New England Patriots go back to their roots in 2020 NFL Draft

The New England Patriots stuck to their plan during the 2020 NFL Draft, a similar plan with which they have had success with in the past. Simply put, they got back to the roots that create a dynasty.

The New England Patriots are in a position that they have not been in for a very long time. Ever since Tom Brady took over for an injured Drew Bledsoe in 2001, this team has been a perennial Super Bowl contender and they have built their roster that way. With Brady gone and 2019 fourth-round selection Jarrett Stidham getting ready to take over at quarterback, things are obviously going to be different in 2020.

Let’s be honest about the New England Patriots for a moment. The legendary combination of Brady and Bill Belichick has covered up a lot of warts on this roster for many years, particularly on the offensive side of the ball. The biggest issue has been a lack of pass-catchers for Brady to consistently rely on in recent years, but it is not like they have been loaded across the other positions. If we take an honest look at the Patriots’ roster, it’s not pretty.

The Patriots had to use the 2020 NFL Draft to reload the cupboard and they were able to find multiple talented players who fit their scheme and system well. While they are not going to be at the top of many lists of teams who nailed the 2020 NFL Draft, I liked the way that Belichick and company attacked the draft and found players who fit them well.

New England first went on the clock with the 23rd overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft, and big surprise here, they traded down. The Pats sent pick No. 23 to the Los Angeles Chargers in exchange for picks in the second (37th overall) and third-round (71st overall). After that initial trade down in the first round, the New England Patriots got aggressive ended up making three trades up the board on Day 2.

In the end, they made five selections on Day 2 and they include:

Round 2, Pick 37: Kyle Dugger, S, Lenoir-Rhyne
Round 2, Pick 60: Josh Uche, EDGE, Michigan
Round 3, Pick 87: Anfernee Jennings, EDGE/LB, Alabama
Round 3, Pick 91: Devin Asiasi, TE, UCLA
Round 3, Pick 101: Dalton Keene, TE, Virginia Tech

One could certainly question the value of some of these selections but the Patriots clearly had a plan and made aggressive moves to get players who fit their system well. With the first three defensive picks, they clearly valued versatility and the ability to impact the game in a variety of ways. This has been a staple of the Patriots’ defense for many years and they found three exciting players who provide both immediate and long-term value to their roster.

Coming from a Division II program, there are certainly questions about Dugger’s ability to translate to the next level. That being said, one does not have to watch much of Dugger to understand that this guy has an extremely high ceiling. Dugger is an incredibly fast and athletic safety prospect who is a dynamic playmaker on the back-end. He is also a tough and physical in-the-box defender who can certainly hold his own against the run.

Dugger may not be ready to take on a full load of defensive snaps as a rookie, but he undoubtedly has value as a versatile defender who makes an impact in a variety of ways. The Patriots will find a way to get this in a position to consistently make plays. Do not be surprised if he ends up becoming one of the leaders of their defensive in the next couple of years.

In Uche, we see a similar kind of defensive versatility. While he was primarily an edge rusher in college, Uche flashes fantastic upside as a coverage player as well. He is extremely quick off of the ball, shows impressive bend around the edge and closes on the quarterback quickly. Add in his ability to drop back into coverage and shut down routes in the short zone and it is easy to see how he could quickly become an exciting weapon for Belichick and company.

Jennings does not have the raw upside and athletic ability of Dugger and Uche, but he is a solid player who undoubtedly fits the New England Patriots’ mold at the linebacker position. He is stout against the run and does a great job of consistently setting the edge on the outside. He also shows impressive natural instincts as a run defender and has an underrated combination of quickness and power that allows him to create some pressure as a rusher.

While Jennings is never going to put up massive numbers that will jump off of the page, he is a rock-solid and dependable defensive prospect who should be able to come in and make an immediate impact for this team.

In Dugger, Uche and Jennings, the New England Patriots found three versatile chess pieces who will fill important roles on the defensive side of the ball. Simply put, they took care of important defensive needs with good football players with their first three picks of the 2020 NFL Draft.

After loading up on defense earlier on Day 2, the Pats were able to find a couple of interesting offensive weapons late in the third round. They double-dipped at the tight end position with two trades up towards the end of the third round, taking Devin Asiasi and Dalton Keene.

These two selections draw obvious parallels to the 2010 NFL Draft when New England took Rob Gronkowski in the second round and Aaron Hernandez in the fourth. Obviously, we cannot expect Asiasi or Keene to grow into Gronkowski, but it is interesting to think about the possibilities of the two players.

Of the two, Asiasi is the most interesting player to me. He is a big and physical target who has the speed to stretch the middle of the field. He also shows soft hands and incredible upside as a run after catch receiver. Make no mistake about, Asiasi has a nice ceiling in the Patriots’ offense and could quickly become an important safety valve for Stidham on the field.

I am not surprised that the Patriots ended up landing Keene, but the pick was a pick of a reach to me. Similarly to their defensive selections, this pick likely comes down to versatile. Keene played a variety of roles in college, lining up as a true inline tight end, as an H-back, in the backfield and even out of the slot.

While Keene’s upside as a receiver is limited, he is a tough and physical player who blocks well and can create a bit after the catch. Keene is a good football player who will likely play be a dependable offensive piece for the Patriots, but the value of the selection did not seem great. Trading up for him in this range certainly felt like a reach.

With these five picks (with the possible exception of Asiasi), it is clear that the New England Patriots valued versatility in the 2020 NFL Draft. They targeted smart, dependable and tough players and a few guys who have some exciting athletic upside. Belichick and the Patriots built a dynasty around these kinds of players and it is certainly interesting to see them go back to this type in the 2020 NFL Draft.