Patriots: 3 top draft prospects who’d be awful fits in New England
By Mike Luciano
Patriots Poor Fit No. 2: Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah, LB, Notre Dame
Owusu-Koramoah, on paper, looks like a new breed of linebacker meant to attack the pass-happy NFL, as he weighs in at just over 220 pounds. Given his speed, hitting power, and ability to cover ground in zone coverage, he looks ideal for any team that wants to add a versatile Swiss Army knife to their defense.
Considering Belichick’s fascination with linebackers that he can move around on defense, why would using the No. 15 pick on an accomplished college player like Owusu-Koramoah be a mistake? To be blunt, he is a huge work in progress when it comes to run defense.
Why would Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah not fit on the Patriots?
One of Owusu-Koramoah’s biggest issues in his final year of tape was the fact that he struggled to disengage from blocks. Keep in mind, those issues were evident against sub-standard ACC competition. What’s going to happen when Mekhi Becton gets out in the open field and gets a chance to block him?
Owusu-Koramoah might have value as a hybrid safety/linebacker, but the selection of Kyle Dugger last year would make him a bit redundant. There are some quality linebackers New England could take in this draft, but it would be best if they let some other team take a chance on the former Irish star.