FOXBORO, Mass. — The Patriots selected Alabama defensive lineman Brandon Deaderick with the 247th selection in the draft Saturday. The 6-foot-4, 314-pounder recorded 23 tackles (10 solo), one sack and 4 1/2 tackles for loss last season. He notched four sacks in his junior year.
Deaderick was a keep member of Alabama's suffocating defense in 2009, and he showed some serious resiliency last September. He was shot in the arm when someone tried robbing him, but Deaderick returned to practice two days later and played in the season opener at the end of the week.
He is strong and powerful, and he'll be an asset while stopping the run, but he's not much of a pass rusher. The Patriots are still pretty strong along the offensive line, and it's going to be tough for Deaderick to find a spot on the roster.
The team needs to improve its pass rush and Deaderick's biggest strength is stopping the run, so it might be a tough match. Best-case scenario, Deaderick might find a spot on the practice squad.
