Locked On Patriots - Daily Podcast On The New England Patriots - Pats Wrap: Patriots 2020 NFL Draft Recap - 4/27/2020

Episode Date: April 27, 2020

The New England Patriots may not always make popular decisions during the NFL Draft. However, one thing is always certain. They will always do what is best for the football team. Host Mike D’Abate provides pick-by-pick analysis of the ten selections made by the New England Patriots in the 2020 NFL Draft. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Patriots fans, you are now locked in to the Locked On Patriots Podcast. I'm going to show you how to make a beautiful and beautiful flower. I'm going to use a small flower pot. I'm going to use a small pot Hello to all of you, Foxborough faithful, and welcome to your 2020 NFL Draft recap episode of the Lockdown Patriots Podcast, your daily home for news notes and analysis infused with the occasional opinion on your six-time Super Bowl champions, the New England Patriots. I'm Mike DeBate, your host of the Locked On Patriots podcast, which of course is a proud

part of the Locked On Podcast Network, your team every day. And folks, because it's your team every day, that means your questions, your comments, and your feedback are always welcomed and greatly appreciated. And share that feedback anytime by reaching out to me and following me on Twitter at M-D-A-B-A-T-E-F-P-C. And while you're out there roaming around through that Twitterverse, of course, while simultaneously practicing your social distancing, please be sure to follow the Locked On Patriots account as well at L-O underscore Patriots. Much like major holidays, folks, all that preparation and it's over in the

blink of an eye. That's right, the 2020 NFL Draft is now in the books. All 32 NFL teams, including your New England Patriots, all made their best efforts to improve their rosters and get their team ready for the 2020 NFL season. Of course, as is the case with any NFL Draft, folks, some did a better job at that than others. And judging by what I've seen across the Patriots' social media footprint, there are a lot of you that believe that the Patriots did not do a very good job at doing that. I happen to disagree with that, and I'll give you my reasons in a little bit. But make no mistake about it, that doesn't mean that those of you that disagree are wrong. It's a matter of opinion.

But here today on Locked On, Patriots, my sincere hope is that you walk away from having listened to this podcast with a little bit more knowledge and maybe even a higher opinion of some of those names that were called that will indeed be calling Foxborough home when the 2020 NFL season kicks off. I will go pick by pick and round by round and give you my opinion on each of the draftees, some good, some not so good, and some even come with a little bit of controversy. And yes, folks, we will be addressing that because it is relevant news.

And last but certainly not least, I tasked you, the great listeners that I have here at Locked On Patriots, to submit your draft grades. You're the professor and you're submitting a report card. And some of the grades that I got were interesting to say the least. But a couple of them did stand out and they will be shared here on the Locked On Patriots podcast

to close it all out. So settle in, folks, because today on Locked On Patriots, we're dedicating it to the draftees. Now, the Pats also brought in some very intriguing undrafted free agents over the weekend. Several of them have a lot of potential upside, and a few of them even stand out to me as those that I would keep a sharp eye on. That's right, folks. You know I love using that phrase, but I assure you right here it's very applicable. And throughout the week here on the pod, we will be breaking down those undrafted free agent signings. But today, again, folks, it's dedicated to the draftees. Your newest New

England Patriots. Safety Kyle Duggar. Linebacker Joshua Uche. Outside linebacker Anfernee Jennings. Tight end Devin Asiasi. Tight end Dalton Keene. Kicker Justin Rohrwasser. Guard Michael Onwenu. Offensive tackle Justin Herron. Linebacker Kash Malawiah. And center Dustin Woodward. Your New England Patriots draft class of 2020. And I'm sure you've all noticed the most interesting part of that list,

conspicuous by their absence, a wide receiver and a quarterback. Two positions that had the spotlight shown pretty brightly as glaring needs for your New England Patriots. At the end of the day, the Patriots didn't use a draft pick on either one. And before I fully dedicate today to the draftees, some interesting rumors started circulating regarding your New England Patriots, specifically two veteran names that theoretically fill the void at both positions. And the first comes to us not from the sports journalism world, but from the sports betting world.

And that is the FanDuel Sportsbook released new odds on Sunday where the Patriots were the odds-on favorite to sign quarterback Cam Newton, formerly of the Carolina Panthers. In fact, FanDuel actually had New England's odds at minus 190, with the Jacksonville Jaguars coming in at second at plus 300, the Pittsburgh Steelers at plus 750, and the Denver Broncos at plus 1,000, among others on the list as well. And some of you might be rolling your eyes listening to this, but what made this especially

eye-opening is that the Jaguars were favorite at minus 150 odds to land Newton earlier in the day on Sunday. At that point, the Patriots were second at plus 400. So why the sudden shift in New England's favor in a matter of hours? I mean, let's face it, we all know that sportsbooks do not like to lose money. Could they possibly know something that we don't? Well, honestly, folks, there really haven't been any new reports linking Newton to the Patriots from a journalistic standpoint. But there are a couple of reasons why the rumors linking the Patriots to Newton simply won't go away. The first is one that I just alluded to a few moments ago. Patriots did not draft a quarterback in the 2020 NFL draft. And yes, I'm aware that the Patriots did sign two undrafted free agents as quarterbacks,

Louisiana Tech's Jamar Smith. And if you'll allow me to digress for just one moment, if you haven't seen any film or highlights on this kid, definitely take to YouTube. Exciting. And take it from me, folks, you will like what you see. The other quarterback that they added as an undrafted free agent is Brian Lewerke from Michigan State. Both Smith and Lewerke are both interesting options as a potential third quarterback on

this roster, but neither of them come with that cachet of having that draft pick muscle behind them. I think we can make the argument that either one, if not both, deserve to be draft picks, but that's a conversation for another day, folks. Remember, we're dedicating this one to the draftees. But when your team is rumored to be the top destination of a former NFL MVP, you at least have to kick the tires on those rumors. But folks, in my best estimation, that's exactly what they're going to stay. Rumors. The fact that the Patriots didn't draft a quarterback over the weekend, coupled by the fact that the previous favorite, the Jacksonville

Jaguars, did draft Oregon State's Jake Lutton in the sixth round means that the Patriots became a little bit more likely of a destination than that of Jacksonville. And that's probably the most important reason why you're seeing such a large contingent of sports bettors believing that New England is Newton's most likely landing spot. But barring anything unforeseen, I just don't see this move happening. I'm not saying it's impossible, but I am saying it's highly unlikely. The fact that the Patriots did not use a wealth of draft capital that they had, by the way,

on drafting a quarterback shows to me that they are very confident in Jarrett Stidham heading into this season. After the draft, Bill Belichick addressed the media by videoconference and acknowledged this fact. He acknowledged that Stidham impressed those in the quarterback room last year, was very impressive on the field in practice, and that the Patriots have a lot of faith in this kid. And I understand there's still a lot of you out there that are questioning Stidham. You won't believe it until you see it on the field.

But keep one thing in mind here, folks. The Patriots know more about Jarrett Stidham than anybody. They also know more about optimal-level quarterback play than anybody. Don't forget, the guy that he's potentially replacing just happens to be the greatest to ever play the position. If the Patriots didn't believe Stidham could handle the load, they would not hand him the ball. And no, for the last time, folks, they are not giving Jared Stidham the opportunity

simply because they want a tank for Trevor. They're not trying to lose for Lawrence. That is not what the Patriots have ever done. That is not what they ever will do. Is this team going to compete for a championship this year? Probably not. But are they going to be a well-dwelling laughingstock that a lot of people would like you to believe? Probably not. But are they going to be a dwelling laughingstock that a lot of people

would like you to believe? Absolutely not as well. Again, folks, as I do maybe once or twice a week here on the Locked On Patriots podcast, maybe a little more than I should, I like to quote Aristotle, virtue lies in the middle.

And that middle ground tells me that Jarrett Stidham will be the guy taking snaps under center in Foxborough this year. And that means no disrespect toward Cam Newton. I'm not trying to say Jarrett Stidham is a better quarterback than Cam Newton. I'm simply saying that for the game plan that the Patriots have this year,

Jarrett Stidham is the better fit in New England. And shortly after this report broke, Jeff Howe of The Athletic, who is as dialed into the organization as anyone, essentially said that nothing had changed. The Patriots didn't have a whole lot of interest in bringing Cam Newton in before the draft, and they don't have much of an interest in doing so after the draft. So even though this story continues to persist, and I believe it likely will until Cam actually signs with an NFL team, I'd color this one highly unlikely that that team is your New England Patriots, folks.

The other veteran name that I was referring to earlier is at the wide receiver position, and this comes courtesy of Peter King in his weekly column, who believe that the Patriots should kick the tires on 32-year-old Percy Harvin, who King thought might be a decent fit for teams like the Steelers, Falcons, or your New England Patriots. And if you recall, last week Harvin recently said that he was getting the itch to play football again and was looking to make a return to the NFL. Look, when he's healthy, Harvin is one of the more talented wide receivers that I've had the chance to see. But his career has absolutely been marred by injuries. It's limited him to 21 games over his final four seasons,

and he's only played a 16-game season just once in his career. But if we're being honest, folks, the Patriots have never really shied away from these types of deals in the past. Veteran receivers who have had their injury troubles. Demarius Thomas was brought in here. Eric Decker was brought in. Neither of them really worked out, and the Patriots did move right along. But that does show that they're not afraid to take a shot. The difference here, and why I believe that this is unlikely as well, folks, is that Harvin hasn't played a regular season game since 2016. It's true, Harvin could bring in some veteran leadership with a young quarterback and a young core of wide receivers. Most importantly, that injury history. I just can't see the Patriots taking that type of flyer on Percy Harvin this time around.

So, Pats fans, if they're not going to go the veteran route, then that means that the players that they've brought in via the NFL draft are going to be key components in the Patriots helping to rebuild this roster. In just a moment, I will be breaking down my thoughts on the 2020 draft class for your New England Patriots, including how you, some of the listeners here of Locked On Patriots, grade the Patriots Hall over the weekend. But first, folks, we continue to live in interesting times. And if you're like me, it's difficult to find time.

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For a limited time, Postmates is giving our listeners $100 of free delivery credit for your first seven days. To start your free deliveries, download the app and use the code LOCKEDONNFL for $100 of free delivery credit for your first 7 days when you download the Postmates app. Anything you need, anytime you need it, Postmate it. Patriots fans, thank you again for joining me today on this 2020 NFL Draft recap for your New England Patriots. And overall, draft analysts across the NFL landscape, across the nation, are describing the Patriots draft hall as mediocre, complicated, intriguing. I've even seen some refer to it as abysmal, which I do think is ridiculous.

But again, everyone has an opinion. And I know that a lot of you Patriots fans out there feel the same way. And I really hate to sound harsh when I say this, folks, but here in New England, we should be used to the fact by now that Bill Belichick and the Patriots brain trust does not draft based on the premise of popular opinion. Bill Belichick is not sitting in his Nantucket home. Of course, when he is sitting down, not when his dog Nike is occupying the chair. By the way, who knew that Nike Belichick was going to end up being one of the stars of the NFL draft? I don't know about you, but I can't get enough of that photo.

I'm thinking of wallpapering my house with that photo. But again, folks, I digress. The New England Patriots are not making these picks based on the premise of public opinion. I know I said it twice, but I wanted to reiterate that fact. Bill Belichick is not looking at his draft board and saying, well, maybe we shouldn't take this guy at 37 because draft analyst X thinks that he has a third or fourth round grade, and that wouldn't be wise. Absolutely not. It's never been the way they do things here. It never will be the way they do things here. They identify the best fit for their system. That's how they make their selections. They may not always make the most popular decisions during an NFL draft.

However, one thing is certain, they will always do what is best for the football team. And folks, overall, I think that's exactly what they did in the 2020 NFL draft. So without further ado, let's break down their selections and we'll start on day one. And I know folks, I'm not suffering from that much sleep deprivation here. I know they didn't make a selection on day one because they traded down. And as Benjamin Franklin once said, the only two things in life that are certain are death and taxes. Well, I think if Ben lived in New England during this millennium, he'd include Bill Belichick trading down in the NFL draft. Because Thursday night, the Patriots decided to trade their only first round selection at number 23 to the Los Angeles Chargers in exchange for the 37th and the 71st

pick. And to be honest, folks, this wasn't a move that surprised a whole lot of people. I'll admit, I actually thought the Patriots were going to hold on to number 23, and I thought they would make a selection. But just moments after this trade was announced, we started to hear reports that the Patriots felt that they could get the same type of a player, or maybe exactly the same player, with the number 37 pick as they would have with number 23. And they could do so without having to pay him like a first round pick. So it seemed to be a pretty smart move for the Patriots. And that led them quite nicely into day two.

And as Friday evening began, some of the names that we've discussed quite often here on the Locked On Patriots podcast, guys like A.J. Epineza, Yeter Grossmatos, Zach Vaughn, and Raekwon Davis were all available options for the Patriots on the defensive side of the ball. But once we knew that the Patriots were going to be making their first pick in the NFL draft in the second round, reports surfaced that it became more and more likely that they were going to be using that pick on a safety.

And even with Xavier McKinney going off the board to the New York Giants shortly before the Patriots were slated to pick at number 37, a lot of analysts believe that the Patriots would still go safety in this role. And that meant either LSU's Grand Delpit or Minnesota's Antoine Winfield Jr. Well, the 37th pick arrived and the Patriots did indeed go safe, but it wasn't the safety that most fans or even most NFL analysts believed that they would take. Because with the 37th pick in round two of the 2020 NFL Draft, the New England Patriots selected Kyle Duggar, safety out of Lenoir-Rhyne University. And this sent shockwaves through Patriots Twitter. Everyone was convinced that Bill Belichick had finally lost his mind. That picture of Nike Belichick sitting at Bill's draft chair actually had people wondering whether or not

Nike was the one that made this pick. It angered a lot of people in Patriots Nation. And I know some of you listening to this podcast are probably still angry about this pick, even three days later. But folks, the more I look at this selection, the more I like it, and the more I support it. Was it a little bit early? Well, I guess the jury's still out on that one. We really won't know until the games start to be played and we see what Kyle Duggar looks like on an NFL field. But anybody that still questions whether or not Kyle Duggar was a smart choice for the New England Patriots, I encourage you, watch some of his footage, whether it be on YouTube or your favorite sports website. This kid is going to be a force in this league. And from everyone that I've talked to close to the

organization, this is clearly the guy they wanted. That's why they took him at number 37. They weren't worried about whether or not the NFL analysts or the armchair Twitter draft gods had him ranked as a second-round prospect, a fourth-round prospect, or a seventh-round prospect. Bottom line was, they traded out of the first round and felt that they needed to take him with number 37. They did not believe that Kyle Duggar would still be there at 71, which was their next pick coming up. So for that reason, folks, Bill Belichick went out and got his targeted player. It may not have been the most popular, but it has the potential to pay dividends here in Foxborough. Duggar brings an excellent blend of speed, length, and size to Foxborough, especially at a position where they need that. He can cover a lot of ground. He has the tools to match up with tight ends in coverage.

And for those of you that might forget, the Patriots had a great deal of problems covering tight ends last year. That might have been one of the key weaknesses of their defense. In fact, that was a point that we talked about several times here on Locked On Patriots. But Duggar is a good tackler. He's capable of making stops in key situations. But most importantly, he's a playmaker. He intercepted 10 passes and returned 6 punts for touchdowns. That's capable of making stops in key situations, but most importantly, he's a playmaker. He intercepted 10 passes and returned six punts for touchdowns. That's right, folks. That was

another area where the Patriots struggled in 2019. Returning punts. Duggar immediately becomes the guy. So his special teams prowess definitely tipped the scales in his favor as well. But most of all, Duggar fills a need at the safety position. Devin McCourty and Patrick Chung are two players that I admire and respect very much, but each of them is turning 33 in August. Duggar immediately infuses youth into that safety position, and don't forget, having traded Daron Harmon to the Detroit Lions, Patriots need a third safety. They love to play that set where they have three safeties on the field at all times.

Duggar ensures that they'll be able to do that. I think initially he'll probably split time there with Adrian Phillips, but I think Duggar has the potential to beat him out. And I like Adrian Phillips. A couple of weeks ago when they acquired him, I sang his praises, and this is a player that I know quite well during my time covering the Los Angeles Chargers. But I think Phillips' impact on this team is going to be felt more on special teams, meaning that I believe Duggar is going to be more of a contributor at the safety position. With Duggar, they can continue to play three safeties, and I also think you're going to see him in that role of a hybrid linebacker, which is something we're used to seeing Patrick Chung do. So for those reasons, I'm fully behind this pick

by the Patriots. And while I do understand that a lot of you might be angry or think that 37 is still too high for a player of his caliber, I encourage you, give Kyle Duggar a chance. I think he's got as much upside as any non-top 20 pick. He's one of the best athletes in the class. And don't forget, Bill Belichick saw him up close against draftable talent for a week at the Senior Bowl and continued to see great production out of him into the Combine. If in fact he doesn't end up living up to expectations, it's not going to be because he's a Division II prospect at Lenoir-Rhyne fact, he doesn't end up living up to expectations, it's not going to be because he's a Division II prospect at Lenoir Rhine or because he doesn't have the ability. I mentioned Evan Lazar's name earlier, and I'll continue to do so because he's put together one of the best

threads for Kyle Duggar highlights anywhere on social media. I encourage you to take a look at it, and that, in addition to maybe doing a little bit of research on your own on Kyle Duggar, I believe will help you to warm to this pick a little bit. I do not believe he's going to be a bust. And in my opinion, this could end up being a pretty smart pick for the New England Patriots. But for their next selection, the Patriots dipped into the trade well once again. And they traded up, this time to selection 60. And what a lot of people expected them to do at number 37,

they finally did it here when they selected edge rusher Joshua Uche out of Michigan. And lest we forget, folks, a couple of weeks ago, Isaiah Hull, host of Locked On Wolverines here on the Locked On Podcast Network, joined me. And even though the main portion of that conversation was centered around who I believe the Patriots would pick in the first round, Cesar Ruiz, who ended up going to the New Orleans Saints, we did talk extensively about Joshua Uche. And folks, from that point on, I was convinced that this was going to be a prototypical Patriots pick. And I do have to say, for the most part,

the reaction that I saw from Patriots fans on this pick was very positive. Look, Uche might be one of the most underrated pass rushers in the 2020 NFL Draft class. He's an undersized edge defender with long arms. He has the skill set to make an immediate impact rushing the passer. He's got a great combination of initial quickness, bend, and even closing speed. Now the Patriots had a good amount of success in rushing the passer in 2019. However, as we've talked about many times folks, their two most prolific pass rushers, Kyle Van Noy and Jamie Collins, they've bid farewell to Foxborough, but they also leave some big shoes. Both Collins and Van Noy ranked third and first in pressures, respectively. Uche can come in and help fill one of those voids.

He's well-coached, well-disciplined, and I believe he's going to be a great fit here in Foxborough. I think he's going to project best as that outside rusher and an interior blitzer. And as Isaiah and I talked about, he might just have the potential of creating a formidable pass rush tandem with another fellow Michigan alum, Chase Winovich. These two guys have the chemistry, the drive, and the physical skills to make this a fun defense to watch for many years to come. I, for one, love this pick, and I was actually pretty pleased to see that most of Patriots Nation agreed with that. And with that pick, the Patriots were on to round three, and their first selection at number 87 also addressed the pass rush in the form of an edge rusher, and that is Alabama's Anfernee Jennings.

And if I'm being honest, folks, this has the potential of being one of the steals of the draft. Jennings is immediately going to help the Patriots run defense. He's a stout run defender. He can set the edge, and in my opinion, he's a pretty adept tackler as well. He's an average pass rusher, but he has an underrated combination of quickness and that change of direction ability that you just can't seem to get enough of in today's NFL. He's got great power, great instincts, but I think his most prominent attribute is his strength, his toughness, and his tenacity. This is a guy that won't quit. And I

don't just mean on the field of play. Jennings suffered a pretty significant knee injury in 2018, and that lessened his athleticism some. In fact, a lot of people believe that's what caused him to drop down to a third round selection. Now, folks, I'm not going to sugarcoat it. The Patriots definitely need to monitor that closely, because health is a concern with Anthony Jennings. But all in all, if healthy, he's a strong-edged defender, he plays his assignment well, and I believe that's going to earn him quick praise from Bill Belichick and the Patriots defensive coaching staff. So thus far, three picks, three defenders. And I have to be honest, I was pretty impressed by what the Patriots had done so far. But Patriots Twitter kept clamoring, where's the offense? We need help. We need weapons. Well, the Patriots went out and got a

couple at their thinnest position on offense, and that is tight end. And they clearly needed help at the tight end position. And at number 91, they addressed that and selected Devin Asiasi out of UCLA. Now, this raised my eyebrows a little bit, folks, considering that the player that I had long coveted for the Patriots, Dayton's Adam Troutman, was still on the board when this pick was made. And while I personally would have still gone with Troutman, it's really hard to argue with the fact that Asiasi is a pretty good pick. He has a good blend of size, speed, and length. He displays impressive athleticism, and I think he shows some upside as a route runner as well.

He's a natural hands catcher, and he does have above average body control. And if I'm being honest here, folks, I think he comes in and is the Patriots' primary option at tight end from the moment he puts on shoulder pads. Consider this stat for a moment. New England tight ends combined for a league-low 37 catches and tied for last with only two touchdowns from the position last season. Again, they clearly needed an upgrade, and they have significant expectations for Asiasi. They used pretty valuable draft capital to obtain his services. In fact, they have not drafted a tight end earlier than the fifth round since they selected Rob Gronkowski in the second round of the 2010 draft. So a lot of eyes will be on Devin Asiasi as he assumes that tight end one position.

But how about that tight end two position? Well, the Patriots would address that as well, and that would close out day two for your New England Patriots. As with the 101st selection in the third round of the 2020 NFL Draft, the Patriots selected Dalton Keene out of Virginia Tech. And again, I continued to scratch my head on this one because Adam Trotman was indeed still available at the time of this selection. But the Patriots opted for Keene, who they believe is versatile enough to line up in line, at the slot, and in the backfield.

And to be honest, in some of my hindsight being 2020 draft analysis over the weekend, Keane actually is a little bit better of a versatile fit to play all three of those roles. He can move about the field, he runs hard after the catch, but despite that, he's really yet to become a big play threat. I believe that's because some of his route running has been subpar. Josh McDaniels and the Patriots offensive coaching staff will need to work with him on that. But Keane was a pretty big-time performer at the Combine, and I believe that shows that he has the tools to improve in both areas and be a significant part of this offense. And with that, the clock wound down on day two of the New England Patriots 2020 draft, and it was all about the defense and the tight ends. But if you thought the Patriots' day two was surprising, well folks, you hadn't seen anything yet. Day three

was action-packed and raised more than an eyebrow or two. And I will discuss what the Patriots had in store for all of us on day three. And also get to your draft report cards when the Locked On Patriots podcast continues. Folks, much like the New England Patriots were on Saturday, we are in the home stretch here of our draft recap episode of the Locked On Patriots podcast here on this Monday. And while day three might not possess the pomp and circumstance of the NFL draft's opening night, or even day two, the third and final day of the NFL draft is not without its share of significance. We know that better than anyone up here in New England, folks.

Anyone that questions it need only go back to 2000. During that draft, your New England Patriots selected a, quote, lanky and kind of slow, unquote, quarterback from the University of Michigan with the 199th pick overall. The rest, as they say, is history. And the Patriots were certainly active on this third and final day of the 2020 NFL draft. Did they find their Tom Brady-like diamond in the rough? Again, the jury is still out.

Way too early to tell. But here is a look at what they did do on day three. And in the fifth round, with the 159th selection, the Patriots would send shockwaves through the Twitterverse once again. And this pick ended up being controversial for a number of reasons, and I will get to that in a moment, folks. But after trading out of the fourth round, the Patriots use their first

fifth round selection at number 159 to select kicker Justin Rohrwasser out of Marshall. Now, again, this raised the eyebrows of the fan base and the ire of the fan base, and we're just scratching the surface when it comes to that, folks. Not only did they select a place kicker with their first selection in the fifth round, they selected one with an added touch of controversy. And again, folks, we will touch upon that, but let's start with the logistics. Rohrwasser was a name that I had heard before simply because he started his career as a member of the University of Rhode Island Rams, and don't forget, that's my home state. But I didn't have an extensive portfolio on Justin's work.

He did set a URI record by scoring points in one game, consisting of three field goals and five extra points. After spending two years at URI, Rohrwasser transferred to Marshall, and his 29-season season saw a palpable refinement of his skills. He went 18-21 on field goal attempts while also serving as Marshall's kickoff specialist. So again, the Patriots going with a guy that fills dual needs. I think what impressed the Patriots the most about this kid is that he has the ability to make long field goals and to do it in difficult conditions, weather conditions that is. His most memorable came on a 53-yard game-winning field goal in the rain against rival Western Kentucky.

And when he made that field goal, folks, the rain was coming down pretty well, gave Marshall a 26-23 homecoming win, and it also put a cap on a day in which he went 4-4 again in some pretty bad weather. He took home the award for Conference USA's Special Teams Player of the Year, and that combined with a pretty powerful leg made him a likely target for the Patriots as they attempt to fill their void at the kicker position. But again folks, we live in an age of instant feedback and instant analysis, and almost to the minute Rawasser was selected, reports began to trickle out about a photo of him, which clearly showed that Rohrwasser displays a tattoo on his left arm consistent with the markings of, quote-unquote, the three percenters, which for those of you that aren't

familiar, that's a right-wing militia group that first formed in 2008. And in the interest of trying to put this as diplomatic as I can, folks, this is not a group you want to be associated with. And right away, Rohrwasser was called out on this, which I completely understand. This is something he had to explain. I also believe that he might have been a little overzealously vilified, but that may be a conversation for another day. In any case, Rohrwasser was asked and he explained that the tattoo was not representative of the militia group. He believed it to be in support of several members of his family who serve in the U.S. military. And again, folks, these are Rohrwasser's words. I'm not asking you to accept it, nor am I asking you to denounce it.

Rohrwasser did close his statement by saying that he planned to get the tattoo covered up. And again, folks, I'm going to keep this mostly on logistics, but Rohrwasser's character will have to be evaluated by the New England Patriots within the coming days and weeks as we move toward the 2020 season. Now, whether he's already been vetted by the team, or if current evaluations of his character are still being conducted, it's ultimately up to the Patriots as to how they will handle it. At the end of the day, Rohrwasser's statement might end up being enough, or the organization

may address it further. Like you, I saw the shots being taken at the organization over the weekend, questioning their ethics when it comes to the subject of race. Having covered the team for the last three years, and getting to know the great people that work in this organization, I can tell you that not only do they set the highest standards for themselves when it comes to fairness and equality, but they meet them. Again, I'm not suggesting that Rohrwasser be given a free pass to hide from his past. That would be irresponsible. But to me, something equally as irresponsible is to indict an organization for giving him a chance to explain himself once we know all there is to know then and only then can the best decision for

both sides be made so for the second straight day the new england patriots started things off by setting off fireworks within the fan base but much like the previous day on friday night they turned to a michigan wolverine to calm the storm and to commence the sixth round new england addressed the need for depth on the offensive line, and they did so in a big way. At nearly 6'4 and weighing 350 pounds, they selected guard Michael Onwenu out of the University of Michigan. And putting it mildly, folks, Onwenu is a massive offensive lineman.

He's got excellent length, and one of his best attributes is that he overwhelms defenders in the run game. He anchors well when protecting the passer. but that makes him a dual threat among the offensive line. It's really a rare occasion when he's easily bypassed by a pass rusher. You can definitely count on him when it comes to protection in that area. Because Anwenu is so big, that does limit his athleticism a little bit, but he can really thrive in a power scheme, and that's how I look for the Patriots to utilize him.

Right now, I would say he projects best as a right guard. That's where he primarily lined up when he was at Michigan. However, he did start a game at left guard in 2017, so he does have the versatility to play both sides. He's also a very durable lineman. He started all 26 games for the Wolverines over the last two years, and he played 12 games in a backup role as a sophomore in 2017. Largely in part, this is a guy that can stay healthy and stay on the field. I really liked this pick, and I believe that the Patriots got a pretty good one here.

And the Pats stayed on the offensive line and drafted another guard with the 195th selection out of Wake Forest, Justin Heron. And again, Heron is a very durable lineman. He started for Wake Forest across four seasons, did suffer an ACL tear in 2018, but he bounced back pretty nicely. When he's in pass protection, he's known to be able to frame the rushers very well. He keeps them at the end of his reach, which means that, like Onwenu, he's not often beat.

Despite the fact that he's most comfortable when he stays square, he does have a decent amount of quickness in his feet, and he could slot into the Patriots' offensive line as a backup that really could use some development. He does offer some versatility. I think he would be best at the guard position rather than tackle, but only time will tell in terms of how the Patriots intend to use him. And to close out the sixth round with the 204th selection in the 2020 NFL Draft, Patriots selected Cash Malloway, linebacker out of the University of Wyoming. And in what was really a microcosm for the entire draft for the New England Patriots, Malloway is an athletic, durable, and fast linebacker.

Last season in 2019, started all 13 contests as a senior, compiled 61 tackles, 7 for a loss, and 2 interceptions. Malloway has a quick starting step. He maintains his agility when moving laterally. However, he might struggle in this New England defense when attempting to leverage gaps and take on blockers. In order to succeed here, he's going to need to develop consistent recognition of play development.

In other words, folks, he has to become more aware of what's going on when it's going on. If the Patriots are hoping that he's only going to be an asset at the linebacker position, then Malouet might end up being a long shot to secure a roster spot. However, he does have some special team prowess and that speed and short area movement skills may end up making him a special team's asset. And last but certainly not least, with the 230th selection and their final selection in the 2020 NFL Draft, the New England Patriots selected center Dustin Woodard out of the University of Memphis. And again, Woodard provides both versatility and durability. Over the course of his collegiate career, he saw action in 54 games, started in 52 of them. He holds the Memphis records for most starts by an offensive lineman and the school record for most games played by an offensive

lineman. On the field, he can play pretty much any position along the interior offensive line. He's a natural center, but he did play left guard both in 2016 and 2017, moved to right guard for 2018, and ended up being the center in 2019. So again, a solid depth piece across the line. And to me, folks, that word depth really personifies the Patriots draft in a nutshell. Each member of this draft class definitely fills a need,

there's no question about it. Each of these acquisitions makes them deeper and younger at the same time. To me, it's really hard to argue with a draft hall that fills your needs with players that prototypically fit your system. But what did you think? Our listeners here on Locked On Patriots.

Well, over the weekend, you may recall that I asked all of you out there to put on your professor cap and submit your report cards for the New England Patriots 2020 draft hall. And I received some interesting responses, and some of which even had language that I can't share with you here on Locked On Patriots. And while most of the grades that I saw this weekend tend to hover around the lower echelon, some of them even below passing, believe it or not, folks, but I did want to take a moment to share the highest grade I received among your report cards, and that comes from a frequent and favorite contributor here on Locked On Patriots, and that's Claire L. Cooper at Klazzy Claire,

or as she is more popularly known as Miss Hey Girl. And Claire graded the Patriots report card as a B+, stating, quote, that she wasn't ecstatic but not disappointed by the draft picks. She thought it was great that they double-dipped at the positions, especially tight end, and that's a position that Claire has become somewhat of an expert on the last few weeks, trying to scout some replacements for the departed Rob Gronkowski, and she acknowledged that she read some positive things both on Devin Asiasi and on Dalton Keene,

and that she was looking forward to seeing what each member of the draft class can bring to the table and how they will fit in here in New England this year and beyond. And Claire, your draft grade was actually higher than mine, believe it or not, but I'm much more inclined to agree with you here than I am for those that graded this Patriots draft on the lower echelon. Again, it's a matter of opinion, but I like how you were able to see that they had needs, went for them, addressed them, and did what they believed was best for the football team. So again, I appreciate the report card.

I appreciate your positivity. Most of all, I thank you for being a valued contributor here on the Locked On Patriots podcast. Oh yeah, and of course, hey girl. But perhaps the most in-depth report card that I received over the weekend went to a gentleman who again has been one of the all-stars when it comes to interactive segments here on the Locked On Patriots podcast. And that's my man, Andrew Carraway at Carraway6.

Overall, folks, Andrew graded this Patriots draft class with a C. And while I went a little bit higher, I think this is a fair assessment. And again, a lot of how Andrew graded the Patriots was not necessarily the players that they drafted, but the way the draft capital was used. For example, with Kyle Duggar, he believes that if the Patriots did want to go in the safety direction, they were better off either taking a guy like Grant Delpit or Antoine Winfield Jr., or if Duggar was indeed the guy that they wanted, and earlier here today I did say he was the guy that they wanted, that they could have traded back 10-15 spots and that he still would have been there.

I definitely don't disagree with your logic here, Andrew. In fact, if I'm being honest, when the Patriots made this pick, I was thinking mostly the same things. But keep in mind, a tidbit came out a little bit last week before the draft stating that a lot of GMs and a lot of player personnel executives that work for NFL teams were indicating that many of the mock drafts and the draft projections that were out there were a little bit inaccurate, maybe more inaccurate than we've seen in the last few years. Patriots simply didn't believe that Kyle Duggar would have been available to them if they traded back 15 spots. Ultimately,

we'll never know, and I appreciate your opinion. Not saying yours is any more valid or mine is any more valid than yours. I will say that I like the argument, and I do think you make a good one. And Andrew went on to express some of the same sentiments with picks like Devin Asiasi and Dalton Keene at tight end. He really didn't like the pick at number 159 of Justin Rohrwasser, stating that this was a player that definitely would have been around in the much later rounds, even possibly going undrafted. I can't necessarily say I disagree with you there, but obviously he was a guy that the Patriots had within their sights and chose that number 159 was the area they needed to

draft him. He also wasn't a particularly big fan of Cash Malaway, stating that the Patriots seemed to be overloaded at special teamers. That may end up being the case. We will see how the roster building plays out. But don't misconstrue here, folks. Andrew wasn't all negative. There were several picks that he thought were very solid.

Joshua Uche was one that he was particularly impressed with. Anthony Jennings, he thought, was a solid pick from a value standpoint. Also was pretty impressed by a couple of day two selections. Michael Onwenu, he thought, was a solid choice. Justin Heron and also Dustin Woodard, he thought were good, solid third-day flyers. And at the end of the day, thought C was a solid grade for the New England Patriots. Again, Andrew, I think you make some great assessments here. My overall draft grade for the Patriots was a B in this case. I'm more of a fan of the Duggar

pick than you were. I think some of your other assessments were pretty much spot on. But at the end of the day, Andrew, as Bill Belichick likes to say, it is what it is. We're on to 2020, and this is the draft class that the Patriots will be taking with them as they enter the 2020 season. But it's one thing to put the players on the field. How will the Patriots be able to pay all these players? Well, folks, you know here on Locked On Patriots, when we have any salary cap questions, we go to the master, the great and powerful Pats Cap himself. Miguel Benzon will join me right here on the Locked On Patriots podcast tomorrow on Tuesday, and we will break down anything and everything related to the Patriots salary cap situation,

including the draftees that we talked about today, some of the undrafted free agents, and also some of those under-the-radar veteran free agent signings that might still be had out there for your New England Patriots. So if you are like me and you can't wait to absorb Miguel's wisdom and counsel, be sure to subscribe to Locked On Patriots on Apple Podcasts, follow us on Spotify, and make sure not to miss an episode. And don't forget, you can always listen to Locked On Patriots right on your very own smart device. Simply ask it to play the latest listen to Locked On Patriots right on your very own smart device.

Simply ask it to play the latest episode of Locked On Patriots. And if you've enjoyed today's episode, also tell your smart device to play the latest episode of Locked On NFL. Once again, I am Mike DeBate. I thank Professors Andrew and Claire for submitting their report cards for the Patriots 2020 draft hall. But most of all, I thank you so much for listening and for staying locked in to Locked On Patriots. Stay safe, stay well, and have a great day, everyone.