The New England Patriots once again had a busy NFL Draft, which included multiple draft pick trades, and preemptive moves that moved their draft picks around. At the end of the day, the team picked four players in the draft, while also acquiring tight end James O'Shaughnessy from the Kansas City Chiefs. Over the years, head coach Bill Belichick has done very well, when it comes to drafting in the later rounds. This year was no different as he was able to address both the offensive and defensive lines. Let's take a look at what each pick will bring to the team. 3rd round (83rd overall) - Derek Rivers, DE, Youngstown State: Rivers is a 6'4" defensive end/linebacker hybrid who excelled in the FCS under head coach Bo Pelini. A late bloomer, Rivers made a huge jump his junior year, before dominating the FCS this past season as a senior opposite Avery Moss, a fifth round draft pick of the New York Giants. In his senior season, Rivers finished with 58 total tackles, 19.5 tackles for loss, and 14 sacks. Perhaps his greatest strength is his versatility in rushing the passer. Rivers fills the prototypical Patriots' hybrid pass rusher that players like Rob Ninkovich and Trey Flowers have dominated in. Rivers will compete with Geneo Grissom, Lawrence Guy and fellow draft pick Deatrich Wise for playing time in a backup role. …show more content…
There are a lot of things to like when it comes to Garcia, including his quick feet and tremendous athleticism. However, he is a work in progress, and needs to cut down on penalties in order to have a big role with the Patriots. Garcia could conceivably beat out players like LaAdrian Waddle and Cameron Fleming for playing time, although his left tackle potential would slot him behind Nate Solder. If the little things are corrected, he could be a third round
"This guy's resilient, he's got a great attitude, great character, he's versatile. He's a guaranteed first-round pick. Thought that all along, but then the injury you thought maybe could be a factor. But the workouts solidified him. The tape, the workouts, the character, he's going in the first round said Mel Kiper.
The New England Patriots have had a well documented offseason and will be operating with Jimmy Garoppolo under center for the first four games of the season, instead of the incumbent Tom Brady. However, the Patriots have a growing issue that is being overlooked. Their injury report is mounting and has become a massive issue for the 2014 Super Bowl champions.
The Wisconsin Badgers football team has been the supplier of some of the best football players in the NFL. Names like J.J Watt and Russel Wilson are on the tip of peoples tongues every season and this season is no different. There are some players that are in the NFL that their starting job is not as secure as those of Wilson and Watt. With 32 former players in the NFL it is apparent that Wisconsin has produced a large number of players that will take to the field and be part of a large number of highlight reels in the coming season. Here are a few of these that are looking to stand out this season.
7 overall pick in the 2017 NFL Draft, where NFL Media analyst Daniel Jeremiah projected ball-hawk safety Malik Hooker would be taken in his first mock draft.
Arkansas Razorbacks running back Alex Collins could be that guy. Collins, a hard-nosed runner with a bruising style, could fit well into the Texans’ system and his skill set could complement Foster’s shiftiness. If Foster continues to show up on the injury report, Houston could begin to transition the talented tailback to more of a third down role.
He broke through arm tackles, ran hard, showed off his toughness, and proved that the switch to running back was not a fluke.
Some drafts obey a normal pattern of teams picking from the #1 spot until every
Next, the team locked up right tackle Michael Oher who had a breakout year solidifying the left tackle position that was left in flux with the retirement of longtime Panther Jordan Gross. Oher was coming off a disappointing stint with the Titans where he was plagued by
With a 27-0 victory over the Houston Texans last Thursday, the New England Patriots continued their dominance. The Patriots were without future Hall of Famer Tom Brady, due to his Deflategate suspension, and backup quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo because of a shoulder injury. Yet, it doesn’t seem to matter who is under center for the Patriots, which continue to win in impressive fashion.
The 6-foot-3, 235-pound defender is considered by NFL analysts as one of the best inside linebackers in the league right now. His statistics have so far been nothing but impressive for head coach Ron Rivera’s squad.
Jones finished second on the team with 86 receptions and 816 yards, proving to be a solid wide receiver. He has more of an upside with his ability to get open and make tough catches. Jones also has a knack for turning short receptions into big plays by finding his blockers. The receiver finished with 13 catches for 20 plus yards and 33 first downs.
After playing his college ball at Michigan State, Hoyer was signed as an un-drafted free agent by the New England Patriots. During his three years there, he saw very limited action before securing his release before the beginning of the 2012
Drafted by the team with the 32nd pick in the first round of the 2014 draft, Teddy Bridgewater has potential to be the franchise quarterback that can lead the team to the next level. In his four seasons with the team, Bridgewater has thrown for 6,150 yards, 28 touchdowns, and 22 interceptions with
Out of the three players that were claimed, Grugier-Hill and Brooks could make an immediate impact. Grugier-Hill was drafted in the sixth round of this past year's draft and showed that he could play in the NFL, by making plays on defense and special teams as a gunner.
While the philosophy may hold true, the Cowboys clearly have holes that need filling through free agency. As free agency moves forward, the draft begins on April 28. The Cowboys have the fourth overall pick and are a true wildcard with players like North Dakota State quarterback Carson Wentz, Florida State cornerback Jalen Ramsey, and Ohio State studs Joey Bosa and Ezekiel Elliot all viable options.