After a disappointing season, the New England Patriots are reportedly ready to move on from Jimmy Garoppolo and Bill Belichick’s time in New England is coming to an end.
The brady belichick is a story that has been widely covered in the media. Bill Belichick, the coach of the New England Patriots, was disappointed with his quarterback, Tom Brady, who had to sit out for 4 games due to suspension. With this disappointment came an opportunity to move on from Brady and explore other options.
Bill Belichick isn’t afraid to take chances. Corey Dillon, Randy Moss, Albert Haynesworth, and Antonio Brown have all been contentious players throughout his two-decade tenure as head coach of the New England Patriots. While some of these tactics were successful in helping the Patriots win Super Bowls, others did not.
Of course, Belichick is in charge of the draft. Unfortunately for the Patriots, several of his previous draft choices have fallen short of expectations. And during Thursday’s preseason game against the Philadelphia Eagles, the creator of the NFL’s most successful dynasty got even more incentive to move on from a pair the Patriots never should have bet on in the first place.
N’Keal Harry and Devin Asiasi have failed to establish themselves as starters for the Patriots.
Bill Belichick is doing all he can to surround Cam Newton with quality.
Gunner Olszewski, Damiere Byrd, N’Keal Harry, and Devin Asiasi went from Gunner Olszewski, Damiere Byrd, N’Keal Harry, and Devin Asiasi to…
Jakobi Meyers will be joined by Nelson Agholor, Kendrick Bourne, and Jonnu Smith.
Maybe in 2021, Cam will be a better version of himself?
March 15, 2021 — Adam Koffler (@AdamKoffler)
In the 2019 NFL Draft, Belichick tried to address a major need at wide. However, it’s obvious that disregarding his scouts was a huge mistake. With a plethora of excellent wide receivers on the board, Belichick went against the grain and selected N’Keal Harry with the last selection of the first round.
Needless to say, that choice is becoming more untenable.
Due to injury, Harry only appeared in seven games as a rookie. And when he did make an appearance on the field, he didn’t have much of an effect. After a 12-catch season in 2019, the 6-foot-4, 225-pound receiver had a dismal 2020 season with 33 catches for 309 yards and two touchdowns.
Harry, who was already seen as a draft failure in certain quarters, raised eyebrows this summer when he requested a trade. He still came up for training camp, and he’s been causing a stir by making more consistent plays. The 23-year-old will continue to be chastised for his poor output and proclivity for getting hurt until he shows himself capable of having an impact in important games.
Harry isn’t the only early-round selection who hasn’t lived up to expectations, which is unfortunate for Belichick.
Devin Asiasi was the second tight end selected in the NFL Draft in 2020. Despite being a third-round pick, the 6-foot-3, 257-pound UCLA graduate seemed to be woefully outmatched as a rookie. For a Patriots squad that badly needed more productivity from the position, the California native only caught two receptions for 39 yards and a score in nine games.
Of course, Belichick chose a very different strategy this summer in order to improve New England’s mediocre passing game. He spent a lot of money on wide receivers Nelson Agholor (two years, $22 million) and Kendrick Bourne (three years, $15 million) and tight ends Jonnu Smith (four years, $50 million) and Hunter Henry (three years, $37.5 million) instead of depending on the draft.
Bill Belichick has been given another more reason to move on from a pair that he should never have taken a chance on.
On Aug. 19, 2021, Bill Belichick, the head coach of the New England Patriots, watches a preseason game versus the Philadelphia Eagles. | Getty Images/Mitchell Leff
Belichick clearly had high ideas for Harry and Asiasi. However, neither player seems to be a natural fit in New England.
In fact, Belichick has been bolstered in his resolve to move on from the underwhelming pair.
Following a one-catch effort against the Washington Redskins, Harry only had one reception against the Philadelphia Eagles on Thursday. He did, however, have a chance to catch a wonderfully placed long ball from Mac Jones, which would have sent Patriot Nation into a frenzy. Rather of remaining on his feet, the big-bodied wideout lay out for the ball, injuring his shoulder.
Harry’s incapacity to maintain his health is still a significant issue. Belichick places a premium on availability, so it’s tough to see him staying with a guy who can’t manage to put together a few strong games without suffering a setback. Plus, Harry has yet to demonstrate that his first-round pedigree is justified.
In the meanwhile, Asiasi struggled against the Eagles. He got a lot of playing time being the game’s lone active tight end.
Despite this, he had no catches at the end of the night.
Asiasi’s lone target was close to the goal line, but the second-year pro was unable to catch what should have been a simple touchdown pass. Once again, the Patriots’ rookie tight end was unable to capitalize on a chance to help the team.
Belichick should seriously consider pulling the plug on both players at this time. Harry’s failure to establish a position in the offense and durability problems should make him a strong candidate to be moved or cut. Asiasi hasn’t done anything to justify his draft status, and he won’t be anywhere near the top of the depth chart. New England would benefit from letting go of two guys who lack confidence and should never have been Patriots in the first place.
If Bill Belichick had chosen differently in the draft, New England’s offense would be deadly.
For those who believe Kyle Shanahan is a genius and should be trusted at all costs:
Being an excellent coach does not imply that you are an excellent assessor. Bill Belichick is the all-time best coach. N’Keal Harry was chosen over AJ Brown and DK Metcalf. In the first round, I selected Isaiah Wynn and Sony Michel.
April 26, 2021 — Jeremy Layton (@JeremyLayt0n)
For Patriots supporters, the Harry pick may go down as Belichick’s worst decision. He not only wasted a first-round selection on a player who never appeared to fit into the system, but he also missed up on a number of future stars.
Isn’t it true that with DK Metcalf in the lineup, New England’s attack would be more intimidating? Instead of Harry, Belichick might have gone with A.J. Brown. The Patriots, on the other hand, have a physically imposing wideout who may not make the final roster, rather than a complete receiver who seems set to make the Pro Bowl on an annual basis.
Don’t forget that Deebo Samuel was chosen after Harry. The former South Carolina standout has evolved into a useful weapon for the San Francisco 49ers, despite not being on the same level as Metcalf or Brown.
What about the Asiasi option?
With just Cole Kmet still on the board, Belichick had the option of selecting any other tight end. But it’s clear that selecting Asiasi with the 91st overall selection was a bad move.
Adam Trautman was drafted 105th overall by the New Orleans Saints and had a rookie season with 15 receptions for 171 yards and a score. Harrison Bryant was selected 10th overall in the draft and went on to catch 24 receptions for 238 yards and three touchdowns in his first season with the Cleveland Browns.
In addition, Albert Okwuegbunam, the 118th overall pick by the Denver Broncos, showed glimpses of playmaking potential in 2020. In year two, the athletic tight end could get more targets after catching 11 receptions for 121 yards and one score.
Bill Belichick, at the end of the day, has the ultimate say on anything football-related in Foxborough. Even though he has achieved great things during his tenure with the Patriots, it’s fair to criticize him for taking risks with N’Keal Harry and Devin Asiasi.
Sports Reference and Pro Football Reference provided all statistics.
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