Patriots: Biggest draft steal of every year of the past decade
By Adam Weinrib
2019 Patriots Draft Steal: Damien Harris
With all due respect to Sony Michel, this is how you draft running backs: third-round bell cows from top collegiate programs, not thunder-and-lightning half-and-halfs with your first-round selection. Hey, you can’t say Bill Belichick doesn’t know how to pivot!
We might be able to add Rhamondre Stevenson to this list in a few months, too…
Given the rock in 10 starts in his second year last season, Harris racked up an impressive first true NFL campaign, rushing for 691 yards on 137 carries including a long of 41 yards. Moving forward, Harris will be atop the depth chart with Michel quite possibly on his way out of town, either because of a soon-to-be-disappointing 2021 follow-up or a bounce-back year that prices him out of New England.
Though Rex Burkhead has departed for the Texans, James White remains as a pass-catching option who can help either Cam Newton or Mac Jones out of the backfield. Stevenson might be able to relieve Harris on occasion, but it’ll largely be up to the third-rounder to pound through holes and punish opposing defenses with his breakaway speed. Odds are this pick will only look like more of a steal in the years to come.