Patriots draft results tracker: Meet New England’s rookie class

The 2022 NFL Draft is in the books and for the last three days, the New England Patriots had an opportunity to improve their team. Entering the week with nine selections following a late-round pick swap with Houston on Monday, the team was well-positioned to address its needs and grab some talent to its current roster.

So, how did it do? Let’s find out and meet the players brought aboard.

1-29 OL Cole Strange, Chattanooga: Following a trade-down in the first round, the Patriots decided to make arguably the most surprising selection on Thursday night. Originally projected as a mid-round pick, Strange was New England’s choice at No. 29 and will get an immediate opportunity to earn a starting gig along the interior offensive line. An outstanding athlete with a pro-ready profile and plenty of experience, the 23-year-old will likely be a Day 1 starter at the currently vacant left guard position. | Report | Instant analysis | Profile | Injury analysis | Film room

2-50 WR Tyquan Thornton, Baylor: New England moved up the board in the second round in order to draft Thornton, and doing so allowed the team to add some serious speed to its offense. The Baylor product, after all, was the fastest offensive player in the draft and gives the team a legitimate field-stretcher at the wide receiver position. Thornton has some red flags in relation to his size, but he is an athletically intriguing high-upside prospect. | Report | Instant analysis | Profile | Injury analysis | Film room

3-85 CB Marcus Jones, Houston: The Patriots and Jones were engaged in some active contact during the pre-draft process, and that apparently gave the team confidence to bring him aboard. An exceptionally versatile player that is capable of making an immediate impact as a punt and kickoff returner, the 5-foot-8 Jones projects as a future starter at the slot cornerback position. | Report | Instant analysis | Profile | Injury analysis | Film room

4-121 CB Jack Jones, Arizona State: Coming off a turbulent college career, the Patriots used their first pick on Day 3 to bring Jones aboard. Spending the last three seasons at Arizona State, he appeared in 25 games and recorded six interceptions and 19 pass deflections, leading the Sun Devils in the latter category. Jones has a history of off-the-field issues but he is an able press-man cornerback who should compete for playing time on the boundary right away. | Report | Instant analysis | Profile | Injury analysis | Film room

4-127 RB Pierre Strong, South Dakota State: The second of New England’s fourth-round picks, Strong spent his entire college career at South Dakota State where he was a highly prolific player. Appearing in 48 games for the Jackrabbits, Strong carried the football 631 times for 4,527 yards and 40 touchdowns. Additionally, he caught 62 passes for 581 yards and three more scores. | Report | Instant analysis | Profile | Injury analysis | Film room

4-137 QB Bailey Zappe, Western Kentucky: Zappe is coming off an immensely productive career that included stops at Houston Baptist and at Western Kentucky. His lone season with the Hilltoppers in 2021 saw him re-write the FBS record books — he threw for 5,987 and had 62 touchdown passes — and enter the draft radar. The 6-foot-0, 215-pound QB projects a developmental backup in New England. | Report | Instant analysis | Profile | Injury analysis | Film room

6-183 RB Kevin Harris, South Carolina: A big-bodied running back at 6-foot-0, 221 pounds, Harris projects as an early-down between-the-tackles runner at the next level. He is coming off a productive two-year run as the Gamecocks’ RB1, having carried the football 337 times for 1,619 yards and 19 touchdowns. | Report | Instant analysis | Profile | Injury analysis | Film room

6-200 DT Sam Roberts, Northwest Missouri State: Roberts projects as a package-specific depth option along the Patriots’ interior defensive line, having appeared in 50 games during his college career and registering 18.5 sacks. The number that does stand out, however, is a different one: the 24-year-old has blocked five kicks in his career at Northwest Missouri State. | Report | Instant analysis | Profile | Injury analysis | Film room

6-210 G Chasen Hines, LSU: A well-built interior lineman at 6-foot-3, 327 pounds, Hines has experience at all three positions. He will compete for a backup spot behind projected starting-three Cole Strange, David Andrews and Michael Onwenu. Based on his draft position, however, Hines will not be guaranteed a spot on the 53-man roster come the regular season. | Report | Instant analysis | Profile | Injury analysis | Film room

7-245 OL Andrew Stueber, Michigan: Coming off a five-year career at Ann Arbor that saw him start 22 games, Stueber offers tackle/guard versatility and some good size at 6-foot-6, 325 pounds. He becomes the third offensive lineman selected by the Patriots in this year’s draft, and while not guaranteed a roster spot is expected to factor into the mix both on the interior and on the outside. | Report | Instant analysis | Profile | Injury analysis | Film room