Patriots First-Round Pick Tabbed as One of ‘Biggest Names on Roster Bubble’

Toward the end of legendary head coach Bill Belichick’s 24-year tenure at the helm of the New England Patriots, the six-time Super Bowl winner came under fire for his seemingly inscrutable drafting process. But two first-round picks, more than any others, exemplified Belichick’s frustrating and opaque approach.

It now appears, if an analysis by a top national publication is correct, that both of this picks may soon be gone from New England and possibly out of football altogether.

N’Keal Harry Debacle Started Belichick’s Downfall

One of those picks was 2019 first rounder N’Keal Harry, a wide receiver out of Arizona State. Belichick reportedly overruled the warnings of his own scouts and personnel assistants to take Harry. Though the Patriots, as defending Super Bowl champions at the time, picked last in the 32-slot first round, Belichick passed on the chance to select receivers Deebo Samuel or D.K. Metcalf to take Harry.

While those two have gone on to successful NFL careers, Harry managed just 57 receptions for 598 yards in 33 games over three seasons for the Patriots, who then traded him to the Chicago Bears, getting nothing more than a seventh-round selection in return for their former first-rounder.

Harry has not played in the NFL since November 27, 2023.

Belichick Puzzles NFL with Strange Pick

And then there was Belichick’s 2022 first-rounder, taken 29th overall after Belichick traded away the 21st pick to move down eight rungs on the draft ladder — offensive lineman Cole Strange.

The pick stunned the rest of the NFL because Strange has been projected as, at best, a second-round or third-round pick, coming out of Chattanooga, a team in the Football Championship Series, the second-tier of the college game.

Draft analysts at Bleacher Report rated Strange as the No. 98 draft prospect of 2022. Now, three years later, that same publication says that Patriots new coach Mike Vrabel may simply cut Strange from the 2025 roster, singling out the fourth-year lineman as one of the “biggest names on the roster bubble.”

Strange Losing Out to 2025 3rd-Rounder

“At the time, the pick was excused as Belichick seeing something in Strange that no one else did,” wrote Bleacher Report analyst Brent Sobleski on Tuesday. “Three years later, Strange is on the roster bubble after a third-round rookie seemingly took his spot in the lineup.”

That third-round rookie is 2025 95th overall pick Jared Wilson out of Georgia.

“With Wilson and Michael Onwenu at guard, as well as Layden Robinson and Sidy Sow to serve as backups, Strange isn’t needed. The team has asked him to take some reps at center, but Wilson can shift back over the ball if an injury occurs,” Sobleski wrote. “It’s nearing the point where Strange can be viewed as a first-round bust since he’s yet to even make it through his rookie contract.”

Boston Sports Journal reporter Greg Bedard also sees coming danger for the 27-year-old lineman, writing more than a week ago that Strange has “gone from the starter at left guard to third string at center. There’s still time for him to recover, but it needs to happen soon.”

Strange About to Become a Punchline

“It’s one thing to get beat out by a better player — Wilson has widely been viewed as New England’s best all-around offensive lineman in camp,” added Musket Fire writer Ryan O’Leary. “It’s another to be working with the third team at center.”

O’Leary added that “the punchlines will come in full force” if Belichick’s most bizarre draft pick ends up without a roster spot.