FOXBOROUGH – The foundation of the Patriots dynasty was built through the NFL Draft.
From 2000 to 2013, Bill Belichick’s personnel department drafted several players who became foundational pieces for the Patriots six Super Bowl championships. From the greatest quarterback of all-time to current and future Patriots Hall-of-Famers, the Patriots had clear and obvious building blocks.
Those players included the likes of Tom Brady (2000), Richard Seymour (2001), Matt Light (2001), Deion Branch (2002), Asante Samuel (2003), Vince Wilfork (2016), Logan Mankins (2005), Jerod Mayo (2008), Matthew Slater (2008), Julian Edelman (2009), Sebastian Vollmer (2009), Devin McCourty (2010), Rob Gronkowski (2010), Nate Solder (2011), Chandler Jones (2012), Dont’a Hightower (2012) and Jamie Collins (2013).
Dating back to 2014, the Patriots success in the NFL Draft tailed off. From 2014-to-2019, no one the Patriots drafted in the first three rounds signed a second deal with New England. That’s left the Patriots lacking blue-chip prospects and foundational pieces.
That was noteworthy on Tuesday when the Patriots didn’t trade anyone from their 2020 draft class – safety Kyle Dugger, edge rusher Josh Uche and offensive lineman Michael Onwenu. All three players were good draft selections and all would be solid foundational pieces. Of course, the Patriots need to sign them to extensions to keep them in Foxborough for the long term.
The Patriots issue right now is that the team lacks true blue-chip prospects and core building blocks. The roster has a few standout veterans such as Matthew Judon, Ja’Whaun Bentley and David Andrews, but lack star power. That doesn’t mean the cupboard is completely bare.
Looking over the Patriots current roster, there are six players, signed beyond this season, who the Patriots could build around. Here’s a look:
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Christian Gonzalez, 21, cornerback
Gonzalez represents the Patriots best blue-chip prospect. The 2023 first-round pick looked like a draft steal for five games this season before landing on the season-ending injured reserve. An instant, Gonzalez covered the likes of A.J. Brown, Davonta Smith, Tyreek Hill, Garrett Wilson and CeeDee Lamb to start his NFL career. Gonzalez profiles as a legitimate No. 1 cornerback and has a higher ceiling than anyone on the Patriots roster. He has impressive size (6-foot-2) and elite athleticism for a cornerback. He might also be the only player on this current roster who we can guarantee will be in New England in five years (health permitting).
Demario Douglas, 23, receiver
It looks like the Patriots finally hit on a wide receiver. This sixth-round pick instantly stood out on the Patriots practice field this offseason. During those sessions, it was very clear that Douglas was the fastest player on the Patriots practice field. This season, the rookie has shown more ‘wiggle’ than anyone on offense in New England. Douglas is undersized but has the ability to stop on a dime and make defensive players miss. He profiles as a starting slot receiver. It remains to be seen if his production mirrors someone like Danny Amendola or Wes Welker, but either way, Douglas has impressive upside.
Christian Barmore, 24, defensive tackle
It’s taken three seasons, but Barmore looks like a force on the Patriots defensive line. Over the last three games, this defensive tackle has two sacks, two pass deflections and three tackles for loss. In Miami, the Dolphins were chipping Barmore to try and slow him down. That’s a big sign of respect for a defensive tackle. Barmore has dealt with a knee injury since last season and that’s why he played in 10 games in 2022. Coming into 2023, Barmore had 16 quarterback hits in his first two seasons. This year, he’s been even better and heads into this weekend second on the Patriots in sacks (three). He profiles as a game-wrecking defensive tackle.
Rhamondre Stevenson, 25, running back
Stevenson was the anchor of the Patriots offense a year ago. In 2022, he ran for 1,040 yards and finished with 69 receptions for 421 receiving yards. The Patriots wanted to lean on him again this season, but offensive line instability has negatively impacted the run game. Still, Stevenson spearheaded the Patriots comeback over the Buffalo Bills, leads the team in rushing (307 yards) and is second on the Patriots in receptions (25). The market for running backs isn’t great, but Stevenson is a player the Patriots should keep around considering his ability in the pass game will aid whoever is playing quarterback.
Keion White, 24, defensive line
At 6-foot-5, 290 pounds, White is one of the most intriguing prospects on the Patriots roster. The second-round pick has the size and athleticism to play on the edge at defensive end and also inside at defensive tackles. He entered college as a tight end before moving to defensive end, so White is raw. However, he’s coming off the best game of his career against Miami (three tackles, one for loss). White is so strong that he’s had little problem pushing offensive linemen backwards. He profiles as a starting three-down defensive lineman.
Marcus Jones, 25, returner
Patriots fans were robbed of one of the team’s most dynamic players when Jones went down with a season-ending injury. Last season, Jones showed he had the ability to impact the game on all three downs. The 25-year-old earned First Team All-Pro honors as a punt returner. He led the NFL in punt return yards (362), punt return average (12.5) and scored a game-winning return touchdown against the New York Jets. Jones also had two interceptions and caught four passes for 78 yards to go with a touchdown as a receiver. The hope is that he’ll help the Patriots in all three phases again next season.
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