The New England Patriots did a good job of finding value at just about every turn in the 2021 NFL Draft. No matter what you think of Mac Jones as a long-term prospect at the quarterback position in the NFL for the Patriots or anyone else, the 2021 class New England assembled is impressive.
New England Patriots 2021 NFL Draft class
- 1. Mac Jones, QB, Alabama
- 2. Christian Barmore, DL, Alabama
- 3. Ronnie Perkins, EDGE, Oklahoma
- 4. Rhamondre Stevenson, RB, Oklahoma
- 5. Cameron McGrone, LB, Michigan
- 6a. Joshuah Bledsoe, S, Missouri
- 6b. William Sherman, OL, Colorado
- 7. Tre Nixon, WR, UCF
After their spending spree in the 2021 free agent signing period, the New England Patriots assembled a strong draft class that should feature a handful of immediate contributors, including potentially the team’s starting quarterback.
The New England Patriots’ rookie class in 2021, however, does not feature much at all in the form of undrafted free agents.
In the typical frenzy that is undrafted free agency, the Patriots were almost completely silent. They had one target after the 2021 NFL Draft, and it was Michigan kicker Quinn Nordin.
Along with veteran Nick Folk, Nordin is competing for one of the most important jobs on the team and the New England Patriots obviously think highly of him to bring him in as their only UDFA.
He has the school record at Michigan for the most 40-plus yard field goals made (14) in a career and has a career-long of 57 yards.
That kind of range is what attracted the New England Patriots to Nordin, but he’s facing some stiff competition in the form of veteran kicker Nick Folk.
Folk is a proven commodity in the NFL, and that is certainly to his advantage, but does he offer the type of long-term upside of a guy like Nordin?
Advantage Nordin.
The Patriots will have the luxury of training camp and preseason play to determine the winner of this kicking battle, but Nordin has already outlasted Roberto Aguayo, who came in and got a shot with the team as well.
Inconsistency was Nordin’s primary issue at Michigan, and that simply won’t fly at the NFL level. Still, if the Patriots felt like they could fix something mechanically with his ‘swing’ then the upside here is huge.