New England Patriots: 3 biggest ‘what ifs?’ in recent draft history
By Mike Luciano
1. Leaning on oft-injured DT Dominique Easley
The Patriots might’ve won a Super Bowl right after they made this selection, but that doesn’t mean Easley isn’t one of the biggest busts in franchise history. At first glance, a 290-pound defensive tackle with the burst of an edge rusher much lighter looked ideal for a coach like Belichick.
A 5-star recruit from Staten Island, Easley tore his ACL in both his freshman and senior seasons at Florida, which took a huge bite out of his trademark explosion. Despite those issues, the Patriots used a first-round pick on him in 2014, a decision that they came to regret as soon as they turned the card in.
Dominique Easley never took off with the Patriots
Rather than taking Demarcus Lawrence, Davante Adams, or Allen Robinson, New England added Easley, who suffered another ACL injury and was released after just two seasons.
Easley eventually settled into a backup role with the Los Angeles Rams, but injuries once again ruined his potential, as he endured a fourth ACL injury and was released after 2018.
It’s a shame that we never got to see what he could really do, because his athletic ability at its best was absolutely exceptional. However, Easley serves as a cautionary tale that the best way to predict future injuries is past injury history, and New England has to take that axiom to heart.