Hjalte Froholdt kicks off final day of 2019 NFL Draft for Patriots

The New England Patriots used their first pick of the fourth round to select Arkansas guard Hjalte Froholdt in the 2019 NFL Draft.

When the Patriots selected senior offensive guard Hjalte Froholdt with the No. 118 overall pick in the fourth round of the 2019 NFL Draft, it immediately sparked two questions for us.

One: how in the heck are you supposed to pronounce that name?

Two: you think Bill Belichick noticed that his three division rivals all used their first-round picks to beef up their defensive lines?

The answer to the first question is a resounding “I don’t know;” the answer to the second question is an emphatic “you better believe he did.” That’s what makes Belichick the best head coach – and the best GM – in the entire National Football League.

Tom Brady is still a force at quarterback, there’s not doubt about it. Even at 41 (he’ll turn 42 before the season starts), Brady’s mind is sharper and more experienced than any other signal-caller in the professional ranks by a mile, and he’s still just one year removed from winning league MVP… so it’s not as if his physical skills are in all-out decline either.

That said, he is getting older, and his supporting cast of aerial weapons has never looked less impressive than it does today. Gone is the dominant force that was Rob Gronkowski; gone is all the versatility and raw athleticism that Cordarrelle Patterson brought to the table; and gone is the fairly-reliable Chris Hogan, who at the very least knew the route trees and playbook better than most Patriots receivers before him.

If the 2018 season is any indication, New England has fully morphed into a power-rushing team, kept balanced by the occasional play-action pass and Brady’s mastery of short-to-intermediate crossing routes. The Patriots aren’t looking for the long ball or the home run threat as much as they used to, not with Josh Gordon also suspended indefinitely. They are perfectly content to march down the field systematically and mercilessly, eating up small chunks of turf at a time until they’re close enough to the end zone to punch the ball in with Sony Michel, Rex Burkhead, or even James Develin.

Just to further confirm that year wasn’t a fluke, the Patriots somewhat surprisingly drafted Alabama tailback Damien Harris last night. Harris joins a crowded backfield that also includes James White and Brandon Bolden in addition to Michel, Burkhead, and the fullback Develin, but it’s another clear indication that the Pats are trying to plow the ball dow their opponents’ throats through a barrage of talented backs.

And those opponents have taken note. The New York Jets used their first-round pick on Alabama defensive lineman Quinnen Williams, a master at clogging up running lanes and getting after the quarterback in the backfield. Not to be outdone, the Buffalo Bills also snagged a ferocious defensive tackle in Houston’s Ed Oliver, who miraculously fell to them at No. 9. And finally, the Miami Dolphins chose Clemson’s Christian Wilkins with their first pick, yet another behemoth defensive tackle with an impressive motor and proven technique.

Clearly, the rest of the AFC East is out to stop this new run-heavy Patriots offense.

So what does Bill Belichick do in all his wisdom? He counters the opposition. Belichick the GM has now used back-to-back picks (at the end of Day 2 and to start Day 3) in this draft on big, tall, strong offensive linemen. Last night it was Yodny Cajuste, tackle from West Virginia, and today it’s Arkansas’ guard Hjalte Froholdt.

Froholdt stands 6’5, weighs over 300 lbs, and comes from the country of Denmark. He played both center and guard in college, has excellent technique, and was considered by the Razorbacks staff to be one of the most coachable players on the roster… all of which bodes well for his chances of success with the Patriots under legendary O-line coach Dante Scarnecchia.

Interestingly, one of his best collegiate performances also came in a game against Alabama, in which he was matched up (and held his ground convincingly) against Quinnen Williams, who he’ll now be facing twice a year in the AFC East if he ever gets any meaningful playing time.

Indeed, the battles in the trenches between New England’s offensive line and the defensive lines of the Jets, Bills, and Dolphins, should make for some must-see TV in the 2019 regular season. We’ve already got our popcorn ready.

Now we just need to find someone who can help us with pronouncing that name…