The Patriots’ biggest draft busts of the last 5 years

The Patriots have many positions needing to be dealt with, whether through free or the NFL draft, both of which are just mere weeks away.

Because rookies have recently become essential to several successful teams, Bill Belichick must make the right decisions to get the Patriots on track to becoming a competitive football team once again.

Looking back at previous draft busts could be a good idea, given the importance of the holes that need filling on the roster this year. It’s vital that Belichick avoids these mistakes over the next several weeks, especially to not leave more reliable and talented players on the board.

The Patriots’ biggest draft busts of the last 5 years

Dalton Keene – TE

DRAFTED: Third round of 2020 draft

STATS: 6 games – 3/5 receptions for 16 yards

After the unexpected and delayed retirement of Rob Gronkowski in 2019, the Patriots were hoping to find adequate replacements, which saw Bill Belichick select back-to-back tight ends in the 2020 draft.

Although Keene’s initial drafting was only questionable due to New England trading up to grab him a bit early, according to experts, his skillset and athleticism seemed to mesh well with the Patriots’ system. As a three-year starter at Virginia Tech, the tight end had a great build and knowledge of the game, but most notably, the versatility that Belichick loves in players.

However, problems arose almost immediately as injuries plagued much of Keene’s time in New England. He missed time during his rookie season from neck and knee issues, which placed him on injured reserve for much of the season. The following year was much of the same, as his season ended before it started when he underwent meniscus surgery in August.

With his third season also forcing him to miss time from injury, the Patriots released him, and he has spent time with the Eagles and Broncos since his departure.

Keene was initially hoped to be a great option as both a tight end and fullback, two positions the Patriots have utilized a lot over the years. But the injury bug kept him off the field too much, thus becoming a draft bust.

The Patriots’ biggest draft busts of the last 5 years

N’Keal Harry – WR

DRAFTED: 32nd overall in the 2019 draft

STATS: 33 games – 57/103 receptions for 598 yards, 4 touchdowns

Probably the most obvious of all the draft busts has to be N’Keal Harry, who was just the second receiver chosen in the 2019 draft behind Marquise Brown. His selection has continued to be a punchline for those outside New England and a haunting memory to Patriots fans because of the receivers chosen after him.

The more notable players selected not long after Harry were;

• Deebo Samuel – pick 36 by the 49ers
• A.J. Brown – pick 51 by the Titans
• D.K. Metcalf – pick 64 by the Seahawks
• Terry McLaurin – pick 76 by the Commanders

All have gone on to have incredibly productive careers and are consistently at the top of their position, whereas Harry struggled to even get on the field in his three years in New England.

His career began on injured reserve, and his rookie season didn’t amount to much. However, his second season in 2020 saw his most production yet, with 33 receptions for 309 yards and two touchdowns from Cam Newton, who admittedly hoped to revive the young player’s career.

The following season, Harry requested a trade in the summer via his agent on social media and asked to be moved before training camp. Belichick and Harry reportedly discussed the request, and he stayed with the team for the 2021 season. But just a year later, he was finally traded to the Chicago Bears for a seventh-round pick in the 2024 draft, a drastic decrease in value from his first-round selection.

The Patriots’ biggest draft busts of the last 5 years

Justin Rohrwasser – K

DRAFTED: Fifth round of 2020 draft

One of the most controversial selections of the last five years came in the form of a kicker out of Marshall.

Justin Rohrwasser was meant to help bridge the gap in the kicking game as the Patriots were still looking to replace Stephen Gostkowski. But their choice of Rohrwasser was immediately problematic and created headlines for months.

Shortly after the pick was announced, it was revealed that Rohrwasser had a “Three Percenters” tattoo, a right-wing militia group labeled an extremist group by the Anti-Defamation League. He proclaimed profusely that he wasn’t aware of the tattoo’s meaning and announced he would remove the ink as soon as possible, but it wound up not helping his situation much.

He was eventually waived before the regular season began and re-signed to the practice squad, where he spent the entire season. Then, come March 2021, the Patriots released the young kicker, and he has not played in the NFL since.

Ironically, Nick Folk was waived the same day as Rohrwasser, as they competed for the position all summer. But Folk was brought back and has remained the kicker for the team.

The Patriots’ biggest draft busts of the last 5 years

Devin Asiasi – TE

DRAFTED: Third round in 2020 draft

STATS: 10 games – 2/7 receptions for 39 yards, TD

Similar to his former teammate drafted after him, Devin Asiasi failed to make an impact with the Patriots.

Although he was active for the first five games of his rookie season, Asiasi didn’t record a reception until the final game. He had spent five weeks on injured reserve before returning for the last four games of the year.

Then came the spending spree for the 2021 season. Despite the double dip at tight end in the draft a year prior, Belichick signed Jonnu Smith and Hunter Henry to long-term contracts, seemingly taking the place of both Asiasi and Keene.

With Henry and Smith now the top tight ends on the roster, and Henry having a career year, Asiasi didn’t see the field with the Patriots at all in 2021. And the following summer, in August of 2020, the tight end was waived by New England and claimed by the Cincinnati Bengals, where he remains today.

The Patriots’ biggest draft busts of the last 5 years

Sony Michel – RB

DRAFTED: 31st overall pick in 2018

STATS: 38 games – 535 carries for 2,292 yards, 14 touchdowns | 26 receptions, 258 yards, TD

When looking back at some of the bigger draft busts the Patriots have made over the years, Sony Michel is unlikely to be a guy you quickly think of, primarily because of his phenomenal rookie performance throughout the postseason in 2018.

However, much of the reason behind his label of a draft mistake leads us back to draft night.

Michel was presumed to be a decent running back for any team that selected him, but he wasn’t expected to go in the first round, which was the Patriots’ first mistake.  The most scrutinized part of the selection was Bill Belichick passing on taking a quarterback who very well could have been the Tom Brady replacement they were looking for.

Because New England took Michel, the Ravens then traded into the 32nd spot to take Lamar Jackson, a quarterback that impressed everyone in the Patriots’ organization during his visits with the team.

Regardless of your opinion of Jackson, his career in Baltimore has outlasted Michel’s in New England. The running back was traded to the Rams in late August of 2021 and has since been unable to find a permanent NFL home.

Much like the selection of N’Keal Harry, Michel will always be remembered for who was immediately picked after him, fully encapsulating his status as a draft mistake.