NFL Draft, Day 3: Quarterback and punter among the notable picks
NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell announces a pick by the New England Patriots during the first round of the 2018 NFL Draft at AT&T Stadium on April 26, 2018 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images)
By Matt Dolloff, 985TheSportsHub.com
UPDATE: The 2019 NFL Draft is complete, and so is the Patriots’ class of picks. Click here for an intro to all 10 of them.
The Patriots enter day 3 of the 2019 NFL Draft with one of the deepest arsenals of picks in the National Football League. As is tradition with Bill Belichick, he ensured he’d have plenty of seventh-round fliers bringing up the rear. But he also has three fourth-round picks to work with, and he’s done well in that round in recent years. And there certainly are some high-upside prospects remaining in the pool who sank out of the first two nights.
Belichick surprised a lot of people on day 1. He not only stayed put at No. 32 but took a wide receiver in the first round for the first time ever as Patriots head coach when he took Arizona State’s N’Keal Harry. On Day 2, Belichick blended best-player-available moves with addressing immediate needs – whether or not he intended to do the latter thing.
Here’s what the Patriots are working with to start day 3:
4th round (118) – Hjalte Froholdt, OL, Arkansas
4th round (133) – Jarrett Stidham, QB, Auburn
5th round (159) – Byron Cowart, DT, Maryland
5th round (163) – Jake Bailey, P, Stanford
7th round (252) – Ken Webster, CB, Ole Miss
I’ve got live updates for you throughout day 3 of the 2019 NFL Draft below. You can expect plenty of activity from the Patriots, and of course a few selections as well.
Live Updates:
— The Patriots have finally completed their 2019 draft class. With the 252nd pick in the seventh round, they select Ole Miss cornerback Ken Webster.
— 5:50: Nearly three hours after their last selection, the Patriots haven’t made any more trades and still hold the 252nd pick, third-to-last in the entire draft. It will be interesting to see if they take someone or end up flipping it in a trade for a player or future pick.
— 2:54: Bill Belichick moves up yet again. The Patriots traded picks 167 and 246 to the Eagles for pick 163. They used the pick on Stanford punter Jake Bailey.
Eagles trade: Pick 163.
— Field Yates (@FieldYates) April 27, 2019
Patriots trade: Pick 167, 246.
— 2:45: The Patriots have apparently traded up to the 159th pick with the Vikings. They selected Maryland DT Byron Cowart with the selection.
Here are the full terms of the trade:
Vikings trade: Pick 159.
— Field Yates (@FieldYates) April 27, 2019
Patriots trade: Pick 162, 239.
— 1:39: After selecting Auburn QB Jarrett Stidham with the 133rd overall pick, the Patriots traded down. They sent pick No. 134 to the Rams along with pick 243 in exchange for a pair of fifth-rounders, picks 162 and 167.
Patriots trade: Pick 134, 243.
— Field Yates (@FieldYates) April 27, 2019
Rams trade: Pick 162, 167.
— 1:34: The Patriots have drafted a quarterback. They select Auburn’s Jarrett Stidham with the 133rd overall pick.
Jarrett Stidham of the Auburn Tigers looks to pass against the Alabama Crimson Tide at Bryant-Denny Stadium on November 24, 2018 in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
— 12:56: Patriots select Arkansas G/C Hjalte Froholdt with the 118th overall pick. In case you’re wondering, his first name is pronounced “YELL-Duh”. A prototypical kind of project for the Patriots, Froholdt entered the college ranks as a defensive lineman but converted to an interior offensive lineman at Arkansas. He played under Bret Bielema, who is currently a consultant to Belichick. He started games at both left guard and center in his senior year with the Razorbacks, making him a versatile prospect with plenty of possibilities for the Patriots’ offensive line. In the immediate future, he could compete with Ted Karras for a backup interior OL spot.
Feb 28, 2019; Indianapolis, IN: Arkansas offensive lineman Hjalte Froholdt speaks to media during the 2019 NFL Combine at Indianapolis Convention Center. (Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports)
— 12:50: For the second straight year, Mike Vrabel and Jon Robinson’s Titans trade up and over the Patriots. This time, it’s in the fourth round after they moved up to 22nd last year to take linebacker Rashaan Evans. They took Iowa safety Amani Hooker, generally considered one of the better players available and a possible fit for New England.
— 12:30: Already a slew of potential Patriots prospects off the board to start the fourth round. They showed interest in Eastern Michigan DE Maxx Crosby, who went to the Raiders with the fourth pick of the round. N.C. State QB Ryan Finley would’ve made sense as a bit of a lottery ticket at the position. Iowa DE Anthony Nelson, Iowa State WR Hakeem Butler, and Florida CB Chauncey Gardner-Johnson were widely considered three of the best prospects remaining in the pool.
— This wide receiver class remains replete with talent and potential fits for the Patriots. Here’s who is still left if Belichick wants to double dip at the position:
Riley Ridley, Georgia
Kelvin Harmon, N.C. State
Hunter Renfrow, Clemson
Stanley Morgan, Nebraksa
Gary Jennings, West Virginia
David Sills, West Virginia
Hakeem Butler, Iowa State
Emanuel Hall, Missouri
Click here for all NFL Draft updates from 985TheSportsHub.com.
Matt Dolloff is a digital producer for 985TheSportsHub.com. Any opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect those of 98.5 The Sports Hub, Beasley Media Group, or any subsidiaries. Have a news tip, question, or comment for Matt? Follow him on Twitter @mattdolloff or email him at matthew.dolloff@bbgi.com.
