2016 NFL Draft Midseason Grades For Every 1st Round Pick
By Erik Lambert
New England Patriots
Top Pick: Cyrus Jones, CB, Alabama
Bill Belichick is notorious for being good with cornerbacks since his days as a defensive coordinator. So it wasn’t a surprise the Patriots made Cyrus Jones their top pick this year. He showed at Alabama he could be a sticky nuisance in coverage who makes plays. So far though he’s been making too many mistakes whenever he’s seen the field. He has just three tackles in five games. He’ll have to earn his way back into the teams’ good graces.
Grade: C
Hidden Gem: Joe Thuney, OG, N.C. State
The other part of the Chandler Jones trade. This was the pick New England got from Arizona and they made good use of it. Joe Thuney is quickly developing into a dependable blocker for the Patriots offensive line. He’s stout in pass protection and moves well as a road create to create lanes for the running backs. Like any rookie he has some bad moments but far fewer than normal. As usual this team makes the most of a trade they were forced to make.