At a glance: New England uses a stacked secondary to mask a weak pass rush and a couple of big bodied receivers - they hope - to mask Rob Gronkowski's retirement. But those two holes are far short of gaping, especially with so many geniuses in the building.
New England didn't find Rob Gronkowski's tight end replacement in the draft, but it did find a big pass-catching target in wide receiver N'Keal Harry. Harry seemingly went into the draft as many fans' favourite receiver, so typically he ended up with their least favourite team. Should Josh Gordon get reinstated - which is a big ask at this point - the Patriots should have enough talent to mask the hole left by Gronk. That said, New Englan's tight end room is *thin*.
Meanwhile the Patriots quietly put together one of the deepest running back groups ever in the NFL -- so much so that some projections have them keeping more running backs than receivers in 2019, per Mass Live. Sony Michel, James White and James Develin were already locks to make the team, but the guaranteed money Brandon Bolden got in free agency and the third round pick investment in Damien Harris suggests those guys will stay around. Could the team's most established dual threat, Rex Burkhead, be forced out?
Elsewhere, the Patriots addressed defense by drafting cornerback Joejuan Williams and edge rusher Chase Winovich. The Patriots didn't need to focus on the secondary so early considering just how stout they are, but Williams will jump last year's unsigned free agent find J.C. Jackson on the depth chart. More importantly, Winovich should find a way to help last year's second worst pass rush - just 30 sacks, per ESPN - following the departures of Trey Flowers and Adrian Clayborn in free agency.
DRAFT PICKS (per ESPN)
1.32 N'Keal Harry WR
2.13 Joejuan Williams CB
3.13 Chase Winovich DE
3.23 Damien Harris RB
3.37 Yodny Cajuste OT
4.16 Hjalte Froholdt OG
4.31 Jarrett Stidham QB
5.21 Byron Cowart DT
5.25 Jake Bailey P
7.38 Ken Webster CB
ORIGINAL COVER PHOTO: USA Today
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