Patriots Select O-Lineman In Sixth Round Of 2020 NFL Draft

The New England Patriots added another O-lineman, and this closes a gap. The team made some back-to-back sixth-round draft picks Saturday. Bill Belichick and Co traded up to get Michigan guard Michael Onwenu as a No. 182 overall pick. Now they selected Wake Forest’s Justin Herron as a No. 195 overall.

Herron was a starter at left tackle in four years for the Demon Deacons. Analysts predict that the Patriots will move him to the inside of the O-line. New England has him listed as a guard.

Herron played basketball before switching sports and entering a football team in high school, The O-lineman measures at 6-foot-4, 308 pounds. NFL teams were interested in his quickness. However, his play strength is still an issue. Herron didn’t do well in agility drills at the NFL Scouting Combine. He ranked in the 1st percentile for his position in the three-cone drill (8.41 seconds) and the 25th percentile in the short shuttle (4.88 seconds).

“Herron is flexible and athletic with the foot quickness to compete in a camp as a zone-blocking guard,” Lance Zierlein wrote in Herron’s NFL.com draft profile. “However, he’s often in a state of flux and having to fight for survival due to suspect hand usage and body control. He may not have enough play strength to withstand NFL defensive tackles in one-on-one situations, but he does have intriguing athletic traits and may be looked at as a developmental prospect.”

The Patriots got a strong O-lineman

Herron was a team captain in the last season of his time at Wake Forest. He didn’t play for most of the 2018 season as he was recovering a torn ACL. The Patriots’ newly-acquired player will turn 25 in November.

New England has a tendency of turning college tackles into guards. They did that with Joe Thuney. The Patriots selected edge rushers Josh Uche and Anfernee Jennings, tight ends Devin Asiasi and Dalton Keene and Unwenu and Herron. In other words, they doubled up three positions in this year’s draft.

Belichick showed interest in numerous talented players, and he is doing an excellent job so far. The organization is confident about the development of the situation.