Patriots: 3 draft picks that prove Bill Belichick is still king
By Mike Luciano
1. Joshuah Bledsoe, S, Missouri
The first Missouri defensive back off of the board was Tyree Gillespie, who went to the defense-needy Las Vegas Raiders. Somehow, the Patriots ended up with the better Tigers defensive back dozens of picks later, as they eyed Bledsoe as an ideal backup safety and special teams contributor.
While Colorado’s William Sherman was also picked around this range, Bledsoe might be the better of the two late picks, as he was the leader in passes deflected for a Tigers defense that remained competitive. His athletic testing numbers only confirmed that he shouldn’t have lasted until this point.
The Patriots stole Joshuah Bledsoe late in the NFL Draft.
The Patriots have more defensive backs than they know what to do with, but in a league that features as many talented quarterbacks as there are right now, you can never have enough depth at this position. Bledsoe can line up in the box if needed, which will only help him get on the field faster.
Bledsoe is not going to steal a ton of headlines, but Belichick has a knack for finding talented defensive back play at this stage in the draft. If Bledsoe became a starter, which should surprise few given his skills as a pass defender, Belichick can add another notch in his belt after unearthing a quality DB.
