New England Patriots: 2020 NFL Draft late-round sleeper targets

Throughout Belichick’s tenure with the New England Patriots, his best draft successes have come from the middle and late rounds of the draft. Can 2020 bring the same talent?

Some of the most impressive New England Patriots of all-time during Belichick’s tenure as head coach have been found in the middle rounds of the draft. Shaq Mason, James White, Marcus Cannon, Julian Edelman, and the greatest prize of all, Tom Brady. All of these stars have been found in the second and third days of the draft and become integral pieces to the well-oiled machine that is the New England Patriots empire.

The 2020 NFL Draft holds a number of talented athletes who have fallen to the wayside of the draft, obscured either by star teammates or glaring weaknesses in their scouting reports. The trend of unconventional athletes playing as utility players through multiple positions is becoming more and more popular in the NFL, and the products of the 2020 NFL draft are no exception.

Belichick has had a defined system during his time in New England, but to keep up with a changing NFL, Belichick needs to continue to be ahead of the curve and beat other franchises to the punch when acquiring the unique specimens in the latter half of the draft.

The New England Patriots have a chance to reform their identity in the 2020 offseason, through both free agency and the 2020 NFL draft. A number of current players will be leaving this offseason, and this is a time to implement a new scheme and identity with an injection of youth.