New England Patriots: 2019 rookie class is their best in a while

The New England Patriots have been a dynasty and a dominant force in the NFL since the early 2000s, but their 2019 draft class is their best in some time.

The New England Patriots have been a force in the NFL for just about as long as most NFL fans today can remember.

When Tom Brady took over as the team’s quarterback, the dynasty began and it hasn’t slowed down really at all, even now that Brady is into his 40s.

One thing the Patriots have somewhat struggled with in recent years is the NFL Draft, especially early on in the draft. No one really talks about it because the team has been so good in spite of poor drafting, and the Patriots usually do a good job of trading draft assets for veteran contributors.

They get the most out of undrafted players and some late-round guys as well, and no team loves a good reclamation project quite like the Patriots.

I’m not trying to be hyper-critical for the sake of it, either. The Patriots are finding ways to win games, keep a culture, and develop certain key players, and that’s fantastic for them. Their formula is not to be questioned, but their 2019 NFL Draft class could allow them a lot less improvisation in roster construction, because it looks like Belichick’s best class in a really long time.

Here is a look at every player the Patriots drafted and some key UDFAs so far through training camp and the preseason.

1. WR N’Keal Harry, Arizona State
2. DB Joejuan Williams, Vanderbilt
3a. DE Chase Winovich, Michigan
3b. RB Damien Harris, Alabama
3c. OT Yodney Cajuste, West Virginia
4a. OL Hjalte Froholdt, Arkansas
4b. QB Jarrett Stidham, Auburn
5a. DL Byron Cowart, Maryland
5b. P Jake Bailey, Stanford
7. CB Ken Webster, Mississippi State

Top UDFAs (so far)

WR Jakobi Meyers, North Carolina State
RB Nick Brossette, LSU

The Patriots have gotten significant contributions and signs of development from just about all of these players.

N’Keal Harry, in limited action, has two first-down catches of 18 yards apiece. The undrafted Jakobi Meyers has been absolutely lighting it up for the Pats, catching 12 passes for 151 yards and two touchdowns in two games with nine first downs.

Joejuan Williams, the team’s second-round pick, has allowed only two catches on seven targets into his coverage, and has two pass breakups to go along with it.

Chase Winovich leads all NFL players with 12 total pressures in preseason play, three sacks, and he’s generally flying all over the field making high effort plays just like he did at Michigan.

Damien Harris is among this year’s rookie leaders in both yards after contact and yards after contact per attempt. He’s also got 23 receiving yards, 17 of those after the catch. Undrafted Nick Brossette out of LSU is second in the entire league through two preseason games with 57 yards after contact on 31 carries.

Jarrett Stidham is 28-of-43 passing so far this preseason with 372 yards, two touchdowns, and no interceptions. He’s shown signs of being a possible starting option down the line for the Patriots.

Yodney Cajuste is injured, but Hjalte Froholt has received high marks for his blocking both in pass protection and in the running game.

Byron Cowart has been getting after the quarterback and has a couple of sacks among his four pressures in two games.

Jake Bailey only has two punts, but they’ve gone for an average of 49.5 per kick.

Ken Webster is just getting back to practice, but the way everyone else is playing, would it shock you to see him make the roster as a backup corner and special teamer?

This Patriots draft class has to be one of the most exciting in recent memory for them, even with a pair of first-round picks in Isaiah Wynn and Sony Michel last year. These guys are not just going to fill out the roster, either, they’re providing much needed depth and it looks like New England has filled some serious needs with just about every selection they had as well as finding some gems in the undrafted free agent heap.

Even picking at the bottom of every round, the Patriots accumulated a bunch of picks and made good use of every single one of them.