still being questioned and said, That’s coach (Belichick)’s decision, and I honor whatever he makes in terms of those choices...” 

McDaniels however wasn't done saying, "We work as hard as we can to get everybody ready to go. I’ve seen plenty of Jarrett in practice. I see him every day. I’ve seen him for two years. I’m confident that I understand where Jarrett is at in his development.

But I also know that our job is to try to go out there and win two football games that we have left. So that starts with Buffalo Monday night. Cam’s done a great job of preparing this week. Those choices are Bill’s. Whatever he chooses, that’s what we’re going to do, and I feel confident going in with the plan that we have right now.”

McDaniels threw Belichick under the bus. Belichick is a hard headed guy. And when Bill makes his mind up, there's no changing it. It's very possible that Bill decided that Stidham was not starting for him and to end Stidham's career before it started by not letting him start in 2020.

Overall thoughts:

Stidham is now Josh McDaniels problem. The last time McDaniels was a coach, he chased out starter Jay Cutler for Tim Tebow. The acquisition of Stidham could be nothing but getting a veteran backup. However, it could also be him preparing to make a move by putting pressure on Carr. Only time will tell. It may just turn out that Stidham was with the Patriots to appease Josh McDaniels. If so, it would answer a few questions and create some others.

Regardless of how Mac Jones turns out, if McDaniels makes a quarterback out of Stidham with the Raiders, people will be able to justify Bill getting in his own way. If not, people will be able to brag about how savvy Belichick was to get something for someone who was worth nothing.

Also i'm pretty sure Mac was taken over Justin Fields to appease Robert Kraft but that's another story. 

The Patriots Could Find A Single Season Band-aid In Chris Harris.

While the Patriots had J.C. Jackson, the Patriots lost Stephon Gilmore and tried to fill the hole with Jalen Mills and Miles Bryant. They were not even an adequate committee. When free agency hit they lost J.C. Jackson, the Patriots did a band-aid fix and brought in Malcolm Butler. Butler at this point of his career should be an average outside corner but he is a band-aid for the Patriots secondary. The Patriots also drafted Jack Jones but there are concerns over whether or not he can play outside corner.

Options:

The Patriots do not have a lot of room to maneuver in free agency. One name being thrown around is James Bradberry but he may be driven out of the Patriots price range. The Patriots could look to free agency to find another veteran to be a band-aid for the 2022 season. One name to keep an eye on is Chris Harris who recently played for the Chargers. He's not the best out there but he maybe the cheapest for the value.

2021 stats:

Harris age 32 played in 14 games in 2021 starting 11. He had 37 tackles, 6 passes defended, and 1 interception in 2021. 

What does he bring?

Harris does a good job of prevent quarterbacks from completing their passes, allowing less than a 60% completing percentage. Harris is a band-aid fix but he brings 11 years of veteran experience to the Patriots locker room. Harris has missed 10 games due to injury over the past 2 seasons, so that is a concern but to counter that, PFF still ranked Harris as the 60th best corner in the NFL, a far cry from what it was onlyba few short years ago.

Overall thoughts:

If there's anything left the Patriots would be the team to get it out of him. He should come cheap as there's not a large market for him. This would buy the Patriots a season to develop their young talent and the Patriots are supposed to have a good amount of salary in 2023. Worst case scenario the Patriots go with him and he ends up on the I.R. during the season and Mills and Bryant have to play outside corner for a second year.

Who Is Matt Sokol And What To Expect From Him.

The Patriots signed 26 year old tight end Matt Sokol. Sokol is on his fourth team since coming into the league, previously spending time with the Lions, Chargers, and Jaguars. While not much is expected from Sokol but to be a camp body, I thought it be good to see why four teams have invested time in the former Spartan.

College Experience 

Sokol played in 50 games for the Spartans, starting 23 games. He had 31 catches for 348 yards and 2 touchdowns. They also had him try to carry the ball once. It ended in a 4 yard loss. Sokol was mainly known for his blocking.

Scouting Report

DraftBlaster.com wrote, "Essentially you have to throw out last year’s tape for players on the Spartan’s offense, as that unit utterly collapsed under poor coaching and a QB injury that never got resolved. To that end, Sokol is a tight end prospect that is going under the radar, and could end up being a major sleeper in the draft. Wasn’t utilized in the passing game as much as expected, but shows nice acceleration off of the snap and is able to get open with a big catch radius. Good as both a run and pass blocker, and projects as a very good all around prospect at the position."

Overall Thoughts

The Patriots need a camp body. Sokol could be the Patriots next Matt LaCosse, as in a backup who earns playing time for the Patriots. He played H-back at Michigan State. And with the Patriots not having a fullback, the tight ends are going to have to play that role. Jonnu Smith is going to need someone to give him a breather from time to time and Dalton Keene has issues staying healthy. Sokol projects as nothing more then a practice squad guy at the moment but that could change. He's definitely got the size to but does he have the ability. Being his fourth team, he's going to have to show the Patriots something.

Should The Patriots Trade Damien Harris?

As a rookie, Sony Michel helped carry the Patriots to a superbowl in 2018. In 2019, he ran behind a crappy offensive line. And after the 2020 season, Sony Michel was the number 17th all time rusher for the New England Patriots. And with one more season he would've at least tied for the 10th all time Patriots rusher. However, Michel also missed 10 of his 48 games in his three seasons with the Patriots and having Harris and Stevenson on the roster, it was enough to trade him for multiple day three picks. 

Is Damien Harris following the same projection?

In 2019, then rookie Damien Harris was basically a redshirt and was kept off the field. Over Harris's next two seasons harris would rush for 1620 yards and 17 touchdowns. However, he would also miss 8 games over those two years. Furthermore, just like Michel in his final off-season with the Patriots, Harris has watched the Patriots take a quality back in the mid rounds of the 2021 draft.

Does Harris have to worry about Strong and K. Harris?

To answer this question first one has to look back at the 2021 draft. The Patriots acquired Rhamondre Stevenson in the 4th round. In his rookie season Stevenson had played in 12 games. Barely rushed over 100 times and still had over 600 yards on the ground. So there's already an established runner on the team. 

Kevin Harris is coming off back surgery and it's likely that he'll see the injured reserve in year one but when healthy, he's a nasty power back. Strong on the other hand is expected to come in to camp and compete. Now the Patriots have a history of red shirting running backs but Strong is a danger to take it to the house everytime he touches the football. In college, Strong had 10 fifty yard touchdown runs. The Patriots are likely to find out how good strongs hands are in the offseason. They're an unknown commodity and with his speed, the Patriots are gonna wanna find out what they have in Strong early.

What could the Patriots get for Damien Harris?

The Patriots got a 2022 6th round pick and a 2023 fourth roind pick for Michel. Even though Michel was a first round draft pick, production matters. However, double dipping at running back in 2022, the Patriots may have put themselves at a disadvantage. The Patriots may be forced to get rid of a good back due to over crowding. That plays well to the favor of other teams. Do not expect the Patriots to be able to match what they got for Michel unless they can find a team dealing with injuries. A 5th round pick is reasonable to be expected at this junction or a potential future 4th round. 

Overall thoughts

It's possible to see the Patriots move Damien Harris before week one but I do not think it's going to happen. The Patriots like to carry four running backs and both James White and Kevin Harris are likely to start on the injured reserve. The Patriots are going to need D.  Harris to be part of their committee along with Stevenson, Strong, and Taylor. Taylor is likely to be released if they can get White back later in the year. However, don't rule out a deadline trade if the Patriots season looks to be finished prematurely. 

Why Keene Should Be In Competition With White For A Roster Spot.

The Patriots have two players returning from injury that may be in competition with each other. James White is returning from a hip injury and may not be ready to go week one. Keene is coming off a meniscus injury but is expected to be a go for camp. One might not think they are in competition but with Keene being an H-back which is a glorified running back - tight end hybrid. And the Patriots getting rid of Jacob Johnson, I assure you that Keene could be out for the third down receiving back role.

Why does it make sense for Keene to replace White or at least take his spot on the roster?

Yes, the Patriots just drafted two running backs but Kevin Harris is coming off back surgery and is likely to be stashed on the injured reserve. The Patriots also like to carry four running backs and a fullback. Brandon Bolden is with the Raiders. And with Jacob Johnson gone and no fullback on the roster, that makes Keene a prime candidate to sneak on to the roster. Plus the Patriots spent a third round pick on Keene and have yet to really see what he can do and he has to know his clock is ticking.

On top of all that James White has missed 16 games over the past two seasons and is 30 years old coming off a major injury. That's normally the age backs start leaving the league. If White is not able to go come August, the Patriots will be left with placing him on the injured reserve early, hanging on to him so they can place him on I.R. and cutting a player and risk losing them, or straight out cutting White.

The likely hood of both Jonnu Smith and Dalton Keene taking over the third down pass catching back role on top of the fullback role, since they're both H-backs, just makes sense. And has to be a strong possibility.

We all know what a healthy White brings but what about Keene?

Here's what Lance Zierlein and Evan Lazar wrote about Keene in his scouting report. 

Zierlein wrote, "Swiss Army Knife versatility performing in-line, as a wingback, from the slot, as a fullback, and even as a personal protector in pass protection. He's lean but well-defined and his play speed and competitiveness are both a plus. He will struggle against NFL power at the point of attack, but his ability to block in space and catch the football make him naturally suited for the H-back role, where teams can align him around the formation as needed. He should fit into a core special teams role even though he is surprisingly inexperienced in that area. He has the make-it-in-the-league play traits and mental makeup of a Day 3 target."

Lazar wrote, "Keene’s athleticism, versatility, and tenacity as a blocker are why the Pats traded up to select him at the end of the third round. But he’s in for a big transition from a very different scheme at Virginia Tech to New England. Keene will need to learn a more expansive downfield route tree to go along with different blocking alignments and angles. Still, his college tape shows a capable receiver and YAC machine that’s truly gifted as a ball carrier in the open field. There are a few technical issues with his blocking, such as ducking his head into contact, but he gives all-out effort with plenty of functional strength to develop into an impact run blocker. Plus, he can move around the formation, playing both in-line tight end, H-Back, and fullback. Keene might take some time to learn the Pats playbook’s nuances, but he has all the tools to blossom into a difference-maker in short order."

Why does it make sense to think the Patriots may keep Keene.

First the Patriots are expected to use Jonnu Smith more in the offense. There's not a lot of difference in the abilities of Keene and Smith. Having Keene to give Smith breathers means the Patriots don't have to get away from what they want to do if Smith goes down. 

Bernd Buchmasser wrote, "The Patriots primarily used Smith as a traditional in-line tight end on either the left or the right end of the line during the 2021 season, but he was moved into the backfield on occasion as well. In total, 19 of his 547 offensive snaps came as either a lead blocker in I-formation looks or in a halfback alignment."

On top of that looking at the offensive linemen and backs that the Patriots drafted, they're more than likely switching to a stretch zone scheme. Which is something believed the Patriots were interested in going to in 2020 but injuries and covid derailed the opportunity to bring it in.

What is a stretch zone? 

Nepatriotslife.com wrote, "Stretch zone is a run blocking concept in which the entire offensive line fires out in the same direction, with each lineman essentially responsible for blocking the "next" defender in their path. It is the running backs job to follow the flow of the line, while looking for gaps to explode and cut back against the grain through. The phrase "one cut and go" became a staple to describe this running style, which famously produced 1,000 yard rusher after 1,000 yard rusher in Denver for Shanahan long after Hall of Famer's John Elway and Terrell Davis retired. Here's a modern example of a outside zone play, demonstrated by the 2018 Rams and Todd Gurley.

With defenses forced to flow accordingly to stop those zone runs, Shanahan and Kubiak built a passing game around the natural gravitational pull of their rushing attack. Using the running game to suck defenders onto one side of the field was a great trick to create open space on the backside to exploit in the passing game. The classic Kubiak play became a fake zone stretch in one direction, with the quarterback rolling out in the opposite direction, away from the defenders following the run fake."

The stretch zone scheme allows for multiple formations from a spread all the way to a jumbo set. It gives the Patriots a lot of options and both Smith and Keene are ideal players for such an offense. The only problem may just be who's calling the plays on offense, Judge, Patricia, Caley, Belichick, Hoyer?

Overall thoughts

Keene has a good chance of making the roster and with how things are shaping out, James White may not be on the roster come week one. Keene has versatility and if he sits behind Smith, the Patriots can find a way to use him somewhere on the offense. Being that this is Keene’s third season in the NFL, Keene has to know that if he doesn't perform in at least the preseason, that his time in the NFL may be done come the September cut down. That should fire up Keene and push both him and White to be a go during August.

Should The Patriots Go After James Bradberry?

The New England Patriots signed Malcolm Butler, who is trying to make a comeback and at this point of his career, is a number two. They drafted Jack Jones but it's going to take some time to see if he's an outside corner on the pro level. Everyone else is either an inside guy or a depth guy. Since the Giants released James Bradberry, should the Patriots sign him.

The cap may be an issue.

I know there are some who don't believe the cap is real but Miguel Benzan a.k.a. 'Pats Cap' currently has the Patriots at $765,014 in free cap space. That means either someone needs to be traded, cut, or have their contract played with in order to sign him. Who are the Patriots going to cut? Stidham and Harry are names that come to mind but that's probably not going to be enough? What does that mean? It means that unless players are willing to help the team, a fan favorite may be cut. Not saying it's going to happen but it's a possibility. On top of that, there are teams that are expexted to drive up the price.

Is he a skill fit?

Zach Cox of NESN doesn't think Bradberry is a fit. The Patriots like man corners and Cox says that's not Bradberry. If Cox is right, that could chase the Patriots away from him.

Cox wrote, "Skill set-wise, Bradberry’s doesn’t exactly align with what the Patriots typically target in their cornerbacks, as he’s known more for his prowess in zone coverage (top-10 PFF grade in each of the past two seasons) than in man. But the traditionally man-heavy Pats have gravitated more toward zone looks in recent years."

But wait a minute, Phil Perry of NBC sports contradicts what Zach Cox wrote. Perry says that Bradberry is a man corner. 

Phil Perry tweeted, “The Patriots may not be a top-three man-to-man defense in 2022, as they’ve been in recent years but they definitely still value corners who can play man. That’s their type. Bradberry would make a lot of sense in Foxboro, but he should have plenty of interest on the open market.”

Why is he a consideration?

The Patriots lost Gilmore and J.C. Jackson. The Patriots have Butler who can fill in for the time being but they really don't have another guy who's at least a number two on the outside. I know someone is about to say Jalen Mills but if the Patriots viewed him as the outside guy, they wouldn't of used Myles Bryant on the outside so much in 2021. That's not a knock on Mills who is a valuable piece in the secondary.

The 58th corner overall in the league according to PFF, James Bradberry is 6'1" 215 pounds give or take. He's the ideal size for an outside corner. Bradberry had 47 tackles, 17 passes defended, 4 interceptions, one he fumbled on and recovered. And he recovered one more. Bradberry was targeted 117 times and allowed a catch 61.7% of the time according to pro football reference, for 848 yards and 8 touchdowns. Bradberry also played on 14% of the Giants special teams snaps. He was also ranked 61st in yards per seperation with an average of 1.8 according to player profiler.

Overall thoughts:

I think the asking price is going to put the Patriots out of it. Sure Bradberry played for Joe Judge but with how he didn't want to play for a longer contract in Houston causing them to pull out of a trade with the Giants, I doubt he's going to do the Patriots a solid. If the Patriots could find a way to bring him in, he should be the corner the Patriots needed on the other side of Butler for at least the 2022 season. Which would allow the Patriots a year to bring along Jack Jones. It's not out of the realm of possibility but I will say it's highly improbable.

How Similar Are Olave And Thornton?

There are some who are saying Tyquan Thornton is just as good as Chris Olave. If you haven't heard anyone say it, listen to what Greg Cosell said on the Greg Bedard show / podcast. It's just one example of how people are now trying to say they're the same. I thought a good way to settle this would be to look at the pros and cons listed in various scouting reports and see how they compare. And with that we're off to see if there's any truth to it.

Scott Nate Tice of Bleacher Report Wrote the following about Tyquan Thornton.

PROs: "Twitchy and long athlete with good height and excellent long speed. Above-average route-runner who knows how to use his speed. Has good body control and twitch to sink on breaking routes and stay friendly to the QB. Has long arms and flashes a wide catching range. A springy athlete who can make some plays in the red zone. Willing blocker who sustains on his blocks. Shows good awareness of his assignment on run plays."

CONs: "Skinny frame will make him susceptible to more physical corners. Small hands and has some issues with drops, especially when attempting to bring a throw down through contact. Can see that he doesn’t trust his hands. Can rise up as he’s breaking on routes, giving away indicators to smarter defenders."

Tice wrote the following about Olave.

PROs: "Good overall athlete who plays fast. Consistently gets off the ball quickly at the snap. Uses his snap anticipation to his advantage to get vertical on defenders at a faster speed than they are expecting. Very good route-runner. Uses his body control, core strength and balance to consistently win. Displays an advanced route tree and polish at all three levels. Asked to run more technique-driven routes in high-leverage situations like the red zone and third down and is consistently able to do so. Plays with tempo and understanding of route concepts. Has the feel to find soft spots in zone coverages. Knows how to stay friendly to the QB and uncover. Great on scramble drills due to his spatial awareness. Good, natural hands. Comfortable extending away from his body to maximize his size. Has the ability to align both inside and outside. Good with the ball in his hands. Gets north and can pull away from defenders."

CONs: "Lacks strength to consistently hold up in blocking. Limited snaps vs. press coverage. Flashes ability to win but will be considered a question mark due to size."

So what does Tice say they have in common? Speed, route running, red zone ability, body control, awareness, and undersized. It also looks like Tice spent more time on Olave than Thorton. This could be because of school or because of the concensus board.

Lance Zierlein said the following about the two receivers.

Tyquan Thornton 

PROs: "Accomplished sprinting background. Good productivity in healthy 2019 and 2021 campaigns. Play speed sets up easy slants and hitch throws. Short-area foot quickness for a taller receiver. Tape is full of route separation. Poised and ready on 50/50 deep-sideline shots. Tougher than his frame might have you believe. Sticky hands with plus catch radius.Instinctive in space with feel for zone bodies. Above-average feel for footwork near boundaries."

CONs: "Bone thin and likely to stay that way. Strong press coverage could eliminate him for the game. Hands are extremely small for the position. Linear release gets redirected and slowed. The entire route tree will not be available to him. Slow to sink, break and change direction in his patterns. Needs to stack defenders when he gets them beat. Could struggle to hang on through contact."

Zierlein had the following to say about Olave.

PROs: "Buttery smooth mode of operation. Able to jab and juke press doors open. Top-end speed creates vertical opportunities. Glider with ability to route coverage up. Burst for separation on all three levels.Able to sit and settle quickly for hitch/curl. Alters weight and direction for balanced route turns. Effortless in the air and can create a highlight. Adjusts speed to ball flight.Ball skills feature plus focus and well-timed, sudden hands. Scrambles with his quarterback. Blocked two punts during career and has gunner talent."

CONs: "Scheme provided a lot of room for free play. Lack of desired play strength could become a concern. Room for more manipulation as a route salesman. Average hand strength to finish the catch. Inconsistent working back to the throw when needed. Failed to hold onto would-be touchdown catch in first quarter of loss to Michigan. Average in run-after-catch mode.Gets run through as run blocker."

So what does Zierlein say they have in common?

Speed, quickness, route running are things they both do well but their hands are not as good as would like in various areas. While they have similarities, Zierlein says they have different flaws.

What did CBS have to say about the two.

Tyquan Thornton 

PROs: "Somewhat spindly legitimate downfield burner with adequate releases because of his quickness. His second gear is fast; his top gear is outstanding. Long-striding glider. Very natural. Was held back by QB play in his final season at Baylor. Love his natural hands. Plucks the ball away from his frame. Will track it beautifully over his shoulder. The deep speed is real and natural hands are very enticing as a sizable downfield option."

CONs: "Not a YAC or contested-catch type. More physical cornerbacks will get into his frame and impede him at the outset of his route, but he isn't incredibly skinny."

Chris Olave

PROs: "Great top-end speed. Great route runner who does not tip off his break at the stem. Quick feet at the snap, which allows him to create good leverage. Does a great job tracking the ball over his shoulder and has been very productive for the Buckeyes in the red zone."

CONs: "Thin-framed boundary receiver who needs to be more physical through his routes. Explosive testing was average to below average. Can do a better job of creating yards after the catch."

What does CBS say they have in common? 

Speed and over the shoulder are the two traits they have in common. According to CBS, they're both undersized, need to get more physical and don't do enough to get yards after the catch.

Summary

After looking at just NFL.com, Bleacher Report, and CBS, I can say they have some similarities. After all, they're both wideouts, so there's bound to be some. Personal bias and how much time spent will determine their opinions of the two receivers. After looking at a large amount of reports from when I did my scouting reports on each, I will say they each have their own things that seperates one from the other. This is not to say that they cannot be equally as good or bad but to say that they are not the same player.

Don't Sleep On The Patriots 2022 Draft Class.

The Patriots reached in the draft. The Patriots didn't get the best value for their picks. The Patriots draft picks are garbage. I could go on and on with the negatives being said about this year's draft class. I must ask though, are the Patriots draft picks underrated? I went looking to see what people who thought the 2022 Patriots draft picks were sleepers or underrated had to say. Hopefully this will change people's minds about them.

Let's start with Cole Strange the Patriots first round pick.

Alex Ballentine of Bleacher Report thought he was underrated. Here's some of what Ballentine wrote.

"The 23-year-old is a small school prospect who has done well for himself in the pre-draft process. He posted a 9.95 out of 10 relative athletic score, giving him the seventh-highest score for a guard since 1987, per Kent Lee Platte. 

Despite being just 307 pounds, Strange is a mauler in the run game and has the athleticism to continue developing as a pass-blocker."

And Bleacher Report added, "Overall, Strange has the frame, athletic ability, play strength and competitive toughness to be considered a high-level backup at multiple positions across the line, with starter potential over his first few seasons at guard. He will need refinement to handle himself in isolated situations as a pass protector in the NFL and to learn how to more efficiently win back leverage as a run-blocker, but he has shown that he can dominate FCS competition, and his power and tenacity translated against a major bump up in competition against Kentucky as well as at the Senior Bowl."

If you want a second opinion, column writer David Wyatt-Hupton also thought Strange was underrated. 

Wyatt-Hupton wrote, "Statistically, Strange was one of the most dominant linemen in the FCS last season. He earned an overall grade of 86.3 at Pro Football Focus, the best among FCS guards.

Over four years and 582 pass-blocking snaps in college, Strange allowed a single sack and 13 pressures. That’s a pressure allowed every 44.7 pass-blocking snaps. His pass-blocking efficiency (via Pro Football Focus) was 99.0 in 2021. I don’t need to tell you that number is elite (the maximum PBE is 100.0)."

Wyatt-Hupton also wrote pre draft, "Strange can come in and provide immediate depth across the three interior line positions, but would be ready to play in a starting role come year two in my opinion."

Tyquan Thornton the receiver from the second round.

TJ Scott of sports illustrated wrote, "In a deep receiver class with a lot of top-end talent, Tyquan Thornton is someone with those top-end traits that can be drafted at a more valuable position. The 6-foot-2 burner from Baylor plays with great speed and fluidity, can separate at any level of the route and has quick feet considering his length. Despite only weighing 181 pounds, Thornton catches well in traffic and plays well through contact, especially at the catch point on deep passes and contested catches."

Scott continued, "Thornton is a versatile and unique receiver prospect. He can give you big, explosive plays with speed and can be a reliable target over the middle."

CBS's Chris Trapasso said, "Major sleeper at WR. Not just 4.28 fast. Runs crisp, well-sold routes. Very natural hands catcher. Snatches the ball away from his frame effortlessly. This is precisely what the Patriots needed offensively. Spindly though. Not costly to move up."

Marcus Jones corner round three.

Brian Martin Cowboys's writer wrote, "At just 5’8”, 174-pounds, Jones doesn’t pass the eye test of a prototypical NFL player. But, what he lacks in size he more than makes up for in athleticism, speed, physicality, and play-making ability. This is someone who can be a Deion Sanders-like triple threat as a receiver, cornerback, and return man if used correctly, but even if not, he can be a Pro Bowl-caliber return man.

During his time at Houston, the Cougars coaching staff really tried to tap into everything Jones could give them. He was not only their dynamic weapon in the return game, but he was also the starting cornerback, playing inside and out, and was used as a receiver in the passing game as well, averaging 10.9 yards per reception and scoring one touchdown. But, where he’s likely to make his money in the NFL is as a kick/punt returner."

Adam Carter wrote, "The highest graded cornerback in college football over the past two seasons is Houston standout Marcus Jones. Over those 972 snaps, Jones has posted an 89.9 PFF grade in run defense and a coverage grade of 91.4 which is the second highest of any corner over the past two years. Moreover, Jones only committed 4 penalties over those two years, which is fewer than top corners Roger McCreary and Sauce Gardner. 

In addition to the upside he has as a coverage corner, Marcus Jones is as good a return man as college football has seen. His ability in the return game rivals that of Antonio Brown at Central Michigan. In Jones’ freshman year he returned 30 kicks for 879 yards and 29.3 yards per return with 3 scores. In Brown’s freshman year he had 40 returns for over 1000 yards, but averaged over 3 fewer yards a return and only had 1 score. Over his 4 year career at Troy and Houston, Jones accumulated 2,075 kick return yards with 28.4 yards per return and 6 total scores. He’s also briefly spent time taking handoffs and has even played slot receiver, where had 51 receiving yards in a game against Rice. Jones is a loose athlete who can change direction at any speed that also has the acceleration to get away from defenders on his returns. Having a player who has the potential to be an NFL cornerback and elite returner makes Jones an intriguing talent with high potential."

Jack Jones corner round four.

Jeremiah Bogan wrote, "He has elite fluidity with very loose hips that flip seamlessly and allow him to show very good burst out of transitions. Jones wastes no movement with his footwork when in his back pedal or driving downhill on the ball. His elite short area quickness and change of direction skills serve him well on the outside despite the possibility of being moved to the nickel at the next level."

Brandon Martinez wrote, "Jones had a very good senior season for the Sun Devils, finishing with 41 tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss, one sack, three interceptions, including one for a touchdown, six pass deflections, and three forced fumbles."

Martinez continued, "Jones has inside-outside versatility and could be a solid depth pick in the late rounds. With some development, he could be a solid special teams contributor or even a decent slot corner."

Pierre Strong running back round four.

Fox sports's Robert Rang wrote, "In precisely 4.37 seconds, this small-school star proved that while his last name is Strong, his greatest attribute is speed. Of course, savvy scouts knew that already, given that he has 15 runs of 40-plus yards in his career, which resulted in an eye-popping 4,527 yards and 40 scores overall."

"How recruiters missed on Strong is perplexing, given that he led McClellan High to the 5A state title by running for 2,345 yards and 32 touchdowns. Perhaps it's because he was then just 180 pounds, and his brilliant high school career ended abruptly when he suffered a hairline fracture in his right collarbone during the playoffs his senior year. Don’t expect NFL teams to make the same mistake."

Tyler Posey wrote, "Coming out of South Dakota State, Pierre Strong Jr. had an extremely successful college career albeit against FCS competition. Still, Strong shows great promise to be an NFL running back. He posted a 1686-yard final season, leading the FCS in yards while punching in 18 touchdowns. He also grabbed 22 catches for 150 yards. With his top-end speed, great burst, and ability to find the running lane he is a true home run threat with the ball. Strong is an excellent north and south runner and is an above-average cutter to get himself to the next level. Strong has the speed and size of an NFL running back and a team will be getting a good prospect late in the draft. He has the ability to be a good committee back right away and is likely be an injury away from leading an NFL backfield."

Bailey Zappe quarterback round four.

Crissy Floyd of the draft network wrote, "Zappe had a chance to prove his doubters wrong and continue to make a case for himself at the Reese’s Senior Bowl. He had some difficulty during the first practice with some short and intermediate passes at several points but looked entirely like himself after the first day. That proved he could hang in another type of offense, under different coaches, with an entirely different group of players, going up against some of the best defensive prospects in the nation."

Floyd continued, "Whatever team ends up drafting Zappe is getting a well-developed, well-experienced passer who does have some ability to move and has maintained a high level of consistency throughout his career. Zappe has laid about as solid of a foundation as one could ask for from a quarterback and considering that he’s mostly projected in the middle or later rounds, he’s going to be a high-value pick at that place on the board."

Johan Anderson of Draft Dive wrote, "Bailey Zappe is a stud. I love a quarterback who takes a small underdog school and competes with much larger programs, just like Nathan Enderle used to do. Zappe puts the ball where it needs to be, his accuracy is excellent. I love the way he escapes pressure and moves behind the line of scrimmage looking to throw the ball downfield. He throws a great ball on the run. Everyone is underestimating Zappe, but it seems like they’ve done that his entire life and all he does is rise to the occasion."

Anderson continued, "There’s an easy Bailey Zappe NFL comparison for me to make. A 6’1” athletic quarterback who puts up ridiculous numbers in college who doesn’t have the strongest arm? That’s Case Keenum. I expect Zappe to be the Case Keenum who led the Vikings to the NFC Championship game. A strong leader who finds a way to make plays. Just for argument’s sake, let’s say he’s not the best version of Case Keenum. Finding a valuable 10 year backup late on day 3 or as an undrafted free agent is incredible value. Bailey Zappe should be on an NFL roster next year, if he’s not, shame on NFL scouting department."

Kevin Harris running back round six.

Bobby Bishop wrote, "Kevin Harris is a sleeper in the NFL Draft that not many draft analysts are talking about. Personally, I think he’s one of the top five most talented backs in the draft, but injuries are holding him back. Harris should enter 2022 as a second or third-string RB on a depth chart depending on the landing spot. When injuries occur, and Harris gets his opportunity at the next level, he will always do: break tackles and gain yards. Make sure you target Harris during the late rounds of your rookie draft."

Sports Illustrated wrote, "This Gamecock running back tore up the SEC this past season, leading the conference in rushing yards. His ability to break tackles and see the field as soon as the ball is snapped is unique. Defenders take a beating trying to tackle this bowling ball for four quarters a game. His ability on third down will need to improve for him to a bell cow in the NFL. At the next level, Harris could be a lead back taking on a big workload and winning at the goalline."

Sam Roberts defensive tackle round six. Roberts may just be the first pick that wasn't viewed as a sleeper. 

Wayne Cavadi of NCAA.com wrote, Any defender from a Rich Wright-coached defense is one to watch, but Roberts was extra spectacular. The 2021 Cliff Harris Award winner — given annually to the best defender in small college football — was the MIAA player of the year as well. He recorded 18.5 tackles for a loss to go along with 6.5 sacks in his final year. Listed at 6-foot-5 and 292 pounds, Roberts is athletic and explosive off the defensive line. 

Tony Pauline wrote: "Roberts is a small-school defensive line prospect I’ve watched since 2019, and he shows the ability to control the line of scrimmage. He’s a long athlete with growth potential, which must be met to have a spot at the next level."

Chasen Hines Offensive Linemen six round.

Sports Illustrated wrote, "Compact guard with a thick lower half who possesses good foot speed and agility. Hines is a great drive blocker as he can create movement up-front. His anchor is strong. He is inconsistent technically and lacks length. Hines projects as a backup guard who can also play center early on in his career before becoming a solid starter by his second or third season with improved technique."

Tony Pauline of Bleacher Report wrote, "Hines presented himself as a serious Day 2 prospect in 2020. However, his play regressed last season. He possesses the size and style to be used at guard or center, though Hines must really get his game back on track."

Andrew Stueber offensive lineman round seven.

Erik Schlitt wrote. "Stueber has always been a solid pass protector but his contributions in the running game haven’t been at an NFL level. He has made a strong effort to develop those skills this season and has done enough to warrant a role as a reserve swing offensive lineman in the NFL who is capable of playing at right tackle or at guard. He’s a project with upside."

Dave Zangaro of NBC wrote, "The big Wolverines OL (6-6, 325) played right tackle in college but could be a better guard in the NFL. Steuber had an ACL tear in 2019 but came back as a starter and grew into a draft pick."

John Vogel wrote, "Stueber, too, isn’t very experienced, logging his first six starts in the 2020 season. He has a lot of room to grow as well. He’s still a little bit reluctant to pass off a defender in a zone scheme, which will come in time with more reps. I like what I saw as a run blocker, and I think there’s an excellent chance he’s valued early with the size and strength he possesses."

Here's the thing, with exception to Roberts, the rest of the Patriots draft picks had people who thought they were underrated or sleeper prospects. And they were either projected by these people as starters or high quality backups. That's the thing and Belichick will put them inyo4 the best position to succeed outside of Thorton. Sure the Patriots may have to do some coaching to get them into NFL game shape but that's their job. Don't sleep on this class because they're not big names or because the experts that gave the Patriots an A for N'keal Harry's draft are giving this draft a C-.

Was Agholor Productive In 2021?

Was Nelson productive? That depends on how one expected him to be used. If one expected Agholor to catch one hundred passes for one thousand yards, then no he wasn't. If one expected Agholor to stretch the field and open up guys underneath. Then yes, Agholor was productive. 

I think people are confusing the question of if he was productive with If he was overpaid. Agholor had 37 receptions out of 64 targets. He had 473 yards and 3 touchdowns. Agholor also had 23 first downs and had a true catch rate of 92.5 which was good enough for 17th best in the league, meaning his failure to catch targets really wasn't on him. And he was ranked 61st in seperation but it's hard to get seperation when you got two guys covering you.

Combine his stats with his ability to draw coverage and he maybe a little overpaid but he's worth extending for a season. Add in the fact that the Patriots acquired Parker and drafted Thorton and his stats should get padded as Parker is supposed to be a number one. Agholor was productive with how he was used in 2021 and I have no complaints about his productivity.

N'Keal Harry and The 2019 Draft Class Was Graded An A- or Higher By Experts Giving The Patriots 2022 Draft Class A C- Or Worse.

The Patriots are being given some low grades for their 2022 NFL draft class. The grading ranges from a D to a C- for the most part. This is not very promising to hear if your a Patriots fan but experts are not always right. And I'm going to show that.

In 2019 the Patriots were given a high grade for their draft class. A draft that included N'keal Harry in round one, JoeJaun Williams in round two, Chase Winivoch, Damien Harris, Yodney Cajuste, and Hjalte Froholdt in round three. Jarrett Stidham in round four, Byron Cowart and Jake Bailey in round five. And lastly, Ken Webster in round 6. 

Pete Prisco gave the Patriots an A+. Nate Davis, Ryan Halloran, Steve Silverman and Chad Rueter gave the Patriots an A. Mel Kiper and Eric Edgolm graded the Patriots an A-. Dan Kadar and Andy Beniot gave the Patriots a B+. 

Now mind you those ratings included where the Patriots took those players.

Dan Kelly and Chad Rueter graded Harry An A. Andy Beniot and Mike Tanier gave Harry an A-. 

Dan Kadar gave Harry a B and Pete Prisco gave Harry a C+. 

Mel Kiper said this about Harry after getting drafted, “Harry has the best hands in this class. He will be a weapon in the red zone.”

Flash forward to 2022 and I'm betting there are people who disagree with Kiper.

The Patriots drafted the following players in 2022. Round one Cole Strange, Round two Tyquan Thornton, Round three Marcus Jones, Round four Pierre Strong and Bailey Zappe, Round Six, Kevin Harris, Sam Roberts, and Chaden Hines. Round Seven Andrew Stueber.

Conor Orr gave the Patriots a B-. Chad Rueter, Nick Gross, and Mel Kiper gave the Patriots a C+ for their 2022 draft class. Pat Lane and Vinny Iyer gave them a C-. Mark Maske gave them a C. James Dator and Kyle Crabbs gave the Patriots a D+. PFF gave thr Patriots a B, USA Today gave them a B-, PFN gave them a C, NBC sports C+, Draft Kings gave them a C+.

As far as Cole Strange he was graded grade D by Phil Perry, Sheil Kapadia, Danny Kelly, Henry McKenna, Andrew Callahan, and Chad Rueter. Kevin Hanson graded Stange a D+. Brent Sobleski gave him an F. And Pete Prisco gave the pick a C.

Here's what I am going to say, look at what they graded N'Keal Harry and the 2019 draft class. Mind everyone that the class was graded on where players were drafted, not where they should've been. We can take the experts opinions but remember that it's just what they are. This could be a great draft class for all we know. 

Is the Patriots next unknown slot receiver on the roster?

Like many out there, I wanted the Patriots to get a number one. A slot receiver who would help in the passing game instead of an X receiver that the Patriots would have to wait to get open risking a sack or force the ball into coverage just to try to get the them the ball. The Patriots drafted Thorton. A guy who had a 7.25 three cone and a reported 4.39 twenty yard shuttle. That's Z or maybe X territory. 

When looking at Welker, Amendola, and Edelman, they played the slot but their numbers weren't as close as people think. The twenty yard shuttle and the three cone were the two abilities I've heard the most about as a Patriots fan. 

Welker ran a 4.65 forty time, 7.09 three cone, and 4.01 twenty yard shuttle. Edelman  ran a 4.52 forty time, 6 62 three cone, and 3.92 twenty yard shuttle. Amendola ran a 4.70 forty time, 6.81 three cone, and 4.25 twenty yard shuttle.

Going off those three players we can get an idea to what people who wanted in a slot were looking for. The Patriots may have that on the roster and I don't mean D'eriq King who's 7.26 three cone and 4.38 20 yards shuttle are basically the same as Thortons. No, I'm talking about former Navy quarterback Malcolm Perry who the Patriots have been working on switching to wide out for over a year now.

Perry did play some receiver at Navy. In fact he was pretty much their offense. Unfortunately he spent time with the Dolphins. Perry ran a 4.63 forty, 7.12 three cone, and a 4.31 twenty yard shuttle. Both his shuttle and three cone are barely slower than Welker and Amendola. 

In college Perry had 22 catches for 470 yards and 3 touchdowns. He averaged 7.10 yard average on 610 carries with 40 touchdowns. And and he completed 51.3% of 113 attempts for 1311 yards with 10 touchdowns and 5 interceptions. He had 20 kickoff returns for a 24.55 yard average and 1 punt return for 12 yards. Unfortunately he also had 13 fumbles handling the ball over 765 times.

It's possible that King could be the Patriots next slot receiver but I think he's more to be a practice squad quarterback while they work on making Perry a full time receiver. Another ayer that could play the slot is safety Brendon Schooler, so keep an eye on him. Being Perry's second year with the Patriots, he should be familiar with the playbook by now. His best bet is going to be showing his value as a returner in 2022 and waiting for a spot to open up in 2023. Now it would've been nice for the Patriots to get Jerreth Sterns but since Tom Brady signed him as a UDFA. I mean Tampa... The Patriots are going to have to make due with what they have in 2022 unless the Buccaneers cut Jerreth Sterns.

The Patriots didn't give people their way, it happens. Now pull up your pants and move on.

For once I don't know who's worse, the media or the fans. They're both tripping over themselves trying to justify their dislike for the Patriots 2022 nfl draft. And it's starting to sound like they're reaching at straws now. Here's what I'm hearing, think about it and ask yourself if what they're saying makes sense still afterwards.

"The Patriots didn't follow the consensus board." The media decided who the best players were and when they should be drafted. People are accusing the Patriots of reaching on every pick. And talking about how they could've had all the big names not taken when they selected their picks. Some "media experts" have said "when it comes to whether Strange was the best player available that fit what they were doing, it depends on how the Patriots value the positions." They Patriots have built a twenty year run taking players the rest of the league undervalued. So why should they stop now?

Then it was "I agreed with the position but they didn't draft the right player." This is people saying "the Patriots drafted right but still didn't take big names, so I don't like it." People are saying "The Patriots drafted speed with Thornton but could've drafted a slower guy who had production." Thornton isn't the only player they're saying this about. The Patriots got abilities people said they needed and people are bitching because the Patriots didn't get names. Plain and simple. This is just more of the same arguement and it's B.S. , they got what they needed to improve the team.

And then this one is my favorite complaint. "The Patriots got good players, they just drafted them too early." Oh my how people have come around. Where the first two were basically the same complaints, this one they try to undermind their value. Even this excuse is being shredded. Strange has been reported to of been on someone's board in the top 50 and Thorton has been reported to have second round value by a few teams. Other guys are either where they should be or close to where some teams had their values. So this excuse has been debunked. 

When it comes to the media, these people are upset that the Patriots made them look bad. Like they didn't know what they were talking about. Seeing that Boston media is it's own market, media members are just mad because this could cost them money. That's it and nothing more.

When it comes to the fans, people decided that this is who they wanted. When the Patriots didn't comply. They got upset. Part of the problem is people were indoctrinated by the media. And another problem is people don't like to change their minds once they made it. Being fans, we're a hard headed lot.

Few years ago I was asked to look at Herbert but I wanted the Patriots to take Hurts so bad that I focused solely on Herbert's negatives. I labeled Herbert a complete bust, when after I did a second look, I saw he was a high risk high reward prospect coming out of college that I mislabeled due to personal bias.

So I get as a fan, we all have favoritism. That doesn't make us right and we need to accept that just because it's not the guy we want, that doesn't mean the guy they took is a bad player. We need to just admit that we don't like the guy but accept he'd part of the team and hope the staff knows what it's doing. And that they prove us wrong. Just like those of us who didn't like the Cam Newton signing had to do. If and when the Patriots move on from the guy, then if you were right, come out with the "I told you so."

The point of this article is that it's plain to see that both the fans and the media are biased. And both are coming off like spoiled children who didn't get their way, so they're throwing a fit. It's just making Patriots fans and media a laughing stock to the rest of the sports world. And if you don't see it, you're not paying attention.

Our media and fanbase is becoming a meme, a punchline, and a joke. That's not whom we've ever been and we should remind the sports world of that by taking the high road. I mean when Jacksonville and Jets fans are making jokes about us, it's time we stopped complaining about our team and put them in check. They're trashing our players and last thing I knew, the name on the front was more important than the name on the back.