Patriots select running back Pierre Strong Jr. 127th overall in 2022 NFL Draft

With one of their three fourth-round picks in the 2022 NFL Draft, the New England Patriots selected running back Pierre Strong Jr. out of South Dakota State.

Strong led the Football Championship Subdivision as a senior with 1,668 rushing yards. That production earned him a consensus All-America selection and his third straight all-Missouri Valley Football Conference honors. Strong also caught 22 passes for 150 yards in 15 games during his senior year. He was a team captain in his final two seasons.

Here's what Lance Zierlein had to say about Strong in his draft profile at NFL.com:

The Patriots made two other selections in the fourth round on day 3 of the 2022 NFL Draft, Arizona State cornerback Jack Jones and Western Kentucky quarterback Bailey Zappe.

With one of their three fourth-round picks in the 2022 NFL Draft, the New England Patriots selected running back Pierre Strong Jr. out of South Dakota State.

Strong led the Football Championship Subdivision as a senior with 1,668 rushing yards. That production earned him a consensus All-America selection and his third straight all-Missouri Valley Football Conference honors. Strong also caught 22 passes for 150 yards in 15 games during his senior year. He was a team captain in his final two seasons.

Keep scrolling for more photos of Strong from his time at South Dakota State.

The Patriots selected three players in the first two days of the 2022 NFL Draft. Now it's Day 3, and the Pats still have plenty of capital to work with Saturday afternoon. We'll have you covered every step of the way here at 985TheSportsHub.com.

Here's the full list of the Patriots' 2022 draft selections:

1st Round, No. 29: Cole Strange, OL, Tennessee-Chattanooga
2nd Round, No. 50: Tyquan Thornton, WR, Baylor
3rd Round, No. 85: Marcus Jones, CB, Houston
4th Round, No. 121: Jack Jones, CB, Arizona State
4th Round, No. 127: Pierre Strong Jr., RB, South Dakota State
4th Round, No. 137: Bailey Zappe, QB, Western Kentucky
6th Round (via Texans), No. 183: Kevin Harris, RB, South Carolina
6th Round, No. 200: Sam Roberts, DL, Northwest Missouri State
6th Round, No. 210: Chasen Hines, OL, LSU
7th Round (via Texans), No. 245: Andrew Stueber, OL, Michigan

Considering the high volume of selections still waiting in New England, there's bound to be a lot of activity from Bill Belichick on Saturday, whether he makes the picks or trades around the board.

Read below for the latest news and rumors as it relates to the Patriots on day 3 of the 2022 NFL Draft. Click here to read more about the Patriots' roster needs entering Day 3.

The 2022 NFL Draft has concluded, and the Patriots finished with 10 total picks. Click here to learn more about all 10 of them.

Despite the actual draft being over, NFL teams are still in the market to sign undrafted free agents. The Patriots are already moving on those. Click here for our live UDFA tracker.

Barring a super-late trade, the Patriots have made their final draft pick. They've selected tackle Andrew Stueber out of Michigan with the 245th pick.

The Patriots have once again addressed their interior offensive line, this time with sixth-round guard Chasen Hines out of LSU.

Hines has the potential to play both guard and center at the NFL level. Contrasted with Strange, Hines has a better chance to play center in the long-term. At NFL.com, Lance Zierlein describes Hines as a "burly, strong center/guard prospect whose strengths lend themselves to a fit with a power-based rushing attack."

Considering Hines' pedigree, Belichick's history of coaching up the position, the Patriots' needs, and the potential with injuries at tackle, it's possible we see Hines on the field in 2022. If Isaiah Wynn or Trent Brown have to miss time, Mike Onwenu would be a candidate to slide from guard to tackle, creating an opening.

This is where most people would have preferred the Patriots to wait to pick a guard, rather than in the first round. But either way, the Patriots certainly addressed that immediate need and should be OK at that spot going forward.

With one of their final picks, the Patriots finally address their defensive-front-seven. They've selected Northwest Missouri State defensive tackle Sam Roberts at 200th overall.

Never heard of that school? Don't be surprised. Roberts won the 2021 Cliff Harris Award as the nation's best small-college defensive player. The Patriots are betting on Roberts as a diamond in the rough from a lesser-known Division-II college program.

Roberts logged 6.5 sacks and 18 tackles for loss as a senior at Northwest Missouri State. He earned first team All-America honors in the D2CCA and AFCA.

At 6-foot-5 and 293 pounds, Roberts has the frame to potentially play a 5-technique role for the Patriots (defensive end in a 3-4 alignment). That's a role they've struggled to fill in recent years. But as a Division-II player and sixth-rounder, Roberts will certainly qualify as someone Belichick will say "has a long way to go."

The Patriots have selected a second running back in the 2022 NFL Draft with South Carolina's Kevin Harris.

Here's how Lance Zierlein described Harris in his NFL.com Draft Profile: "Big, bruising runner with good vision and the self-awareness to understand that power running is what will butter his bread. His 2021 productivity fell off from 2020, due in part to health issues, shared carries and average South Carolina run blocking. He creates for himself with contact and tackle-breaking talent, but typically drops and finishes against an open-field tackler rather than avoiding him. He's a chain mover with excellent ball security as a battering ram inside. He will be limited as an outside runner and needs to come off the field on passing downs. Harris has talent and his impressive 2020 was no mirage. He's a good Day 3 option for teams looking to upgrade their power."

Considering the Patriots' penchant for "redshirting" rookie running backs, and that they already have Damien Harris and Rhamondre Stevenson atop the depth chart on the ground, it's likely the only way we see Kevin Harris in 2022 is that the Pats have significant injury problems. But this could be an indication that the Pats are not long for Damien Harris, who is entering the final year of his rookie deal.

The Patriots have drafted ... a quarterback? Western Kentucky's Bailey Zappe has been added to the room. Realistically, Zappe provides depth behind Brian Hoyer and Jarrett Stidham in New England. Stidham, in particular, is officially on the hot seat.

Here's how Lance Zierlein described Zappe at NFL.com:

Another hit for the Felger and Mazz Big Board: the Patriots have added to their running back room with the selection of Pierre Strong Jr. out of South Dakota State. Read more about the pick here.

The Pats have selected another cornerback. They are taking cornerback Jack Jones out of Arizona State with the 121st overall pick, a selection they acquired from the Kanasa City Chiefs when they traded down from 21 to 28 on Thursday.

Jones stands at 5-foot-11 and 171 pounds, according to his draft profile at NFL.com. Lance Zierlein notes Jones' "ball-hawking field demeanor" as his top strength. He was a playmaker in college, making three interceptions and three forced fumbles during his senior year at Arizona State and earned an honorable mention on the All-Pac 12 team.

New England has now drafted two players at cornerback, which was arguably their biggest position of need. Third-round pick Marcus Jones projects as a slot cornerback and return specialist, while Jack Jones would play more on the outside, which was the area that really needed to be addressed. The question with the latter Jones is whether he'll have enough speed or play strength to consistently be an effective outside cover corner at the NFL level. But the Patriots needed someone to develop at this position.

Also, the Patriots now have three cornerbacks named Jones. That won't be confusing at all.

Read more about the selection of Jack Jones here.

We've got plenty of 2022 NFL Draft content for you already here at 985TheSportsHub.com. Click here to read more about the first two days of the draft in New England...

-- Roster needs the Patriots can address on Day 3 of the 2022 NFL Draft

-- When the Patriots are scheduled to pick on Day 3 of the 2022 NFL Draft

-- What the scouts are saying about Patriots third-round pick Marcus Jones

-- The Patriots had to beat other teams to the punch for WR Tyquan Thornton

-- What the scouts are saying about Patriots second-round pick Tyquan Thornton

-- How Cole Strange is and isn't a trend-breaking pick for the Patriots

-- Bill Belichick doesn’t seem to believe Cole Strange would've fallen in draft

Matt Dolloff is a writer and podcaster 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? Yell at him on Twitter @mattdolloff and follow him on Instagram @realmattdolloff. You can also email him at mdolloff@985thesportshub.com.