New England Patriots links 4/27/20 - Patriots 2020 draft class: Athletic, versatile, and unknown

TEAM TALK

• Paul Perillo says Belichick’s decision to not take a QB meant more that he didn’t feel any was worth taking, rather than anything about Jarrett Stidham.
• Mike Dussault highlights Bill Belichick wrapping up the 2020 NFL draft.
• Mike Dussault updates the reports of the Patriots undrafted rookie signings.
• Video Conference Call Transcript: Bill Belichick.

LOCAL LINKS

• Mike Reiss shares some quick-hit weekend thoughts: Bill Belichick’s approach in Patriots’ draft brings back 2001-type feel; Stidham among draft’s big winners; Top-rated TEs acquired; More.
• Ryan Hannable’s Sunday 7: Draft was telling towards how Patriots feel about certain players on roster; More.
• Steve Balestrieri (PatsFans) Patriots Sunday news; Post draft breakdown: Being an NFL fan on Day 1 of the draft is super exciting unless of course, you’re a fan of the Patriots: More.
• Matthew Geagan recaps everything the Patriots did at the 2020 NFL Draft.
• Jeff Howe (The Athletic) 22 things I learned about Jarrett Stidham and Patriots during NFL Draft. 1. Bill Belichick declared with his actions there wasn’t a quarterback in this draft within reasonable striking distance who was better than Stidham.
• Tom E. Curran gives the Patriots a slow clap for making the right move, not drafting competition for Jarrett Stidham.
• Mike Petraglia explains why Bill Belichick passed on quarterback & receiver in the draft. “We should know by now, Bill Belichick doesn’t swim unless the water is just right.”
• Phil Perry gives us his pick-by-pick takeaways from the Patriots draft. /Good read.
• Andrew Callahan talks about the Patriots reloading on defense in the second and third rounds of the draft.
• Zack Cox analyzes the Patriots Patriots’ 2020 draft class by the numbers to see what we can learn.
• Ryan Queen (LastWordOnSports) Patriots Draft Review: Highest ceiling, head-scratcher, the surprise; More.
• Karen Gregian says Bill Belichick delivers his kind of no-name Patriots’ draft class, going with small school and unknown players at positions of need.
• Karen Guregian wonders, with Bill Belichick’s Jekyll-and-Hyde exploits in second round, on which side will their top two picks land?
• Andrew Callahan says more than the picks they made, it was the prospects the Patriots sidestepped that revealed their priorities the later the draft wore on.
• David Latham (LastWordOnSports) How Patriots will use tight ends Devin Asiasi, Dalton Keene
• Ian Logue (PatsFans) Patriots address some key areas with their selections on Day 3.
• Evan Lazar grades the ten selections in the Patriots’ 2020 draft.
• Justin Leger has the final 2020 draft grades for every AFC team. Patriots: B.
• Karen Guregian gives us an updated look at the AFC East and how each team fared in the 2020 draft.
• Doug Kyed is keeping track of which undrafted free agents the Patriots reportedly are picking up, with some notes on each player.
• Andrew Callahan tries to project how the Pats draft picks will perform for the 2020 season
• Bill Speros warns that dog days may be in store for the Patriots
• Mike Reiss reports new kicker Justin Rohrwasser said a tattoo on his left arm does not represent militia group.
• Ryan Hannable offers 3 quick thoughts on Patriots fifth-round pick K Justin Rohrwasser.
• Mike Reiss notes Bill Belichick says not drafting a QB ‘wasn’t by design’.
• Logan Mullen finds UDFA QB Brian Lewerke was ‘impressive’ at NFL Combine.
• Doug Kyed reports Jarrett Stidham is one happy QB after learning the Patriots signed Will Hastings, one of his former Auburn WRs as an UDFA.
• Tom Keegan believes this draft class would have given Tom Brady nightmares.
• Michael Hurley announces that, finally, the ‘Jimmy Garoppolo Trade Tree’ is finished growing... at least he’s pretty sure.
• Adam London notes oft-troubled wideout Jeff Thomas calls being signed by the Patriots as an UDFA a ‘blessing and opportunity’, says he “can’t wait to get to work and produce for the best organization.”
• Robert Alvarez (PatsFans) Best of Social Media: A look back at the Patriots 2020 draft week.
• Jacob Camenker notes the Patriots released edge player Keionta Davis after the draft.
• Ryan Hannable relays Bill Belichick’s scouting report on his dog Nike.
• Ian Logue (PatsFans) Draft Musings: Additional non-Patriots thoughts on what went down Friday night.
• Zack Cox tells us how the Patriots plan to integrate their rookies amid the pandemic restrictions.
• Bob George (PatsFans) NFL finally got it right with the virtual draft this weekend.
• Jacob Camenker looks back in December of 2010 when the Patriots beat the Packers in an instant classic. Former Packers QB Matt Flynn “still has nightmares” about Dan Connolly’s 71-yard kickoff return.

NATIONAL NEWS

• Albert Breer (SI) Monday Morning QB: How the Bengals, Dolphins and Chargers vetted their new quarterbacks; Leftovers from draft weekend; More.
• Peter King (ProFootballTalk) FMIA: 2020 NFL draft, stripped of glitz and replaced by humanity, is a successful diversion amid pandemic; New England, it’s what they didn’t do; More.
• Mike Florio (ProFootballTalk) PFT Sunday Mailbag: “Belichick said not drafting a QB wasn’t ‘by design.’ Is that a big flashing light that says [Jarrett] Stidham isn’t the guy?” Not necessarily.
• NFL Nation (ESPN) 2020 NFL draft: Biggest post-draft questions for all 32 teams. Patriots: Is Jarrett Stidham the answer as Tom Brady’s replacement at QB?
• Danny Kelly (The Ringer) The 2020 NFL draft awards.
• Kevin Seifert (ESPN) 2020 NFL draft biggest takeaways: Surprises, lingering questions and lots of dogs.
• Analysis Team (Pro Football Focus) 2020 NFL Draft grades for all 32 teams. Patriots: B.
• Andy Benoit (SI) NFL Draft 2020 Grades: Analyzing all 32 teams’ picks. Patriots: C+
• Eric Edholm (Yahoo! Sports) Final 2020 NFL draft grades. Patriots: C+
• Vinnie Iyer (Sporting News) NFL draft grades 2020: Results & analysis for every pick in Rounds 1-3.
• Bill Bender (Sporting News) NFL Draft winners & losers 2020.
• Ben Pickman (SI) Patriots’ Belichick says not selecting a QB in draft ‘wasn’t by design’.
• Robert Mays (The Ringer) The five most revealing strategies of the 2020 NFL draft
• Mike Florio (ProFootballTalk) The Packers and Aaron Rodgers seem to be on a collision course for a divorce. /Hm... we were told the problem was Mike McCarthy.
• Vinnie Iyer (Sporting News) NFL power rankings: Patriots fall behind after 2020 draft. 19th.
• Dan Wetzel (Yahoo! Sports) Here’s hoping the 2020 NFL draft serves as a model for the future. Here’s guessing it won’t.
• Frank Schwab (Yahoo! Sports) NFL draft was the most-watched in history, with more than 55 million viewers over three days.
• Michael David Smith (ProFootballTalk) Friday’s broadcast had 8.2 million viewers, most-watched Day 2 of draft ever.
• Mike Florio (ProFootballTalk) TV viewership of Day Three of draft increases by 32 percent.
• The Ringer NFL Show (The Ringer) Who won the draft, biggest steal, best fit; More draft superlatives. (88 min.)