Patriots stealing top offensive rookie of 2020 can’t be ignored

The New England Patriots selected the best offensive rookie of 2020 in the sixth round out of Michigan. Don’t ignore this.

Patriots de facto GM Bill Belichick’s draft struggles have gotten plenty of play in 2020.

After all, when you attempt to strike on first-round weapons at running back (Sony Michel in 2018) and wide receiver (N’Keal Harry in 2019), only to watch those players get usurped by a wide range of offensive options who were drafted behind them, it’s natural to ask questions.

For years, Belichick’s dueling draft bugaboos have been wideouts and defensive backs, but you can’t tell the whole story without acknowledging that the man made one of the biggest draft steals (if not the biggest) of 2020.

Though you may not have noticed, the Patriots selected the highest-graded offensive rookie in the entire league in the sixth round out of Michigan this time around.

So yeah, there’s a reason Belichick’s been getting salty when his foibles get pointed out! This is a fairly big win that keeps flying under the radar — unless you’re Cam Newton. Then, you’re singing the pick’s praises daily.

It’s been tough to defend the team’s drafting this season in particular since the lack of depth has been so glaring in all facets. The offense has been led by UDFAs like Jakobi Meyers, and high-profile defenders (supposedly) like Josh Uche and Anfernee Jennings have barely cracked the rotation.

The Onwenu pick doesn’t show up on the highlight reels (unless you’re looking extremely hard and are a very pedantic person!), but the Patriots have secured the services of one of the top-five guards in the game, and the maneuver was about as unheralded as it gets.

After two decades of profiting off the shrewdness of selecting a sixth-round Wolverine, we guess Belichick wasn’t done just yet, huh?

There’s no glory in adding a road-grader, but that’s how dynasties are built, when rock-solid starters emerge where you least expect it.

Now, it’s time to use our capital on some more high-profile pieces, seeing as the foundation is at least partially secured.

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