The Patriots Bolster Several Positions of Need on Day Three of the Draft

After going all-defense on days one and two of the draft, the Patriots stunned their fanbase by adding three new pieces to their interior offensive line and trading up for Maryland kicker Chad Ryland, despite several intriguing weapons and tackles still being available.

This sent fans into a bit of a frenzy while they waited for the 6th round, but New England bounced back by grabbing two potential steals in LSU wide receiver Kayshon Boutte and Liberty receiver Demario Douglas. Sandwiched between these rejuvenating picks was a long-term answer at punter in the draft’s consensus #1 punter, Michigan State’s Bryce Barringer.

The Patriots concluded their draft by further adding their special teams units, taking a standout specialist in Michigan State’s Ameer Speed at the bottom of the 6th round and a dynamic returner in Jackson State’s Isaiah Bolden in the 7th round.

Here’s a breakdown of New England’s day three additions and how they could fit in year one.

R4-107: C JAKE ANDREWS, TROY

Scouting Report

Height: 6’ 3’’   Weight: 305 lbs

+ Sturdily built with a low center of gravity, sufficient strength for the position, and great competitive toughness

+ Thrives on double teams and can execute different run blocks

– Small margin for error due to subpar athleticism and length

Patriots perspective: David Andrews is the only offensive holdover from the Patriots’ most recent championship teams, but he’s in the twilight of his career at 30 years old. He also missed multiple games with a concussion last season, which had a palpable impact on the field. Jake Andrews may not be an offensive pillar for five-plus years, but his selection implies New England likes the Troy product more than current third-string center Kody Russey.

R4-112: K CHAD RYLAND, MARYLAND

Scouting Report

Height: 6’0″  Weight: 190 lbs

+ Earned Second-team All-Big Ten Conference honors last season

+ Fairly reliable from 50+ yards

+ Good hangtime on kickoffs

– Technique consistency and placement need work

Patriots perspective: Nick Folk has been extremely reliable since signing with the Patriots, at times being their only competent scorer. Unfortunately, he’s nearing the end of his career and could retire as early as this offseason. Not only can Ryland kick the longer field goals that Folk has struggled with in recent seasons, but he’s got the experience in bad weather conditions New England value highly at the position.

R4-117: G SIDY SOW, EASTERN MICHIGAN

Scouting Report

Height: 6’ 5’’   Weight: 323 lbs

+ Earned First team All-MAC honors in each of the past two seasons

+ Great physical profile for the position and compliments power with an aggressive play-style

+ Excels in gap schemes, but is athletic enough to execute multiple concepts

– Older prospect at 25 years old

– Most refine pass pro technique

Patriots perspective: Top interior backup James Ferentz will be 34 years old when the season starts. He also proved to be a liability as a spot starter when Andrews missed games with a concussion. Sow is a better, more physical player who might be old for a rookie, but he should be an upgrade as interior depth with starting potential down the road.

R5-144: G ATONIO MAFI, UCLA

Scouting Report

Height: 6’3″   Weight: 338 lbs

+ Exceptionally powerful player who plays with tenacious physicality

+ Finishes blocks and relishes the chance to pancake defenders

+ Patient against line games

– Defenders can get into his body, which exacerbates issues with pad level

Patriots perspective: With starting right guard Mike Onwenu in a contract year, Mafi can be a solid developmental backup in his first season with the talent to start in 2024 or beyond under Klemm’s guidance.

R6-187: WR KAYSHON BOUTTE, LSU

Scouting Report

Height: 5’11”   Weight: 195 lbs

+ Dynamic receiver after the catch who can turn short targets into long scores

+ Inside-out versatility with an exceptional catch radius and body control

+ Route-running lacks consistent discipline

+ Six or more drops in 2020 and 2022

Patriots perspective: The Patriots made a big splash with their first skill position pick on offense, adding explosiveness to a unit that desperately needs it. Reading Boutte’s scouting reports will unearth a list of potential concerns, but the former Freshman All-American addressed his polarizing profile after being selected, saying he’s as motivated as ever. If New England’s structure brings out the best in the young receiver, this will be one of the steals of the draft.

R6-192: P BRYCE BARINGER, MICHIGAN STATE

Scouting Report

Height: 6’2″   Weight: 216 lbs

+ First Team All-American honoree and Ray Guy Award finalist

+ Powerful leg to flip field position

+ Holding experience

– Hang time and touch need improvement

Patriots perspective: Corliss Waitman has struggled to stick with an NFL team, including a 2021 stint in New England, so taking the draft’s consensus best punter was a wise move that will bring much-needed competition in camp.

R6-210: WR DEMARIO DOUGLAS, LIBERTY

Scouting Report

Height: 5’8″   Weight: 179 lbs

+ Explosive, twitchy receiver who uses route pacing to fool defenders

+ Sudden change of direction to separate and make defenders miss in space

+ Return value

– Has good bulk for his size, but is likely a slot-only receiver

– Goes up for contested catches, but doesn’t extend and is hindered by frame

Patriots perspective: Another dynamic weapon, Douglas will likely carve out a role as a returner and gadget guy early on. But the freshman All-American, who led Liberty in receiving yards each of the past two seasons, had a productive college career that implies he could further shake up the wide receiver competition in camp.

R6-214: DB AMEER SPEED, MICHIGAN STATE

Scouting Report

Height: 6’2″   Weight: 216 lbs

+ Excellent combination of size, length, and speed

+ Extensive special teams experience

– Was primarily a special teamer in college due to struggles on defense

Patriots perspective: Speed should bring just that and more to New England’s special teams units, which was one of the worst in Bill Belichick’s tenure last season. While he has the physical profile to be an intriguing option at corner, Speed lacks experience and will need a lot of refinement before seeing live defensive reps.

R7-245: DB/KR ISAIAH BOLDEN, JACKSON STATE

Scouting Report

Height: 6’2″   Weight: 201 lbs

+ Outstanding returner with great acceleration

+ Outstanding size and athleticism for corner and special teams duties

+ Size, length, and long speed to be a disruptive press corner

– Raw defender who needs to improve technique and recognition

– Jump in competition will likely keep him on special teams early on

Patriots perspective: Bolden brings explosive return ability to the kick return team, which hasn’t been an area of strength for the Patriots in quite some time. Like Speed, he has prototypical measurables and athleticism for an outside corner, and he has more experience in that role than Speed. If Bolden can develop into a reliable cornerback, he could be another late-round steal.