2013 NFL Draft: New England Patriots Second Round Picks
By Hal Bent
Jan 26, 2013; Mobile, AL, USA; Senior Bowl north squad wide receiver Aaron Dobson of Marshall (3) prior to kickoff of a game against the Senior Bowl south squad at Ladd-Peebles Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports
The New England Patriots finally got to draft a player on Friday night after trader Bill Belichick sent the number twenty-nine pick to Minnesota for the VIkings’ second, third, fourth and seventh round pick. That second round pick (fifty-nine overall) which they received from the Vikings was a player that fits exactly what the Patriots desperately need: an outside linebacker with speed, coverage skills, and great blitzing ability. In Jamie Collins from Southern Miss, the Patriots have an athletic linebacker to match-up against the athletic tight ends and make quarterbacks think twice before attacking the middle of the field. Collins has height, speed, and ball-playing skills from starting his college career in the secondary before moving to linebacker after bulking up and growing into his frame.
Also, Collins can replace linebacker Brandon Spikes if he leaves as a free agent after this season, or he can help transition the team back to a 3-4 defense if Spikes stays and moves inside in the 3-4 next to captain Jerod Mayo. With last year’s first round draft pick Dont’a Hightower and Collins on the edge, the Patriots should finally have the linebackers to get back to their preferred base defense. Finally, don’t discount the need for New England to add speed and athleticism on the field on defense, and Collins fits that profile.
The Patriots also had their second second round pick at number fifty-nine overall. With this pick, the Patriots got Aaron Dobson, a raw wide receiver from Marshall. Dobson lit up Pro Day for the Patriots and is a big receiver, with surprising speed. He has loads of potential, athleticism, great hands and if he can learn the offense and earn quarterback Tom Brady’s trust, he can make an impact this season and add a huge weapon to a team that needed a big, athletic wide receiver.
The Patriots finally have a wide receiver in Aaron Dobson who fills their need of a long, fast wide receiver. A position of desperate need this season, and last season, and the season before, the Patriots hope to put their poor wide receiver evaluations behind them with this pick. Dobson should be able to integrate throughout camp and not be expected to come in and have a record-breaking rookie season like Terry Glenn did in New England. As a Marshall product, the Patriots must be hoping he continues their run of luck with Marshall receivers, as both Patriots hall of famer Troy Brown and future NFL hall of famer Randy Moss both had great success in New England.