The Draft: New England Patriots

There is no doubt that the Patriots have been making the moves to win another Super Bowl this offseason. The acquisitions of Brandin Cooks and Stephon Gilmore, along with the resigning of Don’t’a Hightower, show their efforts with already established NFL talent. The final step for the Patriots is the draft.

This upcoming draft may be one of the most important in recent years. They will not only need to add depth on both sides of the ball, but also find talent too that fits the schemes and ideals of the team. There is a lot of talent in this year’s draft that the Patriots can capitalize on. Players like Jabrill Peppers, Jordan Leggett, Duke Riley, and D’Onta Foreman are all versatile players that could fit in with the Patriots’ schemes.

Jabrill Peppers, SS, Michigan:

Peppers is no doubt the best overall athlete in the draft. After running a 4.46 forty and pressing 19 reps on the bench, Peppers stands as a player who will more than likely go in the first round. The Safety can not only add to the defense, but also provide a burst of energy to a versatile offense and possibly take a few to the house on a kick return. Belichick would love to have a player like this in his pocket. Brady, who is a Michigan guy, may even be in Bill’s ear on this pick. Peppers can serve as an athletic nickel corner who can blitz off the edge and lock up a slot throughout the game. Patricia can utilize his speed and aggressiveness closer to the line of scrimmage or deeper in the secondary. Even if Peppers doesn’t start his first few years he can potentially learn a lot behind seasoned veterans Patrick Chung and Devin McCourty, who both have 8+ years of experience under their belt. Jabrill Pepper is an exciting player to watch and fits the ideals of being a Patriot.

Jordan Leggett, TE, Clemson:

Leggett, the former national champion, can bring something to the Patriots that we haven’t seen in a while at his position: consistency. Gronkowski has struggled in recent years to stay healthy throughout the season. Hernandez, Bennett, and now Allen have always played second fiddle to the monster until he goes down with an injury. Adding a versatile threat like Leggett can add to the offense as a third string Tight End or a bigger red zone threat. The Clemson TE can split out as a receiver or line up in the normal spot and cause matchup problems for the defense. After the catch, he is dangerous. With speed, agility, and elusiveness, Jordan Leggett can be an instant threat on the Patriots dynamic offense.

Duke Riley, LB, LSU:

One of 66 SEC players in the 2017 draft, Riley looks to add to the list of former LSU players in the NFL. The Linebacker may be an excellent fit for the Patriots defense. Riley, who is slightly undersized to be an NFL Linebacker, spends a lot of his time in the opposing team’s backfield. After leading the LSU defense with 93 tackles this past season, he can continue his success in NFL alongside the freshly signed Dont’a Hightower (another former SEC Linebacker). Riley was a leader on the LSU defense and a complete sideline to sideline player. He can bring back to the Patriot defense what we lost when we traded away Jamie Collins. Riley is one of the most underrated Linebackers in the draft and the Patriots may be able to steal him in a later round.

D’Onta Foreman, RB, Texas:

Contingent on the potential signing of LeGarrette Blount and Adrian Peterson, Foreman could be the next power back for the Patriots. The former Longhorn, weighing in at 235 lbs., ran a 4.58 40-yard dash at the combine. He’s ranked as the 10^th best running back in the draft and after rushing for 2,028 yards, Foreman looks to make an immediate impact in the NFL. The Patriots are in search of a power back. Meeting with Adrian Peterson and not having signed LeGarrette Blount, the move might be to pick some talent out of the draft for a lower price initially. Foreman would join a talented backfield which includes Dion Lewis, James White, and newly signed Rex Burkhead.

Written by Stefan Athas