Draft failures are glaring, but Belichick deserves some blame
FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — Remember that image of Bill Belichick’s dog, Nike, sitting at a computer in 2020 and looking as if he was running the Patriots’ draft?
Doesn’t seem so cute right now.
Among the Patriots’ roster cuts in the past week were both tight ends drafted in the third round in 2020 — Devin Asiasi and Dalton Keene, who were supposed to be the 2.0 version of Rob Gronkowski and Aaron Hernandez.
Those expectations weren’t realistic, but the Patriots certainly expected better production.
Asiasi was active for just 10 games in two seasons and finished with two catches for 39 yards and a touchdown. Keene had three catches for 16 yards as he constantly battled injuries.
But it doesn’t seem fair to simply label Asiasi and Keene as draft busts. That puts too much blame on the players and on the front office, and not enough on another area that deserves more scrutiny: Belichick and the coaching staff.
Specifically, their ability to develop young players. Because it just isn’t happening.
That’s why the Patriots had to spend a then-record $175 million guaranteed in free agency in 2021. They didn’t have any young talent ready to step into significant roles.
Last year’s draft, with quarterback Mac Jones, defensive tackle Christian Barmore and running back Rhamondre Stevenson, offers promise. Then again, Jones is still unproven, Barmore doesn’t impact the stat sheet much and Stevenson plays the easiest position to draft in the NFL.
The NFL draft isn’t just about identifying the right players. It’s also about developing them, and the Patriots don’t seem to be doing much of that. Their coaching staff, a model of stability for most of the 2010s, has been decimated since the Patriots won their last Super Bowl in 2018.
Belichick hasn’t developed young players, nor has he developed many young coaches. It forced him to bring back a couple of retreads in Matt Patricia and Joe Judge, and his staff is now filled almost exclusively by people beholden to him: his progeny (Steve and Brian Belichick), former players (Jerod Mayo, Troy Brown, Billy Yates) and coaches who have no other mentors in the NFL (Patricia, Judge, Nick Caley, Mike Pellegrino, Cam Achord). Most were not key parts of the Patriots dynasty from 2010-18.
Are we sure the Patriots’ slapdash coaching staff is putting players in the best position to succeed? Is Belichick too inflexible or giving up on players too quickly? Does Belichick know how to connect with today’s athletes, who are nearly 50 years younger? Are his coaches worthy of coaching at this level?