The 2020 NFL Draft is officially concluded, and the New England Patriots added several young, interesting rookies to the mix. While each rookie will have their chance to compete, some players have a clearer path to stardom than others. Whether it’s need at the position, individual talent, or a combination of both, these are the Patriots rookies that should be able to contribute right out of the gate.
New England Patriots Rookies: Potential 2020 Impact
Day One Starters
Josh Uche, EDGE
Josh Uche is the perfect fit for New England’s defense and easily the best pick of their draft. The Michigan product should start from Day 1 and is exactly the fix New England needs after losing Kyle Van Noy and Jamie Collins in free agency. Uche gets to the quarterback at a high rate, has the athleticism required to thrive in the NFL, and should be a key piece of the defense for the duration of his time in New England.
Anfernee Jennings, EDGE
Anfernee Jennings doesn’t have the same ceiling as a guy like Uche, but he’s a versatile weapon that should do well in a Bill Belichick defense. Compared to Rob Ninkovich in our NFL Draft profile, Jennings makes up for his pedestrian athleticism by being fundamentally sound and doing all the little things right. He can play linebacker and on the edge and should see a high snap percentage as a rookie.
High-Ceiling Projects
Kyle Dugger, Safety
Kyle Dugger is a talented player, but he might struggle to see the field as a rookie. The Lenoir-Rhyne product is a ridiculous athlete and possesses the raw tools required to be one of the best safeties in the league. However, he’s far from a finished product and needs to prove that he can handle the dramatic uptick in competition. He’s probably better off spending the year learning from Devin McCourty and Patrick Chung before competing for a starting job in 2021.
Devin Asiasi, Tight End
Devin Asiasi holds plenty of potential, but it’s hard for any tight end to contribute right out of the gate. Only nine tight ends in the past 15 seasons have managed to make any notable contribution as rookies, and expecting Asiasi to break that trend is asking a lot. That said, with minimal depth on the roster, he could see the field early and often as a rookie. At 6’-3” and 257 pounds, Asiasi has the build to block in the trenches, and he already has plenty of pass-catching upside. That said, he’ll probably only be a situational player in 2020 before earning a bigger role in 2021.
Dalton Keene, Tight End
Whereas Asiasi is more of a traditional tight end, Dalton Keene is something of a hybrid between a tight end and a fullback. Blessed with ridiculous athleticism, Keene has the raw skills to be a dangerous NFL weapon. However, he’s incredibly raw and owes most of his collegiate production to scheme. Josh McDaniels will probably come up with a few creative packages for the rookie, but you should temper expectations for Keene, at least in the short term.
Depth Pieces
Michael Onwenu, Guard
New England’s starting offensive line is fantastic, so there’s no way for Michael Onwenu to earn a starting job without injuries. However, he should earn one of the depth spots based on his relatively high upside. At 6’-3” and 344 pounds, Onwenu is an absolute monster of a man that never loses one-on-one matchups. He can hold up to just about anyone based on strength, but he’ll need to be able to prove he can handle NFL speed. If he can do that, he should be in the NFL for years to come.
Dustin Woodard, Center
Dustin Woodard and Michael Onwenu are exact opposites. While Onwenu’s best trait is his massive frame, Woodard succeeds despite his small build. Fundamentally, Woodard is about as sound as a Day 3 pick could ever be. He was one of the best collegiate centers in the league, but he’s notably undersized for the position. Because of this, he’s an ideal candidate for the practice squad. If he can add muscle in 2020 without sacrificing his technique, he should last in the NFL.
Justin Rohrwasser, Kicker
He’s the kicker. Not much to say here.
Outside Looking In
Justin Herron, Guard
Cassh Maluia, Linebacker
Justin Herron and Cassh Maluia are the types of prospects you expect to see late on Day 3. Both players aren’t that remarkable and face an uphill battle to ever make an NFL impact.
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