The New England Patriots are officially signing its first-round pick Cole Strange Wednesday, per Adam Caplan of Sirius XM.
Strange, a guard out of Tennessee-Chattanooga, was selected with the 29th pick of this year’s draft. Because he was a first rounder, he’ll have a fifth year team option on his contract. The full details of his contract have yet to be reported.
With the signing of Strange, here is who the Patriots have and haven’t signed out of their 2022 draft class…
Signed
OL Cole Strange (1st round)
CB Marcus Jones (3rd round)
CB Jack Jones (4th round)
RB Pierre Strong (4th round)
RB Kevin Harris (6th round)
DT Sam Roberts (6th round)
C Chasen Hines (6th round)
DT Andrew Stueber (7th round)
Unsigned
WR Tyquan Thornton (2nd round)
QB Bailey Zappe (4th round)
Because it’s only the end of June, New England has ample time to get the two final deals done before 2022 training camp, which kicks off in the last week of July.
PHOTOS: Patriots hit the practice fields for 2022 minicamp in Foxboro
NFL: New England Patriots Minicamp
ShareJun 8, 2022; Foxborough, Massachusetts, USA; New England Patriots quarterback Mac Jones (10) during the New England Patriots minicamp at Gillette Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Paul Rutherford-USA TODAY Sports
NFL: New England Patriots Minicamp
ShareJun 8, 2022; Foxborough, Massachusetts, USA; New England Patriots receiver Kendrick Bourne (84) during the New England Patriots minicamp at Gillette Stadium. Credit: Paul Rutherford-USA TODAY Sports
NFL: New England Patriots Minicamp
ShareJun 8, 2022; Foxborough, Massachusetts, USA; New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick during the New England Patriots minicamp at Gillette Stadium. Credit: Paul Rutherford-USA TODAY Sports
NFL: New England Patriots Minicamp
ShareJun 8, 2022; Foxborough, Massachusetts, USA; New England Patriots receiver Malcom Perry (19) during the New England Patriots minicamp at Gillette Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Paul Rutherford-USA TODAY Sports
NFL: New England Patriots Minicamp
ShareJun 8, 2022; Foxborough, Massachusetts, USA; New England Patriots quarterback Bailey Zappe (55) during the New England Patriots minicamp at Gillette Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Paul Rutherford-USA TODAY Sports
NFL: New England Patriots Minicamp
ShareJun 8, 2022; Foxborough, Massachusetts, USA; New England Patriots cornerback Jack Jones (53) during the New England Patriots minicamp at Gillette Stadium. Credit: Paul Rutherford-USA TODAY Sports
NFL: New England Patriots Minicamp
ShareJun 8, 2022; Foxborough, Massachusetts, USA; New England Patriots receiver Tre Nixon (82) during the New England Patriots minicamp at Gillette Stadium. Credit: Paul Rutherford-USA TODAY Sports
NFL: New England Patriots Minicamp
ShareJun 8, 2022; Foxborough, Massachusetts, USA; New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick during the New England Patriots minicamp at Gillette Stadium. Credit: Paul Rutherford-USA TODAY Sports
2022 Patriots Minicamp – Day 1
SharePatriots players go through stretching prior to the team's first Minicamp practice of 2022. (Alex Barth, 98.5 The Sports Hub)
NFL: New England Patriots Minicamp
ShareJun 8, 2022; Foxborough, Massachusetts, USA; New England Patriots cornerback Malcolm Butler (4) during the New England Patriots minicamp at Gillette Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Paul Rutherford-USA TODAY Sports
NFL: New England Patriots Minicamp
ShareJun 8, 2022; Foxborough, Massachusetts, USA; New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft with singer Jon Bon Jovi during the New England Patriots minicamp at Gillette Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Paul Rutherford-USA TODAY Sports
NFL: New England Patriots Minicamp
ShareJun 8, 2022; Foxborough, Massachusetts, USA; New England Patriots cornerback Marcus Jones (52) during the New England Patriots minicamp at Gillette Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Paul Rutherford-USA TODAY Sports
NFL: New England Patriots Minicamp
ShareJun 8, 2022; Foxborough, Massachusetts, USA; New England Patriots linebacker Josh Uche (55) during the New England Patriots minicamp at Gillette Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Paul Rutherford-USA TODAY Sports
NFL: New England Patriots Minicamp
ShareJun 8, 2022; Foxborough, Massachusetts, USA; New England Patriots quarterback Mac Jones (10) during the New England Patriots minicamp at Gillette Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Paul Rutherford-USA TODAY Sports
NFL: New England Patriots Minicamp
ShareJun 8, 2022; Foxborough, Massachusetts, USA; New England Patriots defensive lineman Sam Roberts (59) during the New England Patriots minicamp at Gillette Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Paul Rutherford-USA TODAY Sports
NFL: New England Patriots Minicamp
ShareJun 8, 2022; Foxborough, Massachusetts, USA; New England Patriots quarterback Mac Jones (10) passes the ball during the New England Patriots minicamp at Gillette Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Paul Rutherford-USA TODAY Sports
NFL: New England Patriots Minicamp
ShareJun 8, 2022; Foxborough, Massachusetts, USA; New England Patriots quarterback Mac Jones (10) during the New England Patriots minicamp at Gillette Stadium. Credit: Paul Rutherford-USA TODAY Sports
Patriots announce update on throwback 'Pat Patriot' uniforms
FOXBORO, MA – OCTOBER 21: Devin McCourty #32 of the New England Patriots runs the ball for a touchdown against the New York Jets at Gillette Stadium on October 21, 2012 in Foxboro, Massachusetts. (Photo by Jim Rogash/Getty Images)
The announcement Patriots fans have been waiting for for years has finally come. On Wednesday, the team announced via a social media video that the red throwback ‘Pat Patriot’ uniforms will be returning for the upcoming 2022 season.
There’s no indication of which games – or how many games – the team will wear the throwback look (as of 2018 the NFL allows teams to wear an alternate uniform for up to three games each seaso). The video concluded with the text “throwbacks make a comeback – Fall 2022.”
Wait a minute, Doc. Are you telling me the red uniforms are back? pic.twitter.com/X1pd6kpdpG
— New England Patriots (@Patriots) June 22, 2022Based on the video and images shared by the team, there doesn’t appear to be any changes from when the Patriots last wore red during the 2012 season. The following season, the NFL instituted the ‘One Shell Rule’ which limited alternates and throwbacks with a different color helmet than the team’s main uniform. That rule is being taken off the books starting this season.
From their inception in 1960 until 1993, the Patriots wore different versions of a red jersey and white helmet. The ones the team will use as throwbacks resembles the look the team used from 1982-1990, and then as an alternate in 2002 and from 2010-2012. Last year, we broke down the Patriots’ entire uniform history here.
There are two players on the Patriots who were also with the team last time they wore red in 2012 in Matthew Slater and Devin McCourty. Current Dont’a Hightower would also qualify if he re-signs with the team. Coaches Jerod Mayo and Troy Brown wore red as well in their playing days.
While the red uniforms and Pat Patriot logo are sometimes associated with the less successful days of the Patriots’ franchise, they’ve brought plenty of positive memories since being introduced as alternates in 2002. The Patriots are 7-1 when wearing red since then, and 7-0 at home.
The Patriots aren’t the only team bringing back throwbacks or adding an alternate look in 2022 now that the ‘One Shell Rule’ is out of the way. The Saints and Falcons have already confirmed they’ll be adding new looks to their uniform rotations, while other teams like the Eagles and Buccaneers have confirmed they’ll wait to do so until 2023.
Alex Barth is a writer and 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. Thoughts? Comments? Questions? Looking for a podcast guest? Let him know on Twitter @RealAlexBarth or via email at abarth@985TheSportsHub.com.