Since the news broke about the Patriots finally hiring Bill O’Brien as their offensive coordinator, one of the biggest positives that has been touted about O’Brien is his familiarity with players in the SEC, having coached against them for the last two years at Alabama. The idea is that familiarity will give the Patriots a leg up when it comes to evaluating those players in the draft.
What shouldn’t be lost track of though is his familiarity with the players he coached directly at Alabama. He’ll have a better understanding than just about anybody in the league of what those players are and are not capable of and how they project to the next level. Will O’Brien push for the Patriots’ draft team to have any of those players join him in New England?
Alabama lost a ton of talent on the offensive side of the ball after the 2021 season due to players leaving for the draft and transferring. With that they had a very young roster, and their list of representatives in the draft – again on the offensive side of the ball – isn’t as extensive as in past years. In total, there are six Alabama offensive players in this class, with five expected to be drafted. Here’s a look at that group, starting with a player the Patriots certainly aren’t getting.
QB Bryce Young
AUSTIN, TEXAS – SEPTEMBER 10: Bryce Young #9 of the Alabama Crimson Tide throws a pass under pressure by Ovie Oghoufo #18 of the Texas Longhorns in the third quarter at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium on September 10, 2022 in Austin, Texas. (Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images)
Not only is Young the top-ranked Alabama offensive player in the draft, he’s in the running to be the first overall pick (along with a member of Alabama’s defense, edge rusher Will Anderson). The Patriots don’t have the assets to trade up to get Young, even if they wanted to (they shouldn’t). O’Brien seemed to have a good relationship with Young (he coordinated him through his Heisman year in 2021) but there just isn’t a way to make that reunion happen right now.
RB Jahmyr Gibbs
TUSCALOOSA, ALABAMA – NOVEMBER 26: Jahmyr Gibbs #1 of the Alabama Crimson Tide rushes against Caleb Wooden #21 of the Auburn Tigers during the second half at Bryant-Denny Stadium on November 26, 2022 in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
Do the Patriots need another running back, after taking two in the draft last year? Not really. Might they be tempted to take Gibbs anyway? It’s possible.
Alabama’s offense was, in some ways, similar to the 2022 Patriots offense. Because of the young, inexperienced players at the top of the depth chart at skill positions, Alabama’s offense adapted by relying even more heavily on the running back position that it had in the past. But even at that position, the players on the depth chart didn’t have a ton of in-game experience besides Gibbs, who had transferred from Georgia Tech in the spring.
With that, much of the workload fell on Gibbs’ shoulders. Not only was he the team’s leading rusher, carrying the ball 151 times in 12 games for 926 yards (6.1 per carry) and seven touchdowns, he also was Alabama’s leading receiver with 44 catches for 444 yards and three touchdowns. He was one of only three running backs in college football this year to finish the season with PFF rushing and receiving grades over 80, joining Georgia’s Kenny McIntosh and Oklahoma’s Eric Gray.
If that sounds familiar, it should. Rhamondre Stevenson ended up in a similar role in New England this season, with one of the most expansive workloads for a running back in the Bill Belichick era.
Gibbs even carries the ball in a similar style to Stevenson. He’s a bit smaller at 6-foot, 200 pounds but isn’t afraid to initiate contact as a ball carrier. His standout trait though is his explosiveness in and out of cuts. When he puts his foot into the ground to change direction, he explodes out and regularly leaves defenders grasping at air.
Would O’Brien be interested in pairing Gibbs with Stevenson in the Patriots’ backfield, in order to cut into that significant workload? It’s becoming a popular trend in the NFL for teams to pair to similar running backs together in the backfield. With that, teams are covered in terms of depth, can keep both players relatively fresh, and prevents the offense from becoming too predictable based on which running back is on the field (something that’s been an issue for the Patriots in the past). Teams like the Bengals, Chiefs, Jaguars, Dolphins, and Browns, have all found success with this format.
The problem? Gibbs is currently projected to go late in the first or early in the second round. That’s way too high for a running back. But running back’s values – especially those high in the draft – tend to fall as the pre-draft process goes on. If he’s on the board late in the second round, it could become a discussion.
G Emil Ekiyor Jr.
Alabama offensive lineman Emil Ekiyor, Jr., (55) against Duke in the Chick-fil-A Kickoff Game at Mercedes Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Ga., on Saturday August 31, 2019. (Mickey Welsh/Advertiser/USA Today Network)
A three-year starter at right guard, Ekiyor was asked to handle a variety of assignments during his time at Alabama. He handling both gap and zone assignments in the run game, and was the Tide’s best interior pass blocker this past season.
Heading into last season, Ekiyor dropped almost 20 pounds and his down almost 40 from when he arrived on campus as a freshman. He now measures in at 6-foot-3, 307 pounds. Ekiyor is still able to be effective with the lighter frame, and his movement stands out at the position.
Right now, the biggest question for Ekiyor is just consistency. If he can max out his skills on a regular basis, he has the tools to be an NFL starter. He’s currently projected to be a third round pick.
TE Cameron Latu
OXFORD, MISSISSIPPI – NOVEMBER 12: Cameron Latu #81 of the Alabama Crimson Tide catches a touchdown during the first half against the Mississippi Rebels at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium on November 12, 2022 in Oxford, Mississippi. (Photo by Justin Ford/Getty Images)
Latu is probably the most realistic draft pick of any player from the Alabama offense this year. The combination of his position, skillset, and expected draft range make him a logical fit.
With Hunter Henry entering the final year of his contract and Jonnu Smith having two years left but appearing to be a cut candidate this year, tight end is as big a need for the Patriots as its been since 2020. At the same time, the team has the flexibility to draft a projected player a little later on who can redshirt his rookie year instead of using a premium pick at the position. Latu is a guy they can get in that range, as he’s projected to be an early Day 3 pick.
At Alabama Latu was used in a variety of ways both in the running and passing game. He had his best year as a run blocker in 2022, and after mainly playing inline in 2021 spent significantly more time in the slot this past season. In 11 games, he caught 30 passes for 376 yards and four touchdowns.
A converted defensive end (he switched positions after his freshman year), the biggest questions with Latu will be about his athletic fit at the position. He has the size to play tight end at 6-foot-5, 244 pounds, but his route running and ability to separate will be something focused on heavily leading up to the draft.
C Darrian Dalcourt
Sep 18, 2021; Gainesville, Florida, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide offensive lineman Darrian Dalcourt (71) against the Florida Gators at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium. Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Dalcourt was the Tide’s starting center throughout the 2021 season, and was fixed into the role again for 2022. However, he was limited to just six games due to an ankle injury.
At 6-foot-3, 305, Dalcourt runs well for a lineman and has the footwork needed to contribute in pass protection. He allowed just 21 pressures and two sacks in 598 pass blocking snaps over the last two years.
The Patriots usually like to keep depth at center, signing Kody Russey as a UDFA last year to back up David Andrews and James Ferentz. Ferentz is a free agent this year, so the Patriots may need to replenish the bottom of the depth chart again. Dalcourt is currently projected to go undrafted.
