The draft was this past weekend, and the truth is, we’re not going to know whether or not these guys are good picks for at least a few years. So, the best thing to do is take a measured approach and just be happy that the New England Patriots tried to address some areas of need without knowing whether or not those guys are going to actually make the team better, right?
Absolutely not! What fun would that be?
For my newest two articles, I decided to go in a little different direction than usual. I have already given my grades for all of these picks, so I decided to take a look at the optimistic and the pessimistic view for each of the Patriots picks.
The optimistic view is that these guys are all great, but I’m going to try to be a little more specific than that. Whether you liked or didn’t like a pick, though, hopefully this article and its counterpart will give you some ammunition in any conversations you have about the draft.
Let’s get into it.
QB Drake Maye (North Carolina)
Maye has all the tools to be an elite quarterback in the NFL. He has a rocket arm, knows how to take something off when needed, and has the athleticism to be a difference maker on the ground as well. If he can limit some of the inaccuracies, and can do a little bit better job at reading a defense and staying with a read before moving on, he has a chance to be special.
But just how special are we talking? I envision a player that looks like Justin Herbert, but brings a little bit more to the table in the running game.
He is already advanced at targeting the deep middle of the field. He also had 20 more big-time throws in the last two seasons than No. 1 overall pick Caleb Williams. Of his 66 — yes, you read that right, 66 — big time throws in the last two years, only six were deemed turnover-worthy plays. Not only is Maye willing to push the ball down the field, but he does it without creating turnovers, which is pretty rare.
Whether or not he will reach Herbert-like spheres is up for debate. Given the splash plays and the arm talent, however, he could become one of the top quarterbacks in the league, especially if — unlike the Los Angeles Chargers’ QB — he can actually win a few playoff games as well.
WR Ja’Lynn Polk (Washington)
Polk was a big-play receiver at Washington, and has a knack for making tough catches in traffic. He’s not the fastest guy, but he employs his leverage well, and uses spacing to get open on coverage. He is a very tough cover in man coverage, and can threaten a cornerback vertically, even without that elite speed.
If he refines his route running just a little bit, and improves his ability to quickly find the soft spot in zone coverage, he could be a very good receiver in this league. Even in the best case, I don’t think that he will ever be a top-tier receiver in the league, but I can absolutely see him as a strong contributor and a high-end WR2. His play speed is faster than his timed speed, and the things that he excels at are the same things that Drake Maye excels at. It’s a good match.
OT Caedan Wallace (Penn State)
The Patriots are in desperate need of a left tackle and Wallace has the athletic profile to play that position. He has a ton of experience, and also took a leap in consistency this past season, which points to him having some room to grow. It’s a bit of a projection that he will be able to play the position, but, if he can, this has the chance to be a great pick.
G Layden Robinson (Texas A&M)
Yes, the Patriots used four picks in the top 150 in the last two drafts on interior offensive linemen, but they obviously don’t feel good about where they are at at the position. Robinson is a powerful guard who can move guys off their spot. He excels in the run game, needs a little help in the pass game, but is a guy with a lot of experience that can step in and compete for a starting job this season.
WR Javon Baker (Central Florida)
The Patriots got one of the most explosive receivers in the draft at pick 110. Baker had five receptions of 50-plus yards, and 21 of 20-plus last season. He may not have elite speed, but he’s a great route runner and will simply out-muscle defenders for the ball.
Baker has enough speed to push corners vertically, and has a tendency to leave corners in the dust with his breaks. He is a perfect X-receiver for the Patriots, and — much like the aforementioned Ja’Lynn Polk — excels at what Drake Maye does best, which is going to allow them to work well together. His fit, along with Polk, will give Maye two deep targets, who are also reliable.
CB Marcellas Dial (South Carolina)
The Patriots had a great defense last year, but they have a need in the secondary. Getting a player that might help there could be huge. Dial isn’t the biggest guy, but he was still a productive outside cornerback at South Carolina. He also seems to be a guy that can make the transition to deep safety, and, if he does, he could make an impact for the Patriots as early as this season.
QB Joe Milton III (Tennessee)
This might be the most fun pick the Patriots have made in 20 years. Milton may not be accurate and may never become a suitable NFL quarterback, but he sure is electric. His arm strength blows you away, and, even if he is not always accurate, his willingness to just launch balls to the moon makes for a fun watch.
The unique thing about Milton’s long passes is that they are not high-arcing throws either. They are typically delivered on a frozen rope, sometimes 40 yards down the field. He is also a good athlete, as well, running a 4.62 40-yard dash at his pro day. Combine that with his 6-foot-5, 235-pound frame, and you have a guy who is tough to take down on the move
He needs a whole lot of development, but the opportunity to get a guy so talented to be your backup, or eventually trade for draft capital, is too tempting to pass up this late in the draft.
TE Jaheim Bell (Florida State)
Yes, Bell is too short to fit a traditional tight end mold. Yes, he’s not a good enough blocker to be used like a fullback either.
However, he is a very good athlete for his size, and in the right system could absolutely help out a team with some situational touches. He is good with the ball in his hands, and, if used correctly, could do what Jonnu Smith (remember him?) did for Atlanta last season. It all comes down to usage, but, in the seventh round, you’re looking for players that bring something to the table that could make them successful with some growth and coaching, and Bell fits that mold.
Obviously, Patriots fans will be hoping for the optimistic view of each pick to be the one that comes to fruition. Knowing the way the draft is, however, at least some will end up on the pessimistic side.
What will decide how successful this draft will be is which players end up on which side of this spectrum.