The NFL Draft is the final major chance teams have to address any roster questions before the upcoming season. Teams usually aren’t able to get to every need they are looking to fill, leaving lingering questions as spring practices begin.
Even with their 12 picks, the Patriots did check every box they were expected to internally. Whether that was intentional (they didn’t view the needs as dire internally as they were viewed externally) or just a product of how the board fell? Tough to say. But there are still roster questions heading into OTAs.
What is the long-term plan at tackle?
FOXBOROUGH, MASSACHUSETTS – SEPTEMBER 25: Trent Brown #77 of the New England Patriots lines up against the Baltimore Ravens at Gillette Stadium on September 25, 2022 in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
As we talked about a number of times leading up to the draft, the Patriots seemed much more content with their tackle situation for 2023 than those on the outside. However, even if they’re ready to ride with their current group of Trent Brown, Riley Reiff, Conor McDermott, Calvin Anderson, Yodny Cajuste, and Andrew Stueber in 2023, there are still questions that exist beyond this season.
Brown and Reiff currently project as the starting left and right tackles, respectively. At the same time, both are in contract years. Brown is entering his age-30 season and has dealt with injuries regularly over the last few years, while Reiff will turn 35 in December. Neither is a textbook long-term option.
Behind them are McDermott and Anderson, who are both signed for two years through 2024. McDermott, who will turn 31 this season, joined the team mid-season last year and was serviceable at right tackle, but doesn’t offer much ceiling. Anderson, who just turned 27, is the inverse – he has some impressive athletic upside but has yet to break through as a starting-caliber player through four NFL seasons.
As for their draft class, it sounds like fourth-round pick Sidy Sow may get some looks at tackle after playing his last four college seasons at left guard. Given how long it’s been since he played the position though, he’d more of a lottery ticket than a lock.
So where does that leave the Patriots after this season? Pretty much in the same spot they were at the start of the offseason. Managing the tackle position through 2023 will be a question of its own, but expect plenty of early-round tackle talk to return during the pre-draft process again next year as well.
Who is moving to safety?
FOXBOROUGH, MASSACHUSETTS – NOVEMBER 06: Jalen Mills #2 of the New England Patriots reacts in the second half of a game against the Indianapolis Colts at Gillette Stadium on November 06, 2022 in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Malhotra/Getty Images)
One of the biggest events of this Patriots offseason was the retirement of long-time free safety Devin McCourty. McCourty held down the back end of the Patriots’ defense since moving from corner to safety in the 2012 season, and only missed three games from 2012 to the end of his career, and none from the 2016 season on.
Needless to say, his are massive shoes to fill. Yet the team didn’t make a single external safety move this offseason, although they did re-sign safety Jabrill Peppers to a two-year deal.
So who will fill those shoes? It looks like the Patriots may do so by committee. There was already a report this offseason that Jalen Mills would be moving from cornerback to safety, and Jonathan Jones’ contract suggests he could be in for some sort of hybrid role.
Is the team ready to trust Kendrick Bourne again?
Dec 12, 2022; Glendale, Arizona, USA; New England Patriots wide receiver Kendrick Bourne (84) against the Arizona Cardinals at State Farm Stadium. Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
One of the most head-scratching things about the Patriots’ offense in 2022 was the seeming refusal to play Kendrick Bourne. After playing most of the 2021 season on a 1,000-yard pace, Bourne ranked fifth in playing time among Patriots wideouts in 2022.
With or without Bourne, it was clear the Patriots needed to upgrade their pass-catchers this offseason. Yet their only move was signing JuJu Smith-Schuster, whose signing was more of a replacement than an addition given the departure of Jakobi Meyers. Between free agency and the draft, not much was done to address the position.
That means the Patriots are most likely counting on internal growth to improve the position. There are a couple of ways that could happen. One would be the emergence of Bourne, put in a bigger role. He clearly has chemistry with Mac Jones, and brings a dynamic after-catch element the Patriots’ offense was lacking last year. But is the team willing to put him on the field regularly to see if he can make a difference?
What does the ’23 draft class mean for the Class of ’22?
FOXBOROUGH, MASSACHUSETTS – AUGUST 11: Tyquan Thornton #11 of the New England Patriots celebrates after scoring a touchdown during the preseason game between the New York Giants and the New England Patriots at Gillette Stadium on August 11, 2022 in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
How will the Patriots’ rising sophomores be impacted by the draft class that followed theirs? There could be a few ways.
We’ll start by piggybacking off the last point about Bourne. When it comes to internal growth at the wide receiver position, another strong candidate to take a jump is 2022 second-round pick Tyquan Thornton. A broken collar bone in a preseason game disrupted the momentum Thornton built through the first part of training camp last year, and he never seemed to get back on track. With a full offseason to work in the system, is he ready for a bigger and more impactful role in 2023? Is that what the team is counting on? Thornton has also reportedly added size to his frame, something it was clear he was going to need to do when he got drafted.
This draft also could make things easier on 2022 third-round pick Marcus Jones. Jones wowed with his versatility last year, as the 5-foot-8 cornerback became a contributor on offense with a package designed around his speed and shiftiness. While some saw that and rooted for Jones to be moved to the offensive side of the ball full time, it’s become clear both Jones and the team plan on keeping his focus primarily on defense, with his role on offense limited to being a gadget player.
That may be for the best – after all Jones showed tremendous promise at his natural position of cornerback as well as on offense and as a kick returner. But it would be a shame if the Patriots had to limit what should be an impactful package offensively.
That’s where 2023 sixth-round pick Demario Douglas could come in. While Douglas may not be able to contribute regularly as a full-time wide receiver right away, it’s clear he’s a threat whenever the ball is in his hands. The Patriots could certainly use him in Jones’ old role in that gadget package, keeping a dangerous ball-carrier involved without drawing away Jones’ attention from defense. Douglas even said after he was picked that he’s watched Jones since his time at Houston, and has modeled parts of his game after him.
Finally, both Patriots second-year running backs have a major opportunity after the team elected not to take a running back at all in this class. After being involved in very limited capacities last season, fourth-round pick Pierre Strong Jr. and sixth-round pick Kevin Harris will be competing for significant roles in camp without any challenge from other players on rookie contracts. Strong projects to be up against Ty Montgomery and James Robinson for a role on passing downs – either as the primary passing down back with Rhamondre Stevenson returning to focusing on early downs, or as the secondary passing back to Stevenson. Meanwhile, Harris looks like the early favorite to take over for Damien Harris as the secondary early-down and short-yardage back.
