What They Said: Patriots’ 2019 NFL Draft class on themselves as players
The New England Patriots logo is seen on a video board during the first round of the 2018 NFL Draft at AT&T Stadium on April 26, 2018 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images)
From the Patriots Draft Hub at 985TheSportsHub.com
The NFL Draft is always overflowing with opinions. No matter the player, school, or draft slot, everyone’s got a take. But whose opinion is better to trust about the players than the players themselves?
Here’s a sampling of quotes from every Patriots 2019 draft pick. Specifically, comments on themselves as players or how they’ve developed and expect to contribute in New England. It’s fair if you believe what they’re saying over any draft analyst.
Check out their takes below, via their introductory conference calls with the Patriots.
WR N’Keal Harry: “I would describe my game as very passionate. I play with a lot of passion. Whenever that ball is in the air, I’ll sacrifice anything to go get it and I’ll do whatever it takes to help the team win. Anything Coach wants me to do, whether it’s on special teams, offense, anything, I’ll do it just to do my part and to be one piece of the puzzle in helping us win.”
Nov 3, 2018; Tempe, AZ: Arizona State Sun Devils wide receiver N’Keal Harry against the Utah Utes at Sun Devil Stadium. (Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports)
CB Joejuan Williams: “I feel like I have the complete package – I can run, cover and hit. At the end of the day, if you look at all of my numbers in the SEC, I was ranked first in everything, whether it was passes defended, pass break-ups, interceptions as a corner, solo tackles as a corner. So, I feel like that complete package is what I bring to the team.”
Joejuan Williams #8 of the Vanderbilt Commodores carries an Anchor Down flag after a 38-13 Vanderbilt victory over the Tennessee Volunteers at Vanderbilt Stadium on November 24, 2018 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Frederick Breedon/Getty Images)
DE Chase Winovich: “I like to think of myself as kind of a junkyard dog, just tenacious, relentless effort and motor, just scrapping for every inch. But at the same time, I like to think I’m slippery here – as they say in Pittsburgh, ‘slippy.’ I think I bring some versatility and I think my combine was an example of some of the speed that I have, and when you factor all of that in together, I think that makes me a pretty interesting pick and prospect and football player in general. At the end of the day, I’m just trying to go out there, prove my worth to the other guys on the team and ultimately to the rest of the world.”
Chase Winovich of the Michigan Wolverines leaves the field after a 21-7 win over the Michigan State Spartans at Spartan Stadium on October 20, 2018 in East Lansing, Michigan. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
RB Damien Harris: “I think I’m just a dependable player, somebody that whenever you ask me to do something, I’ll do it. I think I just show a lot of great attributes on the field, things that help me be a great running back and they can help the team be successful. There’s a lot of things that I can do well, there’s a lot of things I can still improve on, so I’m just ready to come in and be my best me and get to work Day 1.”
Damien Harris of the Alabama Crimson Tide dives with the ball as Van Smith of the Clemson Tigers defends in the second half of the AllState Sugar Bowl at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome on January 1, 2018 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images)
OT Yodny Cajuste: “I feel like I’m a hard worker. I take coaching well. I feel like I’m just ready to be a New England Patriot. I’m just blessed to be in this position.”
Sep 1, 2018; Charlotte, NC: West Virginia Mountaineers offensive lineman Yodny Cajuste lines up at left tackle during the second half against the Tennessee Volunteers at Bank of America Stadium. (Jeremy Brevard-USA TODAY Sports)
G/C Hjalte Froholdt: “You’re getting a player that really cares. I love the game of football. I always played it just because I loved it. There was never really claims to come to this point, but I’m excited to be a Patriot and I literally can’t stress enough how excited I am. It’s going to be amazing to be up there and get out to Boston and be a part of that community.”
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)
QB Jarrett Stidham: “I think with any quarterback, the first trait needs to be leadership and confidence because you’ve got to go into a locker room – people are looking at the quarterback as one of the leaders of the team and somebody that really has to propel a team forward. I think that’s always been one of my biggest traits. On the football side of things, I’ve always been able to make any throw on the field and I’ve been able to adapt my situation. At Baylor, I had one offense. At Auburn, I had a different offense. Being able to adapt to different situations like that, I think I’ve done a really good job at.”
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)
DL Byron Cowart: “They’ve just told me I have the ability to play to set the edge or go inside. So, they’re going to throw it at me, I believe, and give me the opportunity to show them where do I need to be within the defense.”
Jan 24, 2019; Mobile, AL: North defensive end Byron Cowart of Maryland fends off a block by North offensive guard Michael Deiter of Wisconsin during the North squad 2019 Senior Bowl practice at Ladd-Peebles Stadium. (John David Mercer-USA TODAY Sports)
P Jake Bailey: “I actually got started as a placekicker. I didn’t kick or punt at all my freshman year of high school. Starting my sophomore year, there was an opening at the JV spot, so I started being a kicker there because I used to play soccer a lot when I was a kid. I ended up having a little bit of talent for it and a local specialist coach named Michael Husted came on and became our high school’s special teams coordinator and kind of fostered me along and really taught me what it takes, and then senior year of high school I began punting. I really learned the ropes of punting, the in’s and out’s, from my Stanford special teams coordinator, Coach Pete Alamar. Yeah, I credit a lot, all of my development as a punter, to him.”
Oct 7, 2017; Salt Lake City, UT: Stanford Cardinal punter Jake Bailey punts the ball during the first quarter against the Utah Utes at Rice-Eccles Stadium. (Russ Isabella-USA TODAY Sports)
CB Ken Webster: “I learn fast, I’m willing to do whatever it takes to get on the field and help my team out regardless. I’m also physical at the line, physical in the run. I can play corner, safety, nickelback, whatever is needed.”
Ken Webster of the Mississippi Rebels breaks up a pass intended for Stephen Sullivan of the LSU Tigers during the first half of a game at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium on October 21, 2017 in Oxford, Mississippi. (Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images)
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