Post 1st Round Patriots Draft Breakdown

So we looked into those two first round picks the Pats actually decided to use this year. What is actually in store for them, who knows. Trying to follow all the trade up and downs they made on days 2 and 3 is like finding your way through a labyrinth. They made so many moves that I’m not really sure they used any of their own actual picks. But here’s a look into the people they took with those picks.

Duke Dawson – CB, Florida – 56th Overall: Dawson seems like he could be a guy they work into the mix in the future. Gilmore is no doubt number 1, and the signing of Jason McCourty certainly seems like he will be number 2. Dawson could compete with Jonathan Jones for the nickel spot. He might give them a reason to dump Cyrus Jones this coming season if he continues to be a disappointment.

Ja’Whaun Bentley – LB, Purdue – 143rd Overall: This pick looks like a good addition of a position the Pats need. He is a run stuffing type linebacker where they struggled heavily last year. However I just look at this guy and see Elandon Roberts all over again. Roberts has flashes that he is very good, but two of him is not the answer to a better run defense. Time will tell if he is a better linebacker, but that is the comparison I see in him.

Christian Sam – LB, Arizona State – 178th Overall: Now this is a Belichick guy. A fast and versatile linebacker that used to be a defensive back. He is the kind of guy that might find his way onto the roster via some serious special teams hustle, and maybe in a year or so find himself getting valuable defensive snaps. I look forward to see where this guy might end up with the Pats.

Braxton Berrios – WR, Miami – 210th Overall – If this wasn’t a cookie cutter Patriots pick then I don’t know what is. 5’8″ gritty, speedy, “fair-skinned” wide receiver fits that mold pretty well. This guy might have a huge upside in this offense, and will probably make his way on here as a punt returner to take some pressure off of Julian Edelman. As a matter of fact, maybe there is something we don’t know about his injury and that’s why they drafted another clone of him.

Danny Etling – QB, LSU – 219th Overall: Ah the inevitable quarterback drafted by the Pats this year. Maybe they see something in him, and maybe they don’t. A lot of people just say he straight up is not a good QB. A lot of people also said that about a lanky kid from Michigan. This might be a way to generate some buzz as to what they want in the future. If in week 2 of the 2019 season Tom Brady breaks a rib and punctures a lung, and this guy takes over, you can call it deja vu, or you can call it Belichick genius.

Keion Crossen – DB, Western Carolina – 243rd Overall: He was clearly a guy that the Patriots liked, having worked him out multiple times. He did not face a high level of competition being at a small school in Western Carolina, but he could be a guy that impresses during the preseason and makes the practice squad, with a future to make an impact in the case of any injuries.

Ryan Izzo – TE, Florida State – 250th Overall: The last guy the Pats took in the draft, he adds some more depth to the tight end position. He is a mauling blocking tight end that isn’t afraid to get down and dirty. He might open up some more opportunities for Dwayne Allen to actually catch a pass or two. Maybe he’ll be another big lug that the Pats turn into a pass catcher.

-Jake Kobierski (@TheRealKobe83)