New England Patriots 2016 NFL Draft Review, Grades

Third Round: 96th overall

DT Vincent Valentine, Nebraska

Grade: B

Vincent Valentine is a gigantic interior defensive lineman who fits the evolving mold of the big, strong, run-stuffing tackle in the New England defense. When New England just a few years ago appeared ready to use Dominique Easley as the poster boy of the evolving defensive line as the penetrating pass rusher along with Chris Jones, the pendulum has swung back to the massive tackles clogging lanes.

The New England 2015 first round draft pick Malcom Brown is another giant tackle able to use his size and strength rather than penetrating quickness to make a difference in the middle of the defensive line. Free agent Terrance “Pot Roast” Knighton and hold-over Alan Branch both fit that mold. All of these players are large enough to hold their ground and take on double teams to eliminate draw plays and other running plays in the middle of the field.

Valentine fits this model as well as the remaking of the defensive line continues. Rather than continue to cram athletic penetrating defenders into the interior of the defense, the Patriots are going back to what worked for them previously. Valentine can eventually take over for veterans Alan Branch and Terrance Knighton in the near future as the big space-clogging tackle in the middle of the defense.

A run-stopping defensive tackle at Nebraska, the six-foot-four and 329 pound tackle has long arms and thick legs giving him ideal size for the New England two-gap defense. Valentine stood out in ProFootballFocus.com’s grading of defensive tackles with a +21.4 grade against the run over the past two seasons as a starter.  

Though he provides little as a pass rusher, the Patriots are not going to ask him to do that in the defense: on third down and long  and other obvious passing downs they are going to be content to slide interior edge rushers inside or blitz their linebackers up the middle to generate pressure. Valentine is a “hold-the-point-of-attack” defensive tackle rather than a playmaking penetrating interior presence.

Valentine was available in the third round due to effort and injury issues at Nebraska with a knee and high ankle sprain that slowed him and may have limited his production in 2015. There were whispers pre-draft about his bad practice habits as well. His conditioning was brought up as a negative prior to the draft as he appeared to carry extra weight at times and may have contributed to his injury issues.

Valentine probably should have returned for another season of development at Nebraska rather than declaring for the NFL Draft. However, with the Patriots being able to “redshirt” him in 2016 and have the positional coaches and veterans on defense try to straighten out any bad habits. A year in the strength-and-conditioning program and in a positive environment could elevate Valentine to starter status in 2017.

Valentine is purely a projection for the defense in the future when Branch and Knighton are gone. He will have to shine in training camp to get into the defensive tackle rotation in 2016. Valentine has potential, but his impact in New England will depend on how much work he is willing to put in.

Next: WR Malcolm Mitchell, Georgia