The day after signing Benjamin Watson, the Patriots have wrapped up most of their draft class. The team announced the signing of four of their remaining picks today. After inking second round pick Joejuan Williams and two others yesterday, only first round receiver N’Keal Harry and third-rounders defensive end Chase Winovich and running back Damien Harris remain unsigned.
- 4-118: OL Hjalte Froholdt (Arkansas)
- 4-133: QB Jarrett Stidham (Auburn)
- 5-163: P Jake Bailey (Stanford)
- 7:252: CB Ken Webster (Ole Miss)
The Patriots’ drafting of Stidham of course raised some eyebrows because of the position he plays. Stidham had a down year at Auburn in 2018, but many observers chalked that up more to the poor offense he was playing in rather than anything he was doing wrong. After his 2017 season the former Baylor transfer was thought of as a potential Day 2 pick, but his stock took a bit of a tumble last year. 
He’ll now get the chance to develop behind Tom Brady, and could potentially position himself as the heir apparent if he shows well. The Patriots have drafted a handful of quarterbacks in recent years, as early as the second round with Jimmy Garoppolo back in 2014. They drafted Jacoby Brissett in the third round in 2016, and both quarterbacks ended up getting traded.
Bailey was a bit of a surprising pick in the fifth round because the Patriots already had an established punter. Ryan Allen has been the team’s punter since 2013, and he just recently re-signed with the team in March. The drafting of Bailey so early would seem to suggest they aren’t entirely sold on Allen.
Froholdt is a Denmark native who has a lot of experience at both guard and center. New England has invested heavily at center this offseason, and Froholdt could be a nice developmental piece.
Every time NE drafts a QB writers believe that guy to be the “heir apparent.” Jimmy G, Brissett, etc
Not true. No one thought the LSU QB they picked last year was anything more than a potential backup.
100% not true, no one said that about several QBs drafted before Jimmy G. Not one person ever said that about Brissett and like Stug stated no one said it about Gatling.
So people said it about Jimmy G and are mentioning Stidham as a potential replacement which makes 2 QBs in 20 years.
Not to mention Stidham has drafted to a team with a QB in his 40s that’s an easy narrative to write about in a time period where not much is happening in NFL and happens every year on several teams.
Nice try though next time use a brain before you post.
The guys name is Etling and you’re insulting people about using their brain
Lol
I believe that just compounded his point. Etling isn’t that memorable, much less ever expected to be Tom’s replacement
Agreed
Agreed, it all started with Ryan Mallett almost 10 years ago.
Not to mention they’ve drafted one qb since jimmy g and brissett
*two