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Patriots 2016 draft picks – The best players

Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports

The New England Patriots took an interesting approach to the 2016 NFL Draft. The Patriots 2016 draft picks don’t necessarily sparkle like shiny new toys compared to other teams’ hauls. The first pick wasn’t until Round 2, thanks to some league discipline handed down over the Bountygate mess.

That said, head coach Bill Belichick has always pounded out his own drum beat. And the results of his long-term handiwork speak louder than any perceived flaws analysts might find with what he did this year. After all the Patriots 2016 draft picks haven’t even hit the field yet. We might look back in four years and marvel at his foresight as the Patriots continue to rumble along as first prince of the AFC.

The Patriots fell short of Super Bowl 50 last season by one play, as the Denver Broncos prevailed in the AFC Championship Game by two points in an epic battle between Tom Brady and Peyton Manning (and their defenses). With a 12-4 record the past four seasons, a Super Bowl win and an astounding five straight conference championship appearances, the franchise is clearly doing something right.

Here’s what the Pats did to bolster the roster via the draft this year.

Patriots 2016 draft picks

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[mks_accordion_item title=”Round 2, 60th overall: Cyrus Jones, CB, Alabama”]

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[mks_accordion_item title=”Round 3, 78th overall: Joe Thuney, G, North Carolina State”]

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[mks_accordion_item title=”Round 3, 91st overall: Jacoby Brissett, QB, North Carolina State”]

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[mks_accordion_item title=”Round 3, 96th overall: Vincent Valentine, DT, Nebraska”]

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[mks_accordion_item title=”Round 4, 113th overall: Malcolm Mitchell, WR, Georgia”]

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[mks_accordion_item title=”Round 6, 208th overall: Kamu Grugier-Hill, LB, Eastern Illinois”]

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[mks_accordion_item title=”Round 6, 214th overall: Elandon Roberts, LB, Houston”]

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[mks_accordion_item title=”Round 6, 221st overall: Ted Karras, G, Illinois”]

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[mks_accordion_item title=”Round 7, 225th overall: Devin Lucien, WR, Arizona State”]

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The sure-thing stud: Malcolm Mitchell, WR

It was hard to choose a “sure-thing stud” out of New England’s crop of players. Using Cyrus Jones here, the corner out of ‘Bama, was something that was considered. However, after thinking long and hard about what Mitchell brings to the table, he’s the pick.

A tough, gritty receiver who’ll make an instant impact on special teams, Mitchell should develop into one of Brady’s favorite receivers in due time. Though not exactly physically imposing (just under six feet, 198 pounds), he was a consistent producer at Georgia, catching 174 passes for 2,350 yard and 16 touchdowns.

The Pats haven’t exactly had the best luck drafting receivers in recent years, but Mitchell should break that mold. He represents the best shot out of the Patriots 2016 draft picks to make an impact over the long term.

The sleeper: Vincent Valentine, DT

When New England let Chris Jones and Dominique Easley walk out the door, you knew they’d address the defensive line via the draft. They landed a good one in Valentine, who should be raring to go after missing time last year with an ankle injury at Nebraska.

Despite his disappointing junior campaign last year, Valentine displayed loads of potential playing in the Big Ten, totaling 76 tackles (14.5 for loss) and seven sacks — an impressive stat, given his nature as a space-eating run stuffer.

A three-year starter for the Cornhuskers, Valentine is a big man, measuring in at 6-foot-3 and 329 pounds. He’ll fight for playing time immediately as a role player in New England’s rotation on the defensive lin.

The project: Jacoby Brissett, QB

Patriots 2016 draft picks

Talk about a stunner. The Patriots selected Brissett in the third round, meaning they really must like this kid. That said, that he’s a project is not even in question.

Let’s just put it this way: Jeff Driskel, who was picked up in the sixth round by the San Francisco 49ers, beat him out for the starting job at Florida a number of years back. And Driskel’s a huge project, too.

After a failed tenure at Florida, Brissett transferred to North Carolina State, where he ended up starting for two years after sitting one out per the NCAA’s dumb transfer rules.

While leading the Wolfpack, he failed to display much more than average accuracy and didn’t exactly put up huge numbers, either. He ended up finishing his career at NC State having completed 59.9 percent of his passes for 5,268 yards with 43 touchdowns and 11 interceptions in two years.

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