Patriots NFL Draft Day 2 Breakdown: Two New Players, Three More Picks
BOSTON (CBS) -- After receiving a lot of praise for drafting Malcom Brown in the first round of the NFL draft, Bill Belichick probably won't be getting the same reaction for his picks in Rounds 2 and 3.
Not that Belichick really cares what anyone things, as long as he lands the players he wants.
The Patriots drafted two players on Friday night, also acquiring three more picks for Saturday by trading away their own third round selection. The trade is common practice for Belichick, so that should come as no surprise.
But the picks both appear to be reaches. While reaching for players in early rounds has also been common practice for Belichick, that doesn't help the fact it feels like the Patriots drafted a pair of Day 3 players on Day 2.
Will they pan out? Only time will tell, but both players seem to fit the Belichick mold.
Here's a quick rundown of what the Patriots did on Day 2 of the 2015 NFL Draft.
A Reach In The Second Round?
The Patriots had to wait until the very end of the second round, and when it finally came time for them to pick, they selected Stanford safety Jordan Richards.
The pick isn't very popular, as Richards didn't show up on most mock drafts until the sixth and seventh rounds. He's projected to be a backup safety (with Devin McCourty and Patrick Chung both locked up on extensions) and special teams contributor in New England. That doesn't necessarily scream "Second Round Material," but Richards does possess the high football IQ that Belichick loves.
It sounds like Richards was the quarterback of Stanford's defense since his sophomore year, when teammates started calling him "Coach Richards." It's not a nickname he was particularly fond of, but knowing everyone else's defensive assignment falls into the Belichick mold perfectly.
Not to mention, you won't see Richards taking a play off on special teams.
"It's something I take really seriously. If you want to play football, especially at this level, you better contribute somehow on special teams," said Richards. "I'm juiced and ready for it."
We'll see what he can do on the field, but the bottom line is the Pats got another safety for the depth chart, which they badly needed heading into the draft. Time will tell if they picked the right one.
Trade To Acquire More Picks
It wouldn't be a draft without Belichick pulling off a trade for more picks. He did just that by shipping the No. 96 pick to the Cleveland Browns, acquiring three more picks for Saturday afternoon.
The Patriots picked up picks No. 111 (fourth round), No. 147 (fifth round) and No. 202 (sixth round) in exchange for picks No. 96 and No. 219 (sixth round). The Patriots now have seven picks on Saturday, including a fifth rounder they didn't have when they draft started on Thursday.
Here's a rundown of New England's selections on Saturday:
4th Round -- No. 101 (second overall pick on Saturday)
4th Round -- No. 111 (from Cleveland)
4th Round -- No. 131
5th Round -- No. 147 (from Cleveland)
6th Round -- No. 178
6th Round -- No. 202 (from Cleveland)
7th Round -- No. 253
Making seven picks on Saturday would put the New England roster at 85, which would limit what they could do on the undrafted free agent market. Chances are they won't be making all of these picks.
Another Reach In Third Round?
The Patriots had to make a pick at No. 97 -- a compensatory pick for losing Aqib Talib to Denver in 2013 -- and drafted Oklahoma defensive lineman Geneo Grissom.
While Grissom is also a bit of a reach (projected to go in the sixth round in most mocks), he has an attribute that Belichick loves more than a big brain: Versatility.
The 6-foot-3, 262-pound Grissom can play all across the defensive line, and he also has experience at linebacker. If that isn't enough, he even worked out at the Combine as a tight end.
Grissom is seen as a man without a position in the NFL, but if there is anyone who can find a spot for him it's Bill Belichick. He's another wait-and-see type player, which makes the timing of his selection a bit frustration, but he could become a contributor on what's becoming a very young defensive line in New England.
