Patriots conclude 2020 NFL Draft with pick of C Dustin Woodard
With what is expected to be their final selection in the 2020 NFL Draft, the New England Patriots picked Memphis center Dustin Woodard.
The New England Patriots — and more specifically their head coach and general manager, Bill Belichick — are always going to march to the beat of their own drum.
Widely expected to be in the market for quarterback and wide receiver in this draft, the Pats instead spent 10 picks on a number of other positions. They did not address either QB or WR, though they probably will sign some undrafted free agents and perhaps ink a veteran out there like Cam Newton, Andy Dalton (if he’s released), or Jameis Winston to compete with Jarrett Stidham and Brian Hoyer.
The New England wide receiver depth chart should largely look the same in 2020 as it did in 2019. Julian Edelman, Mohamed Sanu, and N’Keal Harry are the top-three options, with Jakobi Meyers and Gunner Olszewski also returning. Phillip Dorsett is gone, and Marqise Lee and Damiere Byrd are the newcomers signed off the street.
The Pats spent five of their 10 picks on offense, four on defense, and one on special teams.
With their final pick in the 2020 NFL Draft, New England found a backup for David Andrews, who had just recently announced his medical clearance to return to action this season after missing the entire 2019 season with blood clots in his lungs.
Andrews’ new backup is a Memphis Tiger — the Patriots last drafted someone from Memphis back in 2006 when they took Stephen Gostkowski at placekicker.
Next. Patriots select Cassh Maluia from Wyoming in sixth round. dark
Dustin Woodard is 6’1 and weighs 295 lbs. According to ProFootballFocus, he was the best run-blocking center in all of college football last year — a good sign considering just how run-heavy this offense could be next year and beyond, now that Tom Brady is with the Buccaneers and Stidham remains unproven.