Why an insider is keeping his eye on Georgia players for Patriots’ top draft pick

Naturally, the defending nationwide school soccer champion has loads of high-end prospects within the ensuing NFL Draft.

However that isn’t the lone motive why the Monday Morning Quarterback’s Albert Breer is eyeing Georgia gamers for the Patriots early within the 2022 NFL Draft. On NBC Sports activities Boston’s “Early Version,” Breer defined why a relationship between one Patriots staffer and Georgia head coach Kirby Sensible may result in New England taking a Bulldog with its prime choose.

“I’d simply keep watch over the Georgia guys,” Breer stated. ” … I feel the connection generally there may be ignored between the Patriots and Georgia coach Kirby Sensible. Kirby Sensible, in fact, was Nick Saban’s defensive coordinator ceaselessly and ever and ever [at Alabama].

“And the relationships between Georgia and the Patriots don’t cease there, both. In actual fact, I can keep in mind a few years in the past Matt Patricia and Kirby Sensible obtained awfully shut as a result of they have been serving to one another in buying and selling info within the early phases of the pandemic.

“[Patricia’s] position final 12 months wasn’t not like the position that [former Patriots executive] Mike Lombardi had. When you keep in mind, Mike Lombardi introduced all these ex-Cleveland Browns over – Dion Lewis was one in every of them. Matt Patricia being in that position provides him a say in personnel. I do know he’s going to be doing extra teaching this 12 months, however once more, for higher or worse, Matt Patricia undoubtedly has a voice within the group. And now, I feel [he has a voice] on either side of the ball.

“We’ve seen how the Patriots up to now have valued their connections to varsity coaches. They’ve really leveraged this one, too. When you have a look at each of their first-round picks in 2018, they have been Georgia Bulldogs: Isaiah Wynn and Sony Michel. So, you have a look at the necessity to get sooner on protection within the front-seven, Georgia can assist you there.”

As Breer talked about, there’s definitely been loads of historical past between the Patriots and Patricia choosing gamers coached up by Sensible. Throughout Sensible’s eight-year tenure as Alabama’s defensive coordinator (2008-15), New England chosen 4 gamers from Sensible’s protection, together with Dont’a Hightower with one in every of its first-round picks in 2012.

That connection continued between the Patriots and Sensible went to Georiga in 2016, with the Patriots choosing Wynn and Michel in 2018. Nevertheless, they haven’t taken a Bulldog since then. Throughout Patricia’s three years in Detroit, the Lions chosen two Georgia gamers, together with working again D’Andre Swift with an early second-round choose within the 2020 draft.

It’s very affordable to suppose that the Patriots may tab one other one in every of Sensible’s gamers to come back as much as New England later in April. Following a season wherein it had among the finest defenses within the historical past of school soccer, Georgia provides loads of premier defensive prospects going into the 2022 NFL Draft – particularly at positions of want for the Patriots. Linebacker Nakobe Dean is considered by specialists as one of many prime two linebackers within the draft and a number of mock drafts have him going to the Patriots at No. 21. Fellow Georgia linebackers Quay Walker and Channing Tindall may very well be Day 2 (rounds 2-3) choices for New England.

If the Patriots wish to bolster their defensive position with their first-round choose, the Bulldogs additionally supply a number of choices there, too. Defensive finish Travon Walker doubtless received’t be attainable as he may go No. 1 general, however defensive tackles Jordan Davis and Devonte Wyatt are considered as mid-to-late first-round picks. Davis grew to become an web sensation over the Draft Mix when he ran a 4.78 40-yard sprint, which is extremely spectacular for somebody who weighs 341 kilos.

Within the secondary, which is arguably the Patriots’ largest want, Georgia doesn’t supply as many top-end prospects. Security Lewis Cine is projected to both go on the finish of the primary spherical or early within the second, whereas nook Derion Kendrick isn’t projected to be chosen till the center rounds of the draft.

Georgia additionally provides a number of prospects on the offensive aspect of the ball that might find yourself in New England, reminiscent of extensive receiver George Pickens. The massive-bodied receiver (6-foot-3, 200 kilos) has been projected to go as excessive as late within the first spherical, however many evaluators view Pickens as a second-round choose after he missed a lot of the 2021 season because of a torn ACL.