It is never a good sign when the TV networks don’t have any highlights ready to show for your first-round pick. That was the case on Thursday night when the New England Patriots drafted Chattanooga guard Cole Strange with the No. 29 overall pick.
The analysts nor the fan base had a clue what just happened.
ESPN draft analyst Mel Kiper Jr. dubbed the pick one of his four “Head-scratching moves from Round 1.”
“This was a huge reach on my board,” Kiper wrote. “I thought Strange might sneak into Round 2, but he’s not a first-round talent. I know New England has a hole at guard, but will Strange even start immediately? Strange made 44 starts in college and plays with good technique, but this is high for a prospect who is No. 69 on my Big Board.”
Kiper gave the Patriots his lowest score of any NFL team.
“Are we allowed to question a draft from Bill Belichick?” asked Kiper. “The Patriots haven’t exactly lit it up over the past few Aprils, though the Mac Jones pick from 2021 appears to be a hit. I just don’t think they got value with their first two picks this year. Cole Strange (29) is a nice guard, but I didn’t see a first-round pick on tape. He likely would have been on the board when the Pats picked in the middle of Round 2. I know a hole opened up at guard when Shaq Mason was traded to the Bucs, but value matters in the draft and Strange needs to play at a Pro Bowl level for years to come to justify this selection.”
Kiper was not alone in criticizing the Patriots’ pick. NFL.com’s Chad Reuter gave the pick a “D” in his Round 1 draft grades.
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Nate Davis (USA TODAY): D+
Pro Football Focus: D
Ryan Gosling (Pro Football Network): C
Vinnie Iyer (Sporting News): C-
Luke Easterling (Draft Wire): D-
