The New England Patriots needed to really nail things on Day 2 of the 2022 NFL Draft. After shocking many by taking Chattanooga lineman Cole Strange in the first round, the Patriots needed to address holes at wide receiver while beefing up a defense that isn’t as sharp as it was in 2021.
The Patriots decided to add a faster wide receiver in Baylor speed demon Tyquan Thornton in the second round. While they traded down and only used one of their third-round picks, they managed to select a very promising defensive back in Houston turnover machine Marcus Jones.
The Patriots are not a team that will follow the path every other team is going down. While New England has some big misses in their recent draft history, Bill Belichick has like engendered enough trust to take some unusual swings with the goal of getting some much-needed depth.
New England has once again zigged while everyone else has zagged, taking gambles on prospects that other franchises might have decided to stay away from. Will this benefit the Patriots in the long run?
Grading New England Patriots Day 2 Picks
Round 2, Pick 50: Tyquan Thornton, WR, Baylor
Thornton was considered a reach by some, as his concerningly slight frame for someone as tall as he is and lack of a 1,000-yard season under two different coaches in college are worth worrying about. Even with those risks, his traits make it clear and obvious why New England traded up to get him.
Thornton nearly broke the combine 40-yard dash record with his blazing 4.28 time. That speed shows up on tape, as even future pro cornerbacks had difficulty preventing him from getting down the field. His route-running on intermediate routes was more impressive than the numbers might suggest.
Tyquan Thornton could help the New England Patriots immediately.
The Patriots were able to make Mac Jones a Pro Bowler by giving him players that can make plays underneath. The lack of a vertical dimension was bugging Belichick to the point where he may have reached a bit to fill the hole. Thornton is a very high-risk, high-reward player.
Thornton should start the year as the WR4, but it would not be unprecedented if he ends up gradually getting more snaps as the season progresses. Getting Thornton to add weight and teaching him how to beat NFL-caliber press coverage will be key in his development.
Grade: B-
Round 3, Pick 85: Marcus Jones, CB, Houston
Jones is going to have some doubters due to his diminutive 5-8 frame and shoulder injuries. If those critics can look past those two flaws, they will see that Jones is one of the best turnover generators in the draft. Not too bad for a team that just lost out on JC Jackson in the offseason.
Jones recorded 10 interceptions in four seasons, including five last year. Jones is sticky in man coverage, aggressive enough to make plays on the ball despite his size, and elusive enough as a ball carrier to be one of the best young return men in the game. Jones’ injury risk stopped him from potentially going top 50.
Marcus Jones will improve the New England Patriots’ secondary.
Jones, who saw some time as a wide receiver due to injuries at the position this year, is one of the best athletes available on Day 2. Belichick has had some success with plugging some quality athletes that are undersized into his system, so Jones might be in line for a very quick ascension up the depth chart.
Jones will likely need to be in the slot to start out, receiving a starting outside role when he adds a bit more weight and proves himself as a tackler. If he checks those boxes, Jones might end up being one of the best win-now moves we’ve seen in the second or third round.
Grade: A-
Overall Draft Grade
The Patriots’ hit some major home runs in 2021 by Jones and Christian Barmore in the first two rounds. The picture is nowhere near as clear this year, as none of their first three picks will likely be guaranteed starter roles. So much of this draft is going to depend on how Strange performs.
While he is an FCS player, you don’t draft someone who will be 24 in his rookie season with the expectation that he’s going to sit on the bench for very long. Going from Austin Peay and East Tennessee State to the Chiefs and Bills will be a major system shock. He’s an amazing athlete, but is that enough?
The New England Patriots had an uneven draft.
Strange is going to determine so much about New England’s plan, but New England did draft two quality athletes in Thornton and Jones. If they end up with a WR3 for Jones and a new nickel back/return ace, that’s not a terrible haul for the second and third rounds.
The Bills are picking up some great pieces despite a lack of capital, the Dolphins landed Tyreek Hill, and the Jets have been recognized as having dominated on the first two days of the draft, Time will tell if Belichick can turn these selections into winners over the next few years.
Grade: C+
3 first-round picks Patriots bafflingly passed on to select Cole Strange
Why did the New England Patriots trade back and select Cole Strange instead of Jermaine Johnson or Devin Lloyd? What exactly happened?