Pierre Strong Jr. Patriots 2022 Draft Class Review
After an interesting first two days of the NFL draft, the Patriots continued to make headlines with their selections.
Many of their picks have been heavily scrutinized over the last few days. But it seems one that hasn’t been questioned too much was their fourth-round choice of Pierre Strong Jr.
An incredibly fast and agile running back, Strong’s addition makes for a crowded RB room in New England. However, the skills he possesses make him a standout player with a lot of upside. As they continue attempting to get younger and faster players, picking Strong is right on pace with the coaching staff’s current plans.
What Was The General Reaction To This Pick?
As the second pick of the fourth round for the Patriots, confusion, and shock had already spread amongst the fans and the media. Most were initially confused about New England selecting a running back, given their current depth at the position.
If you take a good look at the RBs on the team right now, there are some question marks for the next few seasons;
Damien Harris is playing on the last year of his contract in 2022; will Belichick re-sign him?
James White is coming off a season-ending injury at 30 years old. And although he re-signed earlier this year with a two-year contract, there is a mutual opt-out at the season’s end. Will the Patriots retain him for the 2023 season?
Rhamondre Stevenson will be going into his second season in the NFL. His spot on the team is likely not in jeopardy.
J.J. Taylor has not been implemented much into the offense since joining the team in 2020. Will that change this season? Will he be cut?
Ty Montgomery has signed this offseason, bringing his combination of RB and WR skills to the Patriots. With his flexibility between those two positions, he also has experience with special teams. As a new addition, it’s difficult to foresee what his place on the team will look like at this point.
And because of those very question marks, the drafting of more running backs doesn’t seem so out of the blue. The picks have spread some concern for the stability of Damien Harris’ spot on the team, given his current contract status. But Belichick is known to draft RBs often, so adding more could mean nothing.
To read my thoughts on “Should the Patriots Draft A Running Back this Year?” click here!
Who Is Pierre Strong Jr.?
HEIGHT: 5’11”
WEIGHT: 207 LBS COMBINE STATS
40-YARD DASH: 4.37
VERTICAL: 36″
BROAD: 124″
Originally from Little Rock, Arkansas, Strong made a name for himself on the football field at a young age. During his time at McClellan Magnet High School, he was recognized for his talents which earned him many awards; Class 5A Offensive Player of the Year, All-USA Arkansas Football Team and was named a finalist for the Landers Award, which is given to the top high school football player in Arkansas.
He began attending South Dakota State University in 2017 and was redshirted his freshman year. The following year he became a huge part of the team’s offensive success, continuing so for the next three seasons.
At the end of his college career, Strong totaled 631 carries for 4,527 yards and 40 touchdowns. Furthermore, he caught 62 passes for 581 yards and three more touchdowns all in 48 games. During that time, he racked up three 1,000 rushing yard seasons with his best production year coming in 2021; 1,673 yards on 240 carries and 18 TOT. And he had a career-high of 811 rush yards after contact.
One of his most impressive stats, though? Ten of his 40 career rushing touchdowns were at least 50-yard runs. Strong’s speed was key to his incredible success over the years, with his consistency and power to plow through defenses making him difficult to tackle. He has natural instincts for a running back with the confidence and football IQ to match.
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Football Accomplishments
MVFC Freshman of the Year and MVFC All-Newcomer Team in 2018
Also in 2018, his 253 yards on only 17 carries versus USD marked the 10th-best single-game rushing total in program history
Became the seventh running back in program history to rush for 1,000 yards in consecutive seasons in 2019
Earned All-America and all-conference honors in 2020
Was an All-America selection after leading the Football Championship Subdivision in rushing with 1,668 yards in 2021
Two-time team captain
Had the second-most 10-plus yard runs with 47 and was tied for the most 15-plus yard runs (30)
To check out more of Strong’s lengthy list of college football accomplishments, click here!
Why Did The Patriots Make This Selection?
Other than the uncertainties regarding what the team will do with their current RB roster, the emphasis on speed was evident with this year’s draft picks. Because Strong had the fastest 40-yard-dash time for all RBs at the combine, that certainly played a role in the decision to bring him to Foxboro.
Once again, Bill Belichick got his hands on a uniquely versatile player. Strong has had success in the run and passing game and returns on special teams. He has also taken over the reins at quarterback. At SDSU, he went 9-of-9 passing for 208 yards and six touchdowns. Could you find a more flexible player than this?
There are many ways the Patriots can decide to use Strong in their offense. Will he take over third-down duties from James White? Will he replace Damien Harris next year? Could he become a contributor on special teams? The choices are endless.
What Does Strong Jr. Need To Improve On?
Pass catching: His improvement on this will likely hinder how the Patriots plan to use him. The initial feeling was Strong was drafted as a long-term replacement for James White. In this case, he will certainly need to step up his pass-catching skills.
Blocking: With little experience with pass blocking, he will need to work on that to be a complete well-rounded RB in the league
Quotes from analysts and more:
“You want to see an FCS back be dominant on that level and he has tape where he does that against that competition. He definitely has NFL talent.” Scout for NFC team
“One of the fastest most explosive RBs in the draft. Has big time big play potential that is up there with Breece Hall and Kenneth Walker. And this is not just a speed guy there is some power and toughness to this player. Chris Simms of NBC Sports
“Compact, explosive runner with 4.3 speed who showed pass catching/blocking ability at Shrine Bowl.” Eric Galko – Director of Football Ops, Player Personnel for Shrine Bowl
“He has home run ability when he finds the runway (30 runs of 15-plus yards) and creates conflict for second level defenders with his ability to shake, rattle and roll.” Dane Brugler of The Athletic
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