Monday, May 16, 2022

New England Patriots Post-Draft NFL Power Rankings Roundup

Throughout the 2022 NFL season, we will compile a consensus NFL Power Rankings that averages the rankings of all 32 NFL teams.

Here is where the New England Patriots rank in terms of average, best and worst:

  • Average ranking: 16 (17th)
  • Best ranking: 13 (USA Today)
  • Worst ranking: 18 (CBS Sports)

Below you will find a post-NFL Draft roundup for the Patriots in our consensus 2022 NFL Power Rankings.

ESPN -- Rank: 18

Player who benefited most from draft: LB Cameron McGrone

The Patriots didn't select a linebacker in what was viewed by many as a deep class, and the position was also considered a top team need. But Bill Belichick & Co. didn't seem to see it the same way. Director of player personnel Matt Groh said McGrone, a 2021 fifth-round pick who missed his rookie season recovering from a torn ACL sustained at Michigan, is like an "additional draft pick" this year. McGrone is a legitimate candidate to start as he vies for the role alongside Ja'Whaun Bentley, Mack Wilson and Raekwon McMillan, among others. -- Mike Reiss

NFL.com -- Rank: 15

The Patriots' first-round selection of Chattanooga guard Cole Strange was deemed a significant reach by the draft community, but let's not act surprised when Strange is anchoring the interior of the New England line in 2030. Yes, we still respect the football acumen of The Hooded One. That said, the Pats feel shorthanded in the AFC's arms race. Trade acquisition DeVante Parker was a nice weapon to add to an underwhelming wide receiver room, but we would've liked to see the Pats get aggressive and land one of the Big Six wideouts that came off the board in the first round in Vegas.

CBS Sports -- Rank: 17

They've had a very ho-hum offseason, but that's been Bill Belichick for most of his career. Only now we have to see if it can work with Mac Jones like it did with Tom Brady in the past.

USA Today -- Rank: 17

How best to sum up their "Strange" draft? A team that can't develop early round receivers took one in Round 2 from a school -- Baylor -- that doesn't produce NFL-caliber receivers.

The Athletic -- Rank: 18

Bill Belichick always finds a way to surprise us, and this year's "Only in New England" move came when he drafted guard Cole Strange in the first round. Other key offseason moves include trades for linebacker Mack Wilson (from the Browns, in exchange for Chase Winovich) and receiver DeVante Parker (from the Dolphins). Useful additions, sure, but did New England do enough in the rest of the offseason to close the gap on the Bills?

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