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NFL Draft: Revisiting and Grading the New England Patriots 2015 NFL Draft Picks

By Hal Bent

May 27, 2015; Foxborough, MA, USA; New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft (left) and president Jonathan Kraft (right) pose with first-round draft choice defensive lineman Malcom Brown at Gillette Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Stew Milne-USA TODAY Sports
May 27, 2015; Foxborough, MA, USA; New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft (left) and president Jonathan Kraft (right) pose with first-round draft choice defensive lineman Malcom Brown at Gillette Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Stew Milne-USA TODAY Sports /
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7th Round (253rd Overall, Compensatory) – Xzavier Dickson (DE/LB, Alabama)

Grade: C

One Liner: Looks like his drafting was just a favor to Nick Saban.

New England Patriots NFL Draft
Mandatory Credit: Chuck Cook-USA TODAY Sports /

This was never a pick that was nothing more than a gamble and never expected to be an impact player. Dickson was not a starter at Alabama and was looked at as a potential “tweener” at six-foot-three and 260 pounds. Fourth round draft pick Trey Flowers and scrapheap find Rufus Johnson outplayed Dickson in the preseason. Undrafted free agent safety Brandon King and center David Andrews ended up on the 53-man roster ahead of Dickson.

The last draft pick by New England in 2015 was a longshot simply to make the practice squad. He failed to make any noteworthy plays in the preseason and was part of the final cutdowns. He was initially added to the practice squad but cut from there the same day. Dickson was unsigned all of 2015 until Atlanta signed him to their practice squad before the final game of the season. Dickson remains unsigned.

Next: 6 Reasons why Pats fans should be excited for 2016 NFL Draft

Stay tuned here on Musket Fire for coverage on every twist and turn in the Patriots’ offseason.

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