Round 1 - DE Chandler Jones
- ILB Dont'a Hightower
Round 2 - S Tavon Wilson
Round 3 - DE Jake Bequette
Round 6 - S Nate Ebner
Round 7 - CB Alfonzo Dennard
- WR Jeremy Ebert
There is no denying that the Patriots know how to manipulate the draft. While their picks might not always pan out, they usually own an abundance of draft picks - because Belichick trades away many for draft picks in future years. This year New England switched gears to trade up for a couple of defensive prospects in the first round. As their defense played terribly last year, Belichick moved to add the pieces necessary to improve it.
Pass rushing and pass coverage have a symbiotic relationship. If the team can really get after the quarterback consistently, the corners will appear better than they might actually be because the passer lacks the time to make good throws. However, if the corners can shutdown the receivers, the defenders have more time to reach the quarterback. Because the Pats have invested in several young defensive backs the last several years, they felt that adding a pass rusher would aid their young coverage players. Though if they wanted an immediate impact player, they drafted the wrong player. Chandler Jones is still developing and honing his skills. Nevertheless, his immense upside made him worth the wait. For though he doesn't possess great speed on the edge, his tremendous power and arm length overwhelm blockers. Long arms prevent offensive tackles from placing their hands on him, which the tackle needs to do in order to slow him down. The clincher for New England - his versatility - made him one of their targeted players. If Jones can avoid the injury bug, he could develop into one of the better pass rushers in the league.
Though seemingly solid at linebacker with players like Mayo, Spikes, and Ninkovich, they added another with the drafting of Dont'a Hightower. Again, his versatility played a part in his selection. While most of his snaps are at inside linebacker, he has succeeded in putting pressure on quarterbacks as a rusher. A big but slower prospect, he looks like a prototypical two down thumper. However, he displays underrated athleticism and the ability to hold his own in zone coverage. Aside from his physical talent, Hightower was looked to as a leader on the national champion Alabama defense.
Their next pick came out of nowhere. With a second rounder, New England selected a safety that many thought would go undrafted. Interestingly, Tavon Wilson will most likely be a liability in coverage - their biggest weakness. His deficiency in coverage - particularly against quicker receivers - results from an absence of great speed and athleticism. Nevertheless, he can play physically against the run and will play on special teams.
Solidly built and with some nice power to his game, Jake Bequette routinely uses his bull rush against opposing tackle. Without great speed or athleticism, he relies on a great motor and natural instincts to rush the passer. Though double digit sack numbers aren't in his future, he can routinely create pressure while working in a rotation. In addition, his size aids him in playing well against the run.
A former rugby player, Nate Ebner will make his mark on special teams. Looking to initiate contact every time he is on the field, his toughness and aggressiveness could see him become one of the better special teams players.
Easily the most physical corner in the draft, Dennard fell drastically due to a terrible pre-draft process and serious character issues. Because Dennard lacks speed, particularly deep, he needs to play press coverage against receivers to knock them off their routes. With spotty technique when turning to cover, he will struggle with speedy or bigger receivers. Nonetheless, he represented good value in the seventh round. If Dennard doesn't work out, they didn't invest much in him.
It seems that every year the Patriots take a receiver in the draft. Obviously, high picks like Brandon Tate and Taylor Price have burned them in the recent past. Jeremy Ebert was less of an investment. A prospect for the slot receiver position, his reputation as a technician work in his favor. Though unless he makes enough of an impact on special teams, Ebert could probably be a candidate for the practice squad.
Before this year, the Pats stressed quantity over quality, but this year saw a reversal of that philosophy. Trading up for two players in the first round obviously shows that they coveted both Jones and Hightower. Opposite prospects in that Jones possesses a ton of upside and Hightower is a relatively safe prospect, at least New England didn't chase only upside or get too conservative with their picks. Tavon Wilson is most likely a mediocre pick at best. However, Bequette can immediately rotate in on the defensive line. Dennard could play well for them if he cleans up his act and technique. Maybe it was time for them to draft high-end players this year to put them over the top. Time will tell.
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