New England Patriots: Re-grading every draft pick of the last 5 years

Grading Patriots 2020 second-round pick: CB Kyle Dugger – A

Kyle Dugger was drafted as a cornerback, but the Patriots really found themselves a star strong safety. He had three touchdowns this season. That led the league for defensive players. The Patriots kept themselves in this season because of special teams and defensive touchdowns. Dugger was by far the best. The team now has to figure out a new contract for Dugger.

Grading Patriots 2020 second-round pick: LB Josh Uche – B-

Josh Uche has been really effective when he’s on the field. That’s been his trouble. Injuries have put him on the shelf basically every year. Uche needs to find a way to stay healthy so the Patriots can see what they have here.

Grading Patriots 2020 third-round pick: LB Anfernee Jennings – C

The Patriots took Anfernee Jennings in the third round of the draft. He missed his entire second season with injuries, but he returned this past year and played some. He had 1.5 sacks and two passes defended. He also added 26 tackles. It’s nothing to go home about, but he’s a contributor.

Grading Patriots 2020 third-round pick: TE Devin Asiasi – F

This was a weird draft class (like literally every other Patriots draft class). They chose back-to-back linebackers and then took back-to-back tight ends. Devin Asiasi was the first of the two tight ends. We could get into his stats, his injuries, and the total package, but all you need to know is the Patriots signed both Jonnu Smith and Hunter Henry in the very next offseason.

Grading Patriots 2020 third-round pick: TE Dalton Keene – F

Dalton Keene was somehow even worse than Asiasi. He has three career catches. He had some inklings of ability in his rookie season, but we never saw it actually on the field. Then, he missed the entire 2021 season with an injury. In 2022, he was waived by the Patriots and failed to stay on the practice squad for the Eagles or Broncos. We’ll see if he gives it one more go this offseason.

Grading Patriots 2020 fifth-round pick: K Justin Rohrwasser – F

How does one mess up a pick from the get go and continue flubbing it? The Patriots took a kicker in the fifth round, and it turned out he had a tattoo from a far-right group. He claimed not to understand the meaning of the tattoo, and to his credit, he had it removed at the end of that year. However, on the field, Justin Rohrwasser lost his job in his rookie season to Nick Folk. He never got that job back.

Grading Patriots 2020 sixth-round pick: G Michael Onwenu – B+

Michael Onwenu has shown a lot of promise in his three seasons with the Patriots. He played almost every offensive line position in his rookie season. In his second season, he was rewarded for his efforts with a starting guard spot. He struggled, and he was eventually benched. However, he was really, really good in 2022. It seems like the Patriots got themselves a starter out of the sixth round.

Grading Patriots 2020 sixth-round pick: T Justin Herron – D

Justin Herron was another player that followed Josh McDaniels to the Raiders. This time, the Patriots got a sixth-round pick in 2024, so that’s something. Herron has been injured basically his whole NFL career. We haven’t seen what he could possibly be because he can’t stay on the field.

Grading Patriots 2020 sixth-round pick: LB Cassh Maluia – C-

Great name, not so great draft pick. Cassh Maluia is a special teams player that the Patriots only let play for one season. He spent part of another year on the practice squad for the Tennessee Titans, but he was cut. Maluia wasn’t in the league in 2022.

Grading Patriots 2020 seventh-round pick: C Dustin Woodward – F

Dustin Woodward had just a bizarre journey. It’s hard to give the Patriots a failing grade for a seventh-round pick, but Woodward retired just weeks into his first training camp. Then, he unretired and failed to make the team in 2021. It seems like the Patriots could have done more due diligence on this to see how passionate he was about football.