Perkins could be sleeper of draft class
Adams has his last draft
If there’s a sleeper pick in the Patriots’ 2021 draft class, his name is Ronnie Perkins.
The Oklahoma pass rusher was the widely-viewed best player available in Friday night’s third round at 96th overall, where he fell to the Patriots after reportedly failing a drug test in college. Perkins was highly productive as three-year college starter, averaging one tackle for loss per game. The 6-foot-3, 253pounder should fit nicely in New England as an edge defender capable of playing in odd and event fronts.
He was consistently disruptive, recording 11.5 sacks and 24 TFLs over the last two college seasons. Perkins was also suspended for six games, starting with a College Football Playoff semifinal in Jan. 2020, then the first five kickoffs of the 2020 regular season. Perkins addressed his suspension during a conference call with reporters after getting drafted.
“Just going through some offthe-field things that I really had to get figured out as a person,” Perkins said.
Upon returning in October, he posted 5.5 sacks in six games and went on to earn All-Big 12 second-team honors. Perkins carries impressive strength in his upper body, which he showcased by knocking out 25 reps of 225 pounds on the bench press at his Pro Day. He also ran a 4.71 in the 40-yard dash and leapt 32 inches in the vertical jump.
Perkins is regarded as more of
a versatile power player than a twitchy, athletic pass rusher.
“If you watch him play, you get a number of opportunities to evaluate his playing strengths, especially against bigger people,” Pats coach Bill Belichick said. His toughness, his effort, his instinctiveness, he’s a versatile player that is productive in the running game. He’s been productive in the passing game.
“He is instinctive on plays like screens and reverses and things like that, he has a pretty good just nose for the ball and he’s a tough player. He’s tough and he’s physical. He has a good playing style.”
The 21-year-old shared he met with Pats outside linebackers coach Steve Belichick during the draft process, and he’s eager to learn under Bill Belichick. According to Perkins, the Patriots wanted to know mostly about his background and personality during pre-draft interviews. His college coaches have said he was a leader on defense.
The St. Louis native first burst onto the college scene a freshman AllAmerican in 2018, when he finished with five sacks and started the second half of the Sooners’ season. The following year, he started all 13 games as a sophomore before getting suspended. Perkins curiously finished with just one pass breakup for his career.
He was seen as a top-50 prospect by prominent media evaluators, including those at Pro Football Focus and former Eagles and Ravens scout Daniel Jeremiah, now of NFL Media.
In New England, Perkins will join Matthew Judon, Kyle Van Noy, Chase Winovich, Josh Uche, Anfernee Jennings, Tashawn Bower and Rashod Berry on the edge.
Adams participates in last draft
In his post-draft press
conference, Bill Belichick dropped a small bombshell.
During a video call, he revealed director of football research Ernie Adams had finished his last draft with the team.
Belichick wouldn’t say whether Adams is retiring from all of his responsibilities with the organization. The two first met as classmates at Phillips Academy in Andover in 1970 and have remained friends ever since.
“I just wanted to give an opportunity here as we close out this draft to thank Ernie for all he’s done and recognize all that he’s done, so that’s really what it is,” Belichick said. “I think Ernie’s contributions are, you know, historic and, again, they traverse several decades and so many different areas, I mean, in every corner of the room and then some. He’s literally been involved in every single aspect of the football program at every level that you could possibly be involved in, and he’s done an outstanding job in all of them.
“Not all coaches have the kind of involvement that Ernie’s had in the draft process throughout his career, and his knowledge, experience and decisions and organization and being part of the process, and the way he set it up and taught it to really all the people that have come through here, from Scott (Pioli) and Nick (Caserio), to all the scouts and so forth. Really, he’s had a big, big hand in it.”
Adams has been a mysterious figure in New England, preferring to operate
behind the scenes. But to those inside the organization, his work is work is both legendary and vital. Adams has held his director of football research title since Belichick took over in 2000, after followed him from Belichick’s time as the Browns head coach during the 1990s. He also served as an adminstrative assistant with the Patriots in 1975.
Adams’ known jobs ranged from scouting opponents to statistical analysis. He’s had a direct line to Belichick’s headset every season on game days, advising him whether to challenge plays or go for it on fourth downs.
Patricia, Groh announce picks
Two prominent members of the Patriots’ remade front office announced Day 3 picks on Saturday.
Matt Patricia, formerly the Lions head coach and Pats defensive coordinator, announced the team’s fifth-round selection of Michigan linebacker Cameron McGrone. Patricia has been filling several different roles for the team since returning to the franchise in January. National scout Matt Groh later announced the Patriots were drafting Missouri safety Joshuah Bledsoe in the sixth round. Groh is a member of Belichick’s three-person inner personnel circle — along with personnel chief Dave Ziegler and consultant Eliot Wolf — which has helped replaced longtime director of player personnel Nick Caserio, who left to lead the Houston Texans this offseason.