New England Patriots: What is the team’s 2019 NFL Draft strategy?
By Hal Bent
What should the Patriots do in the draft?
New England has 12 draft picks this year, so they will surely find a couple of wide receivers and tight ends (via the draft or through trading draft picks), so they do not need to panic. The Patriots brought back Phillip Dorsett at wide receiver and signed tight end Austin Serafin-Jenkins to a veteran’s minimum deal. With young and hungry players fighting for depth at those positions already, the Patriots are not losing sleep if they do not pick a pass-catcher in the first round.
Let’s face facts: each and every NFL team drafts for need. Most team front-office executives and head coaches will have circled positions of need long before next Thursday. With the cost of a first-round draft pick, teams cannot afford to select a player who cannot step in and make an impact in their first year. Drafting a player who will only play 25 percent of the snaps because he is blocked from more playing time by a better player is how executives lose their jobs.
From this group of edge rushers and defensive tackles, the Patriots will have a great chance to find an impactful front-seven contributor early in the draft. With a dozen draft picks at their disposal, an explosive edge rusher like Montez Sweat or Clelin Ferrell could be a realistic target for New England next week.
Finding a big-bodied defensive tackle who can clog the rushing lanes yet still play vertically and get into the backfield on passing plays could transform the New England defense. Could one of the dynamic Clemson duo of Christian Wilkins or Dexter Lawrence fall to No. 32 overall?
Would the Patriots call Texans head coach Bill O’Brien and try to trade up with Houston at No. 23 overall if either is still around? Keep in mind, O’Brien used to be the New England offensive coordinator back in the day, and he presumably still maintains a friendly relationship with Bill Belichick, his old boss.
The fanbase is always looking for the splashy player… especially at wide receiver. Remember the 2001 NFL Draft back before the phrase “In Bill We Trust” was ever muttered?
New England sat at No. 6 overall and drafted 3-4 defensive end Richard Seymour. Fans had been publicly clamoring for flashier wide receivers like David Terrell or Koren Robinson. With the benefit of hindsight, how glad are Pats fans now that Belichick didn’t listen to them?
The Patriots have won six Super Bowls, appeared in nine Super Bowls, and been to 13 AFC Championship Games in the Brady/Belichick era. The star-power might be lacking so far at wide receiver and at tight end heading into the 2019 regular season, but Belichick has earned our collective patience as fans because of the way he’s proven time and time again that he can do more with less… and still win titles.
Next. Who are the Patriots playing in all their 2019 games this year?. dark
In short, the New England Patriots should pass on reaching for a second-round talent at pass-catcher next Thursday in Round 1, and focus instead on scooping up an undervalued defensive lineman or edge rusher. That’s the right play for the Patriots on Thursday; then they can turn to other areas of need like receiver, tight end, offensive lineman, and quarterback on Friday and Saturday if they wish.