In the shadow of Gillette Stadium, the New England Patriots draft strategy has been a subject of scrutiny and at times, bewilderment for the better part of the last decade. With a knack for zagging when others zig, the franchise has faced its fair share of criticism. Belichick is known for picks that go against conventional wisdom. In recent years, it’s resulted in an alarming trend: a drought in re-signing early-round draft picks to second contracts. No one that they’ve drafted in the first three rounds has signed a second contract with the team since Duron Harmon in 2013, per Zach Cox of NESN. As we look to the Patriots 2022 draft class after a season and a half, will any of these young players carve out a lasting legacy in Foxborough? Or are they destined to be brief visitors on the Patriots roster?
After a Year and a Half, Here’s Where the Patriots 2022 Draft Class Stands:
Cole Strange
Round: 1, Overall: 29
When the Patriots announced Cole Strange as their first-round pick, it sent ripples through experts and Patriots faithful alike. Coming from the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, Strange wasn’t a name many had penned in for the first round. With mock drafts pegging him as a third-rounder, the selection seemed to come out of left field. Even Mel Kiper Jr., ESPN’s veteran draft guru, weighed in: “I thought Strange might sneak into Round 2, but he’s not a first-round talent,” Kiper noted. Belichick’s gamble raised some eyebrows. The Patriots drafting playbook often seems like it’s written in a code that only he understands.
Strange’s rookie season was a tale of two halves, marked by early struggles and a resilient finish. His initial performances were shaky enough to see him sent to the bench. However, he didn’t stay there as he worked his way back onto the field and had significantly improved by the end of the season. By season’s end, the numbers spoke to his journey with Pro Football Focus giving him a pass-blocking grade of 68.7, showing promise, while also a run-blocking grade of 48.3 which left room for growth. Strange mentioned how tough his rookie season was for him to endure, both physically and mentally. Going into the offseason, he was tasked with adding some size and coming back ready to continue improving.
In the thick of the 2023 season, Strange’s narrative has been a mix of perseverance and frustration. Nagging injuries have intermittently sidelined him, disrupting his rhythm. On the field, his pass protection has shown flashes of the player the Patriots envisioned, though his run-blocking remains a work in progress. The entire line, ravaged by injuries, hasn’t been doing much to produce in the run game. This doesn’t help Strange’s case as he tries to find his footing on that front. We’re still on the lookout for the kind of impact that’s expected from a first-round pick. And with his injury setbacks, he only becomes harder to re-sign.
Tyquan Thornton
Round: 2, Overall: 50
The Patriots traded the 158th pick to move up from 54 to 50 in order to grab the speedy Tyquan Thornton out of Baylor. Not nearly as much of a surprising pick as their first-round selection; the need for a wide receiver was obvious. The surprise came because of the receivers still on the board at the time when Thornton was selected.
Three of the next four picks that the Patriots jumped were used on receivers; all of which have been more productive than Thornton: George Pickens – Steelers (52 overall), Alec Pierce – Colts (53 overall), Sky Moore – Chiefs (54 overall).
Thornton’s rookie season saw hurdles as injuries delayed a debut; the most anticipated of the Patriots 2022 draft class. Once he got acclimated with the offense, expectations were high for him to show some of that impressive 40-yard-dash time on the field. Yet, despite the anticipation, his performance didn’t quite meet the threshold. Ending the season with 22 catches over 13 games, his numbers fell short. Especially when compared to those players the Patriots chose not to take. Being on the leaner side for a receiver, there was an optimism that time in an NFL training room would help him bulk up and prevent more injuries.
Thornton’s second season has yet to see the expected upswing. Recurring injuries have curtailed his chances to shine, including starting another season with a shoulder injury. His return in Week 6 against the Raiders was limited, getting only 25 snaps in the game. The next week, in a win against the Bills, he saw even less playing time and finished the game with just three snaps played. Reports of some poor weeks of practice culminated into not playing against Miami. With Kendrick Bourne tearing his ACL in that game, many anticipated Thornton would fill the void. However, after playing just 12 early snaps and not returning to play against the Commanders this week, concern for Thornton’s future in New England began to rise.
Rough day for the Patriots' 2022 draft class yesterday:
Tyquan Thornton: benched after 12 snaps
Jack Jones: benched to start the game, didn't play after the opening drive of the second half
Sam Roberts: healthy scratch
— Zack Cox (@ZackCoxNESN) November 6, 2023
Marcus Jones
Round: 3, Overall: 85
The third pick of the Patriots 2022 draft class, Marcus Jones, showed a flair for dynamic playmaking. Displaying an eagerness to contribute in any way he could. He didn’t just meet expectations in his rookie season; he passed them. On defense, he snagged two interceptions and was always around the ball. On offense, he dazzled with an impressive 19.5 yards per catch, including a memorable touchdown. And on special teams, he excelled enough to earn a 1st-Team All-Pro nod as a punt returner.
That type of rookie season certainly led to heightened anticipation going into the offseason. The hope is that with a year of experience under his belt, Jones would take his game to the next level. As seems to be a theme with the 2023 Patriots, injuries have hampered every part of the roster. Marcus Jones tore his labrum in Week 2 against the Dolphins and won’t return to action until 2024.
Jack Jones
Round: 4, Overall: 121
Despite the flak that Bill Belichick often receives regarding his drafts, the emergence of players like Jack Jones is a testament to his legacy as one of the NFL’s greatest minds. Even as a fourth-rounder in his rookie season, Jones made a name for himself as the league’s 18th-best cornerback. A truly remarkable feat, especially given that he was sidelined for four games. When he was on the field, opposing quarterbacks had a passer rating of 64.8 on passes going his way.
This season, however, has painted a different picture for Jones. That same metric of opponent passer rating on throws in his direction swelled to 101.8 through four games this season. This comes after an offseason of controversy, with an incident on June 16th that led to his arrest for possession of two loaded firearms at an airport. The legal aspect has since been resolved, with the charges being dropped in exchange for one year of probation and 48 hours of community service, per CBS Sports.
In this past week’s matchup against the Washington Commanders, Jones, along with fellow defensive back J.C. Jackson, were benched to start the game due to “performance issues” according to Jeff Howe of The Athletic. The second-year player hasn’t been hasn’t performed at the same level as last year; that’s undeniable. However, he’s been playing through injuries all year long to contribute to an already injury-riddled defense. There’s reason to expect a resurgence of sorts from the young cornerback.
Patriots cornerbacks J.C. Jackson and Jack Jones opened the game against the Commanders on the bench today due to recent performance issues, per sources. Both entered the game later.
— Jeff Howe (@jeffphowe) November 5, 2023
Pierre Strong Jr.
Round: 4, Overall: 127
The Patriots 2022 draft class had three fourth-round picks, the second was an explosive running back: Pierre Strong Jr. His rookie campaign didn’t have an abundance of opportunities, but when they came, he seized them. The shifty running back out of South Dakota State averaged 10 yards a carry his rookie season, adding a touchdown to his resume as well. With the departure of Damien Harris in the offseason, fans were excited to see Strong take on a bigger role. Hoping he’d develop and be able to contribute more to the offense.
However, the narrative took an unexpected turn. Before Strong could capitalize on this anticipated role, the Patriots opted to add to the depth of their offensive line. They traded away Strong in a player swap for Browns tackle Tyrone Wheatley Jr., sending Strong to Cleveland. The timing was perfect for him as he began quickly rising up the depth charts due to injuries to the players above him, and performing well when called upon.
Unable to keep up with the 10-yards-per-carry pace, Strong is still at a very respectable 4.5 yards a carry this season for the Browns. He already has more rushing yards than his entire rookie year with the Patriots. On the opposite side of that trade: Wheatley has only seen special teams snaps for the Patriots. He’s since found himself on the list of Patriots linemen to head to the IR.
Bailey Zappe
Round: 4, Overall: 137
Bailey Zappe has had quite an interesting ride since being drafted in the fourth round. As the lone quarterback of the Patriots 2022 draft class, he was able to see some significant playing time in his rookie season when Mac Jones was forced to miss time due to injury. In the four games, Zappe managed a 71% completion rate and 100.9 passer rating. These numbers come despite one rough outing against Chicago significantly negating them.
The Patriots fanbase, always vocal, rallied for Zappe following Mac Jones’s performances at the tail end of last year. Debates swirled through the start of the season, with a faction clamoring for Zappe to lead the team from week one, while others saw him as a beacon of hope to be deployed at the first hint of trouble from Jones. Instead, he ended up being waived by the team at the end of training camp. After clearing waivers, he was re-signed to the team’s practice squad. Only able to make it onto the field during two blowout losses, the conversation around him being the starter was gone. After a strong camp from Malik Cunningham, Zappe hasn’t fully secured the backup position for this year.
Kevin Harris
Round: 6, Overall: 183
Kevin Harris was drafted by the Patriots in the 6th round to add depth to the running back position. A necessary move amidst some uncertainty surrounding players’ future in that room. The hope was for him to develop into a player who can contribute in a pinch if injuries call for it. After a rookie season where he averaged just 2.9 yards an attempt, Harris was released following this season’s training camp and was signed back to the practice squad.
Sam Roberts
Round: 6, Overall: 200
Sam Roberts, mirroring the path of his teammate Kyle Dugger, came into the Patriots after being awarded the Cliff Harris Award. An honor displaying his defensive prowess at the small-school level. Yet, the transition from Division II to the NFL’s high-octane environment has been a tall order for Roberts. His rookie year saw him grappling to find a regular spot on the game-day roster. In his sophomore season, despite a promising start, his opportunities have dwindled, leading to him being a healthy scratch in the latest matchup.
Chasen Hines
Round: 6, Overall: 210
In an effort to try and add some depth to the offensive line, the Patriots 2022 draft class added Chasen Hines in the sixth round. He was sidelined by an injury as the season drew to a close. After the Patriots training camp this year, Hines was released and subsequently found a new home with the Miami Dolphins, where he now continues to develop on their practice squad.
Andrew Stueber
Round: 7, Overall: 245
The final member of the Patriots 2022 draft class was another attempt to add depth to the offensive line, a Bill Belichick staple. Andrew Stueber was a mid-round prospect before suffering an injury in his final season with the Michigan Wolverines. After falling to the seventh round, the Patriots were able to snag him up. Hoping that when fully healthy, he would end up being the steal of the draft. He never ended up getting any playing time in his first season and was released after this season’s training camp and signed back to the practice squad.
Officially Time To Call This Class Another Bad Batch by Belichick?
Bill Belichick’s drafting history has been a mixed bag in recent years. Now a year and a half in, the Patriots 2022 draft class appears to be following that uncertain trend. While Jack Jones shines as a hidden gem, shadows are cast by the less certain prospects like Tyquan Thornton. As the 2023 draftees round the corner of their first half-season, fans are left to hope that they’ll eclipse the somewhat lackluster performance of their predecessors. Hopefully, they bring more consistent production and fewer question marks as they develop on the field.
Main Photo Credit: Gregory Fisher-USA TODAY Sports
