New England Patriots: 2018 NFL Draft proves team appreciates Tom Brady
The New England Patriots didn’t rush to pick Tom Brady’s successor in the 2018 NFL Draft. Instead, they helped out the all-time great quarterback right now.
The New England Patriots obviously believe that there’s no time like the present. Instead of going into the 2018 NFL Draft with the philosophy of drafting a successor for their aging quarterback like the Ravens, Steelers, Jets, and Browns did, they opted to take advantage of whatever Tom Brady has left in the tank.
While Brady pled the fifth when asked if he feels appreciated, the Patriots actions have shown that he’s all that matters. Days before the draft, there were reports that the Patriots were interested in taking Lamar Jackson. With two picks in the first round near the bottom at No. 23 and. No. 31, the Pats were expected to take the polarizing signal caller, but didn’t.
Additionally there were rumors that suggested the Patriots would have traded up to select a quarterback, specifically UCLA’s Josh Rosen, who was selected No. 10 by the Arizona Cardinals — but they didn’t. Instead, the Patriots went all in after trading away both potential successors in Jimmy Garoppolo (49ers) and Jacoby Brissett (Colts).
Their first pick the draft was offensive lineman Isaiah Wynn, who was a dominant tackle for the Georgia Bulldogs. Despite his “small” size, he’s expected to play tackle for the Patriots. Based on the pick, it appears that the Pats are looking to get back to running the ball and utilize a short, quick passing offense.
His size concerns don’t appear to be something the Patriots use against him. After all, he played left tackle in the SEC against some of the best pass rushers in all of college football. The Patriots’ flexibility as a staff reflects their pick of Wynn, who believes that his length, footwork, and physicality makes him the ideal left tackle.
"“I believe I’m very physical and I’m quick off the ball… My point of attack is good as well as my technique. I’m kind of a perfectionist when it comes to my technique so I feel like I can contribute that to the team… I believe my arm length and my feet and my technique makes up for it.”"
Wynn is the type of technician the Patriots covet and their draft picks have always been guys they could build around instead of just taking guys who “fit their system.”
The Pats weren’t done as they came back at No. 31 and added a running back to their depth chart that already has James White, Rex Burkhead, and the newly acquired Jeremy Hill. The Patriots invested in Sony Michel, another selection to help to sustain the longevity of Brady, and a nod to what type of offense they’ll be running.
Michel was part of arguably the most dynamic duo in all of college football at Georgia. He is a between-the-tackle slasher with enough power to punish defenders and the speed to bounce outside. With a deep stable of backs who can do different things, it looks like Brady will hand it off more and take less hits as he continues to age gracefully.
The final piece to the puzzle was the selection of Florida cornerback Duke Dawson. Again, it’s evident that the Patriots weren’t concerned about adding a player like Mason Rudolph, who had more cache as a potential starting quarterback and a Brady replacement. Dawson is a physical corner who could help with replacing Malcolm Butler.
If he’s placed on the boundary, he’d bring the same physicality as a press corner they had with Darrelle Revis, or back in the day with Ty Law. Dawson’s quickness makes him a primary candidate as a nickel corner. There’s a chance that he could line up at safety sometimes for the Pats, which gives them yet another versatile weapon.
Trading away Brandin Cooks was the first domino to fall as it pertains to the style of offense Patriots were looking to employ. Their draft and current depth chart points to them bringing back a similar offense that we saw in 2012, which was installed by current offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels.
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In 2012, their offense was a more horizontal style where Wes Walker and Brandon Lloyd were the main weapons at receiver, while Rob Gronkowski and Aaron Hernandez were the tight ends. Back then, Stevan Ridley was the feature back, but Danny Woodhead got the targets a pass-catcher out of the backfield. With the stable they now have and added to through the draft, they’ll look to get back to that and preserve Brady further as he continues to defy Father Time.