Patriots Fans React to Bill Belichick Surprise 1st-Round Pick

The New England Patriots traded back in the 2022 NFL Draft and got the 29^th overall instead of picking someone with the initial 21^st overall pick. The Patriots had Nos. 29, 94, and 121 from the Kansas City Chiefs. However, head coach Bill Belichick used his first-round pick to get Cole Strange.

Is Strange a good option for the Patriots? Is he really a first-rounder?

Patriots fans took notice of the move Belichick made and had mixed reactions. Some of them weren’t really excited by Strange’s selection. Others were pretty shocked. There were also people suggesting that Belichick could have selected Strange in the second round.

Bill Belichick makes a shocking pick

NFL analysts said that Strange was a Day 2 selection.

Lance Zierlein thought that Strange would find his next NFL home in the second round of the draft.

Fans were really shocked. Did Belichick make a big move?

pic.twitter.com/2BravcWV4w

— YMB (@YungManBones) April 29, 2022

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— ??? 2 ??????? ? (@mac2metchie) April 29, 2022

he'll probably be a fine player… but could have easily picked him next round

— Andrew Diiorio (@DiIorioAndrew) April 29, 2022

Dean was IN YOUR LAP

— Jordan Leandre (@JordanLeandre55) April 29, 2022

I am actually going to lose sleep over this, could've had this man tomorrow and picked a real player like Nakobe Dean

— Official Hunter Henry Show (@ahssnowtracker) April 29, 2022

The Patriots were linked to Nakobe Dean from Georgia. He was available, but the Patriots went with Strange. This was definitely a shocking decision, but Belichick did the best for his team. He does everything for a reason.

In his senior season, Dean had 72 tackles, six sacks, two interceptions, and two forced fumbles. In his freshman season, Dean had 25 tackles and became the Co-Defensive Newcomer of the Year.

Surprisingly, NFL teams didn’t select Dean in the first round of the Draft.

Strange is 23 and will be 24 in his rookie campaign. He used an extra season of eligibility due to the coronavirus pandemic. The talent player measures at 6’5’’ and 307 pounds.

“He shines over the first two phases of the block, which means he gains early positioning and gets into the sustain phase with proper hand usage and footwork,” Zierlein said. “He will lose a tug-of-war battle as a pure man-to-man blocker, but wins with lateral quickness and an understanding of angles as a move blocker.

“But he has done some snapping in practice, so he could land as a future starting center for a zone-happy rush offense,” Zierlein stated.