It's no secret that the New England Patriots' . Acro s the board, the Patriots' 10 picks have been amongst the lowest graded, if not lowest.Most recently, , its worst grade handed out in 2022.But here's a little secret: Post-draft grades don't mean anything ... at all.For a lot of analysts who don't treat draft scouting as a year-round endeavor, draft grades are le s about being able to accurately predict the succe s of draft cla ses and more about just happening to recognize
Chris Taylor Jersey the players that a certain team took.The Patriots' 2019 draft cla s was among their highest-graded draft cla ses ever, netting the front office a plethora of "A" and "A-" grades from every major media outlet. In the spirit of roasting draft grades, it's worth taking a stroll down memory lane and seeing how the 2019 draft cla s actually panned out for the team.Cole StrangeMarcus JonesTyquan ThorntonRound 1 (32): N'Keal Harry, Wide Receiver, Arizona StateHarry was hailed by many analysts to be the ideal red-zone replacement for Rob Gronkowski, who had retired earlier that offseason. To some extent, this prediction has come true, as Harry's production for the New England offense since 2019 has been similar to Gronkowski's production for the Patriots offense in that same time span. Of course, Gronkowski hasn't taken a single snap for New England during that time.Round 2 (45): Joejuan Williams, Cornerback, VanderbiltWith the Patriots defense needing depth at defensive back, Williams was seen as a decent selection, albeit a slight reach. While offering a great physical stature, he was seen largely as a project. As many projects do, Williams has shown flashes of production but has largely fizzled out.Round 3 (77): Chase Winovich, Defensive End, MichiganAnyone who watched Winovich in college knew he was made for the New England defense; this selection was hailed as one of the best selections of the entire draft.
Babe Herman Jersey As a spitting image of longtime Patriots defensive end Rob Ninkovich (plus a signature hairstyle), Winovich showed flashes of production. After starting the 2020 season as one of the best edge defenders in the league, his snap count inexplicably dropped, and he was traded to the Cleveland Browns at the end of the 2021 season.Round 3 (87): Damien Harris, Running Back, AlabamaIronically, Harris was widely considered one of the weaker selections in the New England draft. Three seasons later, he is one of the best pure runners in the NFL. In 2021, Harris led the team in rushing with 929 yards on just 202 carries for a healthy 4.6 average.Round 3 (101): Yodny Cajuste, Tackle, West VirginiaScroll to ContinuePrior to the 2019 college football season, Cajuste was being looked at as a top prospect in the NFL draft. After spending two seasons injured, he finally saw the field in 2021. He is yet
Andre Ethier Jersey to show any production, and with the 2022 season being the final year of his rookie contract, there's slim chance he shows much.Round 4 (118): Hjalte Froholdt, GuardFroholdt spent his rookie season on injured reserve and his sophomore season seeing limited action. He was waived by the Patriots in the midst of the 2020 season and currently plays for the Browns.Round 4 (133): Jarrett Stidham, Quarterback, AuburnBefore the days of Mac Jones, there was a point when New England fans were excited about Jarrett Stidham. The former five-star recruit entered his first NFL game in 2019 at the tail end of a blowout win against the New York Jets. In his second pa s as a profe sional, he threw a pick-six on a check-down pa s. In 2020, he again saw action in relief of quarterback Brian Hoyer against the Kansas City Chiefs, where he again threw two interceptions in under two quarters of
Cody Bellinger Jersey play. With the Patriots , Stidham will likely be replaced as the No. 3 quarterback.N'Keal HarryJarrett StidhamBailey ZappeRound 5 (159): Byron Cowart, Defensive Lineman, MarylandCowart was actually the No. 1 recruit in the nation coming out of high school in 2015. Despite showing character concerns in college, he showed some promise as a rookie and sophomore. He spent the 2021 season on the reserve list, but may be a solid partner to Christian Barmore in the low trenches.Round 5 (163): Jake Bailey, Punter, StanfordBailey beat out former punter Ryan Allen for the starting job and has consistently been one of the best punters in the league since. Incredibly, a fifth-round punter is probably the second-best draft pick in this
Max Muncy Jersey cla s.Round 7 (252): Ken Webster, Cornerback, Mi si sippiWebster was released after training camp of his rookie season.Bottom Line:Amongst this entire draft, only two players have been above average at their respective positions. While this draft may have been highly graded three years ago, hindsight makes it easy to see that draft succe s is partially just unpredictable altogether.In 2022, the New England draft cla s is being heavily criticized; yet, there's a real chance that in 2025, the narrative shifts altogether.
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