Inside the Patriots Draft Room: Finding the Final Pieces to Reclaim the Lombardi Trophy
Strong Safeties
Last season the Patriots utilized a three safety look often. Devin McCourty would move around to give the offense different looks, Patrick Chung would play in the box or cover the slot and Duron Harmon would act as the centerfielder. McCourty’s contract was previously discussed while Chung just signed a two-year extension through 2020 this offseason and Harmon is dealing with an incident that occurred at an airport in Costa Rica.
So while all three starting safeties are signed for at least two more seasons, there’s no guarantee all three last two more years in New England. At the very least, depth is needed at the strong safety position as Jordan Richards and Brandon King should not be counted on to play anything other than special teams. With numerous late-round and undrafted free agents fitting the mold, this could very well be a position in which an undrafted free agent comes in and not only makes the roster, but sees significant playing time as a reserve and special teams player.
Highly-valued skills:
40-yard dash, vertical jump, broad jump (118 graded)
1. Derwin James (Florida State) 71.4%
1. Foyesade Oluokun (Yale) 71.4%
3. Terrell Edmunds (Virginia Tech) 64.2%
4. Dane Cruikshank (Arizona) 57.1%
4. Troy Apke (Penn State) 57.1%
6. Asantay Brown (Western Michigan) 42.8%
6. Trayvon Henderson (Hawaii) 42.8%
8. Micah Hanneman (BYU) 28.5%
8. Steven Parker (Oklahoma) 28.5%
10. Anthony Sherrils (Missouri) 14.2%
10. Joseph Este (Tennessee-Martin) 14.2%
10. Kelsey Douglas (Southern Mississippi) 14.2%
10. Siran Neal (Jacksonville State) 14.2%
10. Trey Marshall (Florida State) 14.2%
10. Zed Brown (West Georgia) 14.2%
10. Tre Flowers (Oklahoma State) 14.2% *also scored above average as a FS
Next: Mock Drafts: An Oral History
Fell below the minimum threshold in one category, but still finished with a positive score:
1. Bobby Fulp (East Carolina) 21.4%
1. Kerron Johnson (Coastal Carolina) 21.4%