Is Indiana’s Jason Spriggs the answer to New England’s offensive line woes?

The New England Patriots went into the 2015 season as defending Super Bowl Champions. Expectations were high for the 2016 team despite losing some key players on defense like Darelle Revis, Brandon Browner and Vince Wilfork. They would not be able to win back to back titles falling to the Denver Broncos by three points in the AFC championship. They did finish 12-4 and had some dominant stretches in the season, but injuries and a porous offensive line were their undoing in the playoffs.

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2015 Draft Picks 

Round 1, Pick 32 – DT Malcolm Brown (Texas)
Round 2, Pick 64 – SS Jordan Richards (Stanford)
Round 3, Pick 97 – DE Geneo Grissom (Oklahoma)
Round 3, Pick 101 – DE Trey Flowers (Arkansas)
Round 4, Pick 111 – G Tre’ Jackson (Florida State)
Round 4, Pick 131 – G Shaq Mason (Georgia Tech)
Round 5, Pick 166 – LS Joe Cardona (Navy)
Round 6, Pick 178 – LB Matthew Wells (Mississippi State)
Round 6, Pick 202 – TE AJ Derby (Arkansas)
Round 7, Pick 247 – CB Darryl Roberts (Marshall)
Round 7, Pick 253 – LB Xzavier Dickson (Alabama)

The Patriots initial draft grades directly after the 2015 NFL draft were not very positive. Most draft experts felt the Patriots reached with most of their picks especially second-rounder Jordan Richards and third rounder Geneo Grissom and passed over some talent at Wide Reciever, a position they had a strong need at, like Tyler Lockett, Jamison Crowder, Stefon Diggs and Dorial Green-Beckham. And with the Patriots losing their starting cornerbacks in free agency, fans and experts were thinking the Patriots would address the need in the draft which never happened. But their top pick in the draft, Malcolm Brown showed why he deserved to be drafted in the first round and played strong at defensive tackle. While the Patriots did have offensive line problems in 2015, it was not due to the players picked up in the draft. Fourth round picks Tre’ Jackson and Shaq Mason had strong rookie seasons and should be important keys to the Patriots line for years to come. And drafting a long snapper in the fifth round from Navy got the critics talking, but Joe Cardona had an exceptional season and should be the long snapper for years to come for New England. While overall the Patriots passed over some players who could have helped strengthened some weak areas, they did grab some guys who should give the team long-term success.

2016 Draft Picks

The Patriots lost their first round pick in 2016 NFL draft. It’s the price New England was forced to pay for Deflategate. So now their first pick will be the 60th pick of the draft. They also have recently gained pick 61 in the second round in a trade to Arizona Cardinals for Chandler Jones. The Patriots also received OL Jonathon Cooper in the deal. The Patriots have been awarded four compensatory picks that they received for losing free agents last season.

Round 2, Pick 60
Round 2, Pick 61
Round 3, Pick 91
Round 3, Pick 96
Round 6, Pick 196
Round 6, Pick 204
Round 6, Pick 214
Round 6, Pick 221
Round 7, Pick 243
Round 7, Pick 250

Top Draft Needs

Offensive Line
It would widely be agreed that the downfall of the 2015 New England Patriots was the play of the offensive line. It cost offensive line coach Dave DeGuglielmo his job. Part of the issue was having some young players like draft picks Jackson and Mason in the starting lineup as well as rookie free agent Dave Andrews. Injuries cost them their best player on the line, Nate Solder, who missed a good part of the season. If they can get everyone healthy, they should be a solid group but will still need to add depth in the draft.

Potential Fit
Jason Spriggs (T – Indiana)
Joe Haeg (T – North Dakota State)
Germain Ifedi (T – Texas A&M)

Wide Receiver
The Patriots are strong at wide receiver when it comes to the slot. Tom Brady will have plenty of options for the short pass with Julian Edelman, Danny Amendola and newly signed Chris Hogan lined up. But the Patriots do not have an answer for a receiver, who can go deep. They just signed Nate Washington but he is not a long term option and holdover Aaron Dobson has yet to stay healthy through a whole season. The Patriots should address the need for a Wide Receiver with speed in the draft.

Potential Fit
Michael Thomas (WR – Ohio State)
Laquon Treadwell (WR – Ole Miss)
Rashard Higgins (WR – Colorado State)

Cornerback
This was a major need for the Patriots last year after losing their Super Bowl starting cornerbacks Revis and Browner. But the need did not turn out to be that large as the Patriots found solid replacements in Malcolm Butler and Logan Ryan. Both Butler and Ryan will be back this year but they will also be hitting free agency soon and will demand big money. The Patriots could use some depth to help in case they lose one of their promising cornerbacks. Plus it is a position that you can never be to deep in.

Potential Fit
Cyrus Jones (CB – Alabama)
Kendall Fuller (CB – Virginia Tech)
Morgan Burns (CB – Kansas State)

Late-Round Flier
Keenan Reynolds played QB for Navy but is entering the NFL draft as an RB. He has been heavily scouted by the Patriots and was even visited by Bill Belichick. The Patriots have drafted a QB before in Edelman and were able to convert him into an outstanding WR in the pros. This could be another project for the Patriots and it would not be a surprise to see them take a flier in the later rounds on Reynolds.

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John Aubin is a correspondent at FantasyPros. To read more from John, check out his archive or follow him on Twitter @johnaub44.