New England Patriots: Grading Day 2 picks in 2019 NFL Draft

The New England Patriots landed four players on Day 2 of the 2019 NFL Draft, but were they the right selections for Bill Belichick’s group?

The New England Patriots came into Day 2 of the 2019 NFL Draft and did their typical move as they moved around and ended the day with four selections. The scary part about the Patriots brass is that these are the rounds in the draft where they make their money.

It’s not about finding elite talent for their system. Instead, they draft guys that others fail to see the value in. So, the players they draft are put in a position where their strengths are magnified and weakness aren’t exposed.

With that in mind, let’s look at the four selections for the Patriots on Day 2 and hand out grades for the picks.

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Joejuan Williams, CB, Vanderbilt

Experimenting with large corners isn’t a foreign concept in the NFL, especially with the Patriots. They love guys with size, more specifically players who play physically at the line of scrimmage. Williams is the type of player suited for the world champs.

For starters, he has an excellent size with great length at 6-3, 211 pounds. He’s best in man coverage, but also solid in zone coverage with really good ball skills.

Against the run, he’s in control. As a tackler, he drives his man into the ground. While he doesn’t have long speed, he’s quick and does a click-and-close really well. Williams physicality ideally suits what the Patriots like to do.

Grade: A

Chase Winovich, EDGE, Michigan

There were whispers of Chase Winovich sneaking into the first round throughout the draft process. The whispers ultimately proved fruitless. However, where he ended up could be considered a steal. Winovich is the type of player ideally suited for the Patriots.

Winovich is a lot like Trey Flowers, who developed into a solid pass rusher and valuable player a Super Bowl winning team. Unlike Flowers, Winovich has elite speed for his size, clocking a 4.59-second 40 at the combine. He’s a high motor player with decent enough athleticism to be effective off the edge. He’s bendable and uses his hands well, which could help him see the field early.

Grade: A

Damien Harris, RB, Alabama

The thing that jumps out on tape for Damien Harris is his toughness as a runner. He has just enough wiggle to make guys miss in the open field. There’s nothing jaw-dropping about his speed but he has great quickness.

He’ll join a stable of backs led by 2018 first-round pick Sony Michel. Like his new teammate, he can carry the rock 20 times a game. And, like most Alabama running backs he does a great job in pass protection. The pick was overkill but the Pats will undoubtedly use Harris effectively.

Grade: C

Yodny Cajuste, OL, West Virginia

With the 101st pick, the Patriots selected a guy that excels in the power run game. While not the most flexible, Cajuste is a solid enough athlete that can develop into a left tackle for them. Value is one word to describe where they were able to draft Cajuste. Some may argue that he could have gone earlier to a number of teams.

This was a depth pick since Cajuste doesn’t have to play right away. Still, the Pats got an absolute bargain at 101. Cajuste has time to adjust to the speed of the game and has versatility up front. Worst-case scenario, he’s forced to start he’ll do fine in short sets in a quick passing game.

Grade: A