Belichick struck gold with the past 2 drafts
The narrative is and has been for a while, Bill Belichick can’t draft. One of the main reasons Robert Kraft had to go out and spend a quarter of a billion dollars is because Belichick whiffed on previous drafts. Don’t get me or the fan base wrong, he can find talent its just when you have 6 or 7 draft selections and only hit on 1 that’s a terrible percentage (I don’t do math). For every great pick Joe Thuney he had a Cyrus Jones picked in the round before, but since 2021 has that all changed?
I don’t want to be too negative, my wife says that I don’t ever look at the good and I always just look at the bad things. So I won’t talk about 1st round selections like Dominque Easily or Malcolm Brown or that bum N’Keal Harry. Instead, want to talk about the hits and how it’s setting us up for a gold rush in 2023.
(2020) Kyle Dugger was said to be a reach, taken in the 2nd round out of Lenoir-Rhyne (if you gave me 20 guesses I still wouldn’t guess where that school is) is playing like a stud in his 3rd year, almost a pro bowl type player.
(2021) Mac Jones, as of right now this could go as a bust or franchise player. I am extremely torn on this one but lets just say he had a great rookie year in the middle of the pack of all NFL quarterbacks.
Christian Barmore, the stats don’t give this man justice because he is usually opening up holes for other players to rush and make the stop. He is a fan favorite in year two and is helping this defense become a top 10… no scratch that top 5 defense in the league. Shutting out the number 1 offense, even if it was Jared Goff and the Lions is huge.
Rhamondre Stevenson, the Patriots rarely sign running backs after their rookie contract runs out, always have a huge depth at that position and when this guy fell due to some weed problems, we can see why Belichick scooped him up in the 4th round. Damian Harris is coming in to injury problems and after the Lions game Rhamondre will be the featured back on this team for the rest of the year. He gashed the Lions on 25 carries for 161 yards. Guy is a solid number 1 running back and to steal him in the 4th you have to tip your cap to Bill on this one and also thank the devil’s lettuce.
The 2021 draft still has an incomplete grade. Still waiting to see what type of player you have with Ronnie Perkins who you drafted in the 3rd round and also Joshua Bledsoe in the 6th. But those 4 players right there could be and should be impact players for years to come.
2022, the draft that initially all fans and even some teams publicly laughed at the Patriots and Bill Belichick.
With the 29th pick taking a Guard from Chattanooga, Cole Strange. Hand up, I admit that I was pissed and call for Bill’s head, but boy have all the haters been wrong on this one. So far he has started all 5 games and the left side along with Trent Brown, they have been opening holes wider than your mothers ass. 240 snaps, 0 penalties and only allowed 2 sacks. The left side is the strong side for this O-Line. Who’s laughing now Sean?
2nd round-Tyquan Thorton, injured in pre season he is going to be a wait and see but we all know Belichick’s track record with drafting wide receivers, could this be a turning point?
3rd round- CB/Return specialist Marcus Jones. Shined in the Green Bay game should be the permanent guy back for all kick returns for the rest of the season. 6 returns for 156 yards is a great stat in todays NFL where you tend to fair catch a lot of balls. I would like to see what he can do in the secondary however, the Lions game is where he has seen the most snaps at 23 % and recorded 2 tackles.
4th round- CB/angry mother fucker Jack Jones! This guy is electric, another bad rap kind of guy had some trouble in school but Bill took him anyway and toot toot, after reading all about him and seeing some highlights from college I predicted he would be an impact player. Green Bay was his coming out party getting his first career interception and touchdown he showed again this week it wasn’t a fluke. Making a hell of an interception on the sideline against the Lions, this kid has all of New England behind him and with Mills out, showing he could be CB2 on this team.
4th round- Bailey Zappe, what he has done in relief could go two ways, each are excellent for this team.
Be the back up to Mac Jones and lighting a fire under his ass knowing there is a guy that could take your spot if you screw up. Brady played some of his best football when Jimmy G was the guy behind him after his 4 game suspension. Knowing the fans could turn on you for a poor performance and the Bailey chants could start.
He is the guy and leads this team for the foreseeable future.
Either way you look at it Bill has hit or does he give all the credit to Nike? Who cares, this team is set up or a banger of a free agency next year and maybe once again becomes a destination where players want to go and play.