New England Patriots draft Sony Michel: Instant grade and analysis

The New England selected Sony Michel with the 31st-overall pick in the 2018 NFL Draft. Here’s all you need to know about Michael, including our grade.

Strengths

Most scouts seem to believe that Michel should be a highly productive NFL style back. He’s going to get exactly what’s blocked for him and doesn’t dance around too often. This might seem like a critique but it’s actually important to get those yards to keep the chains moving. Michel has enough acceleration to make some plays at the second level. He’s pretty stout in his build at just under six feet and around 215 pounds.

Being a two-year captain at a high level program like Georgia is a big compliment to Michel and his leadership abilities. Being well-liked isn’t a job requirement but it doesn’t hurt either. One of the attributes that could help him see the field in a hurry is his pass blocking ability. He can keep his quarterback upright which will help him see the field more often than just a two down back.

Weaknesses

There are some questions about how many yards Michel can generate other than what is blocked for him. He has the speed to take any run to the house. Can he be the bull in the china shop when the running lanes get tight? Michel has shown the tendency to lower his head if the blocking isn’t quite there and just fall forward.

Some worry about a potential fumble issue. There are questions about his receiving ability in some circles. Taking college stats to translate how a prospect will do in the NFL can sometimes be misleading. Still, he caught nine passes last season at Georgia. That doesn’t exactly scream great receiving running back.

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Grade

Grade: B+

Michel is going to be a dynamic player at the next level and should be an upgrade over Dion Lewis, who left in free agency for the Tennessee Titans. New England could have gone with Harold Landry, a local kid who would have been an upgrade at EDGE, but Michel makes sense.