The New England Patriots didn't wait around to make a move on the second day of the NFL Draft to start the fourth round. The Patriots traded the fourth round pick they got from the Pittsburgh Steelers and their fifth round pick to the San Diego Chargers for the first overall pick of the fourth round (96th overall). The Patriots selected South Florida offensive tackle Kenyatta Jones. Jones is 6'3 and helped South Florida go 7-4 under Jim Leavitt. In terms of the Patriots, this is definitely a depth pick because you never know who might get hurt. Adrian Klemm got hurt last year so having Jones as insurance wouldn't hurt.
The Patriots originally owned the 101st overall pick but that was famously sent to the New York Jets as compensation for hiring Bill Belichick away from the Jets. The Jets took cornerback Jamie Henderson out of Georgia, another teammate of Richard Seymour. With the 112th pick they got from the Patriots, the San Diego Chargers took Nebraska University linebacker Carlos Polk. Finally, with the pick they got in the trade with the Minnesota Vikings, the Patriots took Brock Williams' teammate, tight end Jabari Holloway. Holloway had a hell of a sophomore season as he caught 15 balls for 262 yards and 2 TDS but tapered off his junior and senior seasons. The Patriots are relying on Rod Rutledge and Jermaine Wiggins this season at the TE position but Belichick must think that Holloway can help out.
The Chargers used their 5th round pick they got from the Patriots on USC linebacker Zeke Moreno. The Jets traded the 5th round pick they got to the Patriots to Detroit and the Lions drafted quarterback Mike McMahon from Rutgers. The Patriots eventually drafted with the 163rd overall pick Washington University safety/linebacker Hakim Akbar. He was first team All-American and first team All-PAC 10 his Junior year with 97 tackles and 2 picks. Belichick is always looking for special teamers and he fits the bill perfectly.
The Patriots traded their sixth round pick, 170th overall to the Jacksonville Jaguars for a 5th round pick in next year's draft. With the 6th round pick they got from the Detroit Lions, the Patriots chose South Carolina State tight end Arther Love. He had 20 receptions for 342 yards and 2 TDs for the Bulldogs. Just like Jabari Holloway, he's strictly a depth piece hoping to turn into something more.
With their other pick in the sixth round, 200th overall, the Patriots selected Miami University cornerback Leonard Myers. The powerhouse Hurricanes went 11-1 that year with Myers patrolling the defensive backfield. They won the Sugar Bowl over Florida so Myers definitely has big game experience. With the Patriots boasting Ty Law at the corner slot, Myers can definitely try to impress camp to win the other side job.
With the seventh round pick they got from New England, the Jets took Iowa State defensive tackle James Reed 206th overall. With the pick they got from the Detroit Lions in the seventh round, the Patriots selected BYU kicker Owen Pochman. Owen didn't have the most accurate leg with the cougars but he could kick it a mile. Patriots kicker Adam Vinatieri is the opposite as he's very accurate but with a limited range. A little competition never hurt anyone so let's see how this plays out come training camp
With their final pick in the seventh round, the Patriots selected Michigan State linebacker TJ Turner. Turner famously made the 4th and 1 stop on Number 1 ranked Ohio State back in 1998 to preserve a Michigan State victory. He also scored a pick six on Purdue quarterback Drew Brees the same year. Seventh round picks aren't locks to make the roster but clutch plays against big time talent can help. Let's see how he looks at mini-camp.
239th overall pick - TJ Turner
That's seven draft picks taken on day three and the majority of them are going to be depth pieces. Head coach Bill Belichick has stressed the importance of practice squaders and end of the bench players because every season is going to have injuries. If something happens to Matt Light, there's Kenyatta Jones or vice versa. If Ty Law goes down, Leonard Myers has to step up. Hopefully it doesn't come to that but there's not much to complain about this late in the draft. We'll see how this all plays out come training camp.
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