Here is is the Patriots’ haul from the 2014 NFL Draft:
1st Round, 29th Overall – DL Dominique Easley
2nd Round, 62nd Overall – QB Jimmy Garoppolo
4th Round, 105th Overall – C Bryan Stork
4th Round, 130th Overall – RB James White
4th Round, 140th Overall – OT Cameron Fleming
6th Round, 179th Overall – G Jon Halapio
6th Round, 198th Overall – DE Zach Moore
6th Round, 206th Overall – CB/S Jemea Thomas
7th Round, 244th Overall – WR Jeremy Gallon
Patriots 2014 Draft Grade: 8.5/10
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Patriots 2014 Draft
The Best Player: Say what you want about the multiple ACL injuries, but Dominique Easley could become a real force in the NFL. Entering his senior year, Easley name was being uttered in the same sentence as Jadaveon Clowney. If the Patriots stick to a 4-3 scheme, the duo of Vince Wilfork and a healthy Easley on the interior will make New England’s front seven one of the best in the league. With the addition of Easley, Bill Belichick is continuing to build a defense that looks like his units in the early 2000s—you know, when the Patriots were winning Super Bowls.
The Best Value Pick: Nabbing former Wisconsin back James White late in the fourth round was one of the more underrated moves of Day 3. The sure-handed White (he fumbled only twice in four college seasons) will join a New England backfield consisting mainly of Stevan Ridley and Shane Vereen. Opportunity knocks for White, as Ridley has had serious fumbling issues and Vereen is more effective in the passing game. While White’s diminutive 5’9’’ frame is somewhat concerning, he is incredibly shifty in tight spaces.
The Head-Scratcher: Tom Brady has been throwing to diminutive receivers ever since Randy Moss departed Foxboro. Why the Patriots took the 5’8’’ Gallon out of Michigan in the seventh round—when Rutgers receiver Brandon Coleman was still available—is quite puzzling. Coleman is a physical dream (6’6’’, 225 pounds, 4.56 40-yard dash), and while he is raw, he would’ve been a much better pick than Gallon. But the Pats could still sign Coleman as an undrafted free agent, right? Wrong. The New Orleans Saints have picked him up.
The Surprise Pick: No one really saw the Pats taking Jimmy Garoppolo in the second round. That being said, it seems like the Patriots brain trust really likes Garoppolo, and he definitely wouldn’t have been available in the fourth round, so this was a smart move. Evidently, Belichick preferred Garoppolo over other quarterbacks like A.J. McCarron and Aaron Murray, both of whom dropped to the sixth round.
The Steal: Drafting Bryan Stork, the center on a Florida State’s BCS-winning team, in the fourth is a pretty solid move by the Patriots. At the very least, Stork will give current center Ryan Wendell some stiff competition. Also, Stork was Florida State’s captain—he could grow into a Logan Mankins-type leader for the Pats in the future.
Most Likely to Make in Impact in 2014: If healthy, Easley is the easy choice here. But since that’s not a guarantee, White is the other guy in this class that could step in on opening day and really make a difference.
Most Likely to Be Cut: Defensive End Zach Moore out of Irvine will have a tough time making the team in camp. Before the draft, the Patriots signed veteran Will Smith, and don’t forget about last year’s rookies, Jake Bequette and Michael Buchanon, both of whom have yet to see significant playing time. In front of them, Rob Ninkovich and Chandler Jones have the starting spots pretty much guaranteed.
Most Likely to Turn Heads in Camp: At first glance, it seems like Jemea Thomas will have a tough time making the team considering how crowded the Patriots’ defensive backfield has become. However, the hybrid cornerback/safety hits harder than his 5’9’’ frame would suggest, and the Patriots are in need of an enforcer on the back end. Additionally, the Georgia Tech product was a good return man in college and could carve out a role for himself in that realm.
OVERALL GRADE: 8.5/10. The Patriots bolstered both the offensive and defensive lines, added spark to the running game with the addition of White, and built for the future by drafting Garoppolo. However, missing out on Brandon Coleman in the late rounds and failing to add a physical safety keeps the Patriots out of the “A” grade range.
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