Grading New England’s Day One Moves
After months of speculation and mock drafting, it turns out nobody knew who New England was going to take. After an uninspiring offseason where the team lost more than it has gained. The draft has become pretty crucial. The team has holes everywhere but the board on day one was falling very favorable for them.
They had multiple defensive studs to take at 21 overall. The Patriots decided once again to zig when everyone else zagged. They elected to trade back with Kanas City receiving 29, 94, and 121.
The Trade: B+
I give this trade a B+ in value for The Patriots they picked up extra third and fourth round picks well only moving down eight spots. For a team with as many areas of need, the extra capital is definitely a good thing. At the time the board seemed to be really working out for us.
The run on wide receivers was very helpful in having them trade down. Getting to select on day one and also obtaining extra third and fourth-round picks is a giant win in my book. All of the analysts say it’s great to stack the pick in rounds two through four.
They really couldn’t have gotten better value for a single pick.
It was looking like The Patriots were going to get a top defensive player while also getting extra draft capital in a very savvy move. Then The Patriots did the most Patriots thing they could on day one.
The Selection: 29th Overall Cole Strange G Chattanooga
The Grade For The Player: B-
The grade on the pick is based purely on the value that is presented to us right now, this isn’t about what he could be in the future.
Cole Strange is a division two prospect who has vast experience, the correct length, and athleticism to get out and move people around in the zone blocking scheme. He is a huge human at 6’5 307 pounds.
Cole has really great hands, he engages his assignment and extends them up and out with a nasty streak. He is a physical and mean player which is what will help him be a mauler. He showed out during the senior bowl, which is where Belichick fell in love with Kyle Dugger.
Strange has spent some time playing tackle and center. So he is versatile and has a good athletic profile, it is still of a reach for day one.
I also don’t love that New England created this area of need for themselves when they traded Shaq Mason for a fifth-round pick. They then used that fifth to get a sixth and a seventh to just draft a guard who won’t be as good as Mason this year
The Grade For The Pick: C-
The pick is compounded with the fact that The Patriots could have gotten Nakobe Dean, George Karlaftis, or Andrew Booth Jr. Booth and Dean are both still on the board and we have assets to be able to move up.
Getting one of them would make me feel a lot better about selecting Cole Strange on day one.
It truly doesn’t make much sense to me, especially with the success they have had in the middle rounds finding starting talent at the interior offensive line.
They passed on multiple playmaking defenders who many around the league had first-round grades on. It’s a very infuriating Patriots way type pick. He does fill a need and I like the player just not a 29.
If Cole can develop into either Joe Thuney or Shaq Mason, the pick can work out. However normally in the first round, you go for premium positions or the best player available, Strange was neither of them.
He still is a good player with size and great lateral quickness. I just think the value was elsewhere with the players on the board who were left. I hope I’m wrong and Strange turns into a staple on the team.
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