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\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n
Josh Uche<\/strong><\/a> is the perfect fit for New England\u2019s 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<\/a><\/strong> and Jamie Collins<\/a><\/strong> 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.<\/p>\n Anfernee Jennings<\/strong><\/a> doesn\u2019t have the same ceiling as a guy like Uche, but he\u2019s a versatile weapon that should do well in a Bill Belichick<\/strong> defense. Compared to Rob Ninkovich<\/a><\/strong> in our NFL Draft profile<\/a>, 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.<\/p>\n Kyle Dugger<\/strong><\/a> 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\u2019s probably better off spending the year learning from Devin McCourty<\/a><\/strong> and Patrick Chung<\/a><\/strong> before competing for a starting job in 2021.<\/p>\n Devin Asiasi<\/strong><\/a> holds plenty of potential, but it\u2019s 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<\/a> 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\u2019-3\u201d and 257 pounds, Asiasi has the build to block in the trenches, and he already has plenty of pass-catching upside. That said, he\u2019ll probably only be a situational player in 2020 before earning a bigger role in 2021.<\/p>\n Whereas Asiasi is more of a traditional tight end, Dalton Keene<\/strong><\/a> 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\u2019s incredibly raw and owes most of his collegiate production to scheme. Josh McDaniels<\/strong> 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.<\/p>\n New England\u2019s starting offensive line is fantastic, so there\u2019s no way for Michael Onwenu<\/strong><\/a> to earn a starting job without injuries. However, he should earn one of the depth spots based on his relatively high upside. At 6\u2019-3\u201d 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\u2019ll 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.<\/p>\n Dustin Woodard<\/strong> and Michael Onwenu are exact opposites. While Onwenu\u2019s 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\u2019s notably undersized for the position. Because of this, he\u2019s an ideal candidate for the practice squad. If he can add muscle in 2020 without sacrificing his technique, he should last in the NFL.<\/p>\n He\u2019s the kicker. Not much to say here.<\/p>\n Justin Herron<\/strong> and Cassh Maluia<\/strong> are the types of prospects you expect to see late on Day 3. Both players aren\u2019t that remarkable and face an uphill battle to ever make an NFL impact.<\/p>\n Main photo:Anfernee Jennings, EDGE<\/h4>\n
High-Ceiling Projects<\/h3>\n
Kyle Dugger, Safety<\/h4>\n
Devin Asiasi, Tight End<\/h4>\n
Dalton Keene, Tight End<\/h4>\n
Depth Pieces<\/h3>\n
Michael Onwenu, Guard<\/h4>\n
Dustin Woodard, Center<\/h4>\n
Justin Rohrwasser, Kicker<\/h4>\n
Outside Looking In<\/h3>\n
Justin Herron, Guard<\/h4>\n
Cassh Maluia, Linebacker<\/h4>\n
\nEmbed from Getty Images<\/a>