Musket Fire
FanSided

5 positions Patriots will address in remainder of 2016 NFL Draft

By Connor Fulton

Aug 30, 2014; Foxborough, MA, USA; Massachusetts Minutemen wide receiver Tajae Sharpe (1) runs with the ball for a touchdown during the second half against the Boston College Eagles at Gillette Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports
Aug 30, 2014; Foxborough, MA, USA; Massachusetts Minutemen wide receiver Tajae Sharpe (1) runs with the ball for a touchdown during the second half against the Boston College Eagles at Gillette Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
5 of 6
Next
2016 NFL Draft Scooby Wright III
Dec 31, 2014; Glendale, AZ, USA; Arizona Wildcats linebacker Scooby Wright III (33) against the Boise State Broncos in the 2014 Fiesta Bowl at Phoenix Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports /

2. Linebacker

Dropping Chandler Jones out of the conversation goes a long way toward the Patriots being able to retain superstar linebackers Dont’a Hightower and Jamie Collins (as well as Malcolm Butler). However, both Hightower and Collins are early frontrunners for Defensive Player of the Year, so the Patriots may have trouble re-signing both of them while not breaking the bank in the process.

Scooby Wright III should be top target for Pats in 2016 NFL Draft

And yes, the additions of Shea McClellin and Ramon Humber improved depth behind Hightower and Collins, but it’s not enough. The Patriots need to infuse some promising youth into a positional group that could stand to get younger.

This writer is a big fan of Arizona product Wright. He is as coachable and willing as they come, certainly a player who the Patriots could use on special teams in the short-term and hopefully mold into a contributor on settled defense down the road.

Next: 1. Offensive tackle - Joe Haeg?

Home/Patriots Draft