NFL Draft 2022 tracker: Live blog and pick-by-pick analysis
The Patriots made the most surprising draft pick of the first round Thursday night, taking University of Tennessee-Chattanooga offensive lineman Cole Strange with the 29th pick. After trading down from pick 21 and getting extra third- and fourth-round picks in this draft, the Patriots prioritized the offensive line early in the draft.
It’s fair to say the pick even surprised some in the league. Speaking at their news conference after the first round, Rams coach Sean McVay and general manager Les Snead looked stunned to see Strange come off the board.
Sean McVay and Les Snead reacted to the Patriots' pick of Cole Strange at No. 29 overall.
"And we wasted our time watching him thinking he'd be at 104 maybe."
H/T @AndrewSiciliano | #NFLDraft pic.twitter.com/K9rgA4FqfN
— The Athletic (@TheAthletic) April 29, 2022
“How ’bout that? And we wasted time our time watching him thinking he’d be at 104, maybe!” McVay said with a laugh.
Draft grades: Sheil Kapadia weighs in on the picks
Big board best available: Who’s left from Dane Brugler’s Top 300?
Big board ranking: Strange was Brugler’s No. 73 player, and he had a third-round grade. The Patriots could have filled their need at cornerback by taking Clemson’s Andrew Booth Jr. (No. 26) or Washington’s Kyler Gordon (51). Michigan defensive back Daxton Hill (20) could have been a consideration as well.
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Introduction: Strange becomes the highest Chattanooga player ever drafted. A converted high school defensive lineman, Strange played all over the offensive line in college. He settled in as a left guard and got some work at center at the Senior Bowl. Toughness is a defining characteristic of his game.
Here’s Brugler’s scouting report of Strange: “A five-year starter at Chattanooga, Strange lined up primarily at left guard in offensive coordinator Joe Pizzo’s zone-based spread scheme. A 250-pound defensive end out of high school, he had no offensive line experience when he enrolled, but he dedicated himself to the transition and plays like a throwback with his bare hands (no gloves), single-bar lineman facemask and nasty attitude.
“Strange, the first Chattanooga player to be drafted in the top five rounds since Terrell Owens in 1996, commanded the NFL’s attention with his 2021 performance vs. Kentucky, and he again rose to the occasion at the Senior Bowl, showing his versatility at both center and guard. His hands and feet need to be on time or defenders will take advantage, which will drastically lower his margin for error vs. NFL power.
“Overall, Strange struggles to recover once defenders gain the upper hand, but he works hard to stay balanced with his quick feet, strong hands and competitive toughness. He will be ready to compete for an NFL starting job (guard or center) in Year 1.”
How he fits: Strange should be a perfect fit with the Patriots from a personality and play-style standpoint. He’s a nasty lineman with the smarts and versatility to play multiple positions. Of his 44 college starts, only three came against Power 5 opponents.
He spent six seasons in college and was an Academic All-Conference selection in all six of those years. Strange is at his best in the running game, in which he is constantly finishing his blocks. He’ll be a 24-year-old rookie, but the Patriots have shown they don’t mind drafting older players.
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Second guess? This will be an easy pick for people to second guess given the disparity between where draft analysts had Strange ranked and where he was picked. The Patriots also traded out of the No. 21 pick, with which they could have selected Washington cornerback Trent McDuffie or Florida cornerback Kaiir Elam. Georgia linebacker Quay Walker, Utah linebacker Devin Lloyd and Florida State pass rusher Jermaine Johnson were on the board at 21 as well.
Instead, the Patriots move back, collect an extra third- and fourth-round pick and end up taking a guard — their first Round 1 guard since Logan Mankins in 2005 — whom some consider a reach.
Rookie impact: Since Strange is a first-round pick, the expectation should be he starts immediately for the Patriots. Where he plays is the only question. There’s an open starting job at guard after the Patriots traded away Shaq Mason and let Ted Karras walk in free agency. Strange should step in, ideally at left guard, where he started 42 games in college. New England fills a need with this pick, but it is a need that the team created itself by trading Mason.
Depth-chart impact: This should solidify the Patriots’ offensive line. As it stands right now, Isaiah Wynn and Trent Brown would be the Week 1 starters at tackle. Strange and Michael Onwenu would be the most likely candidates to start at guard, with David Andrews occupying his spot at center.
Fast evaluation: The Patriots are going to take some heat for this pick, but that’s not something that has ever bothered Bill Belichick. There is plenty to like about Strange as a player and as a fit in New England. He clearly fills a dire need on the offensive line. It’s also difficult to say how much later the Patriots could have realistically drafted him.
Time will tell whether Strange was worth the pick, but people will be watching the cornerbacks and linebackers who came off the board at the end of the first round closely. Both spots were positions of need for the Patriots, and there were quality players available. Belichick also managed to pick up extra picks in the third and fourth rounds, so there’s plenty of work to be done with this class. But this was an unexpected start to the draft.
(Photo: Ray Seebeck / USA Today)
