If the New England Patriots are going to take a flier on any player, it might as well be a first-round draft pick.
That seems to be the Patriots’ strategy this offseason, since they added four former first-round draft picks between Tuesday and Wednesday in guard Jonathan Cooper, defensive end Chris Long, running back Donald Brown and linebacker Shea McClellin.
The player with perhaps the most promise is Cooper, who was the seventh overall pick in the 2013 NFL Draft and essentially a throw-in when the Patriots traded Chandler Jones to the Arizona Cardinals for a second-round pick. Cooper has started just 11 games in three NFL seasons, however.
“I know that there’s been certain talent instilled in me that I just have to put together,” Cooper said Thursday in a conference call with the media. “And I know that there’s — I hate to use the word but, potential — there’s the potential there to be a great player, but it’s just a matter of it kind of all coming together, and I’m happy for this opportunity.”
It’s unclear how the Patriots’ starting interior offensive line will shake out for 2016. Cooper, Shaq Mason, Tre’ Jackson, Josh Kline, Bryan Stork and David Andrews are competing for two starting guard spots and one at center.
“As for the organization, I’m just excited for the ability to kind of plug in and just help the team,” Cooper said. “So, as far as everybody else’s expectations, you can’t let that affect you. Because whether you’re doing good, bad, or ugly somebody’s always going to have something to say, but as long as your teammates, the people inside your organization, working on being a team guy and really just trying to help the team as best as you can, then I feel like that’s really I can do.”
Cooper has the highest upside of any Patriots interior offensive lineman. Only time will tell if Patriots offensive line coach Dante Scarnecchia and head coach Bill Belichick can make that potential shine through.
Thumbnail photo via Mark J. Rebilas/USA TODAY Sports Images
