Which 6th rounder has the best chance of making the team?

Photo via patriots.com

For some reason I didn’t realize how big the Patriots draft class was until I took a look back at it. We had three 4th and 6th round picks. Add that to a 1st rounder, 2nd rounder, and a 7th rounder and that’s nine rookies the Pats are bridging into camp in a week. That’s a ton of young bloods to be battling it out for a spot.

And according to PatsCap.com, it could be harder for some than others:

So for a quick refresher, lets remind ourselves who the Pats took in the 6th round.

They started by selecting offensive lineman Jon Halapio out of Florida, then defensive end Zach Moore from Concordia, and finally took cornerback Jemea Thomas from Georgia Tech. So according to Miguel’s stat, its doubtful all three of these guys will make the team.

Who of these three has the best chance of staying a Patriot?

Well, Thomas you’re out. We have just way too many corners to keep a 6th round pick around on the roster. Now maybe he can move to safety since we are a little thin depth wise there (and because I’m 100% certain Tavon Wilson is gone) but for the sake of this article, I’m saying no position changes. So for that reason, Thomas, sadly, you are the first to go.

Now the choice gets a bit more difficult. Naturally. Halapio is a big bruising O-lineman who can step in and start (if need be) and could be a future replacement to Logan Mankins. Also, the guy looks like a beast so theres that. But with already returning the entire starting line, and adding rookies Bryan Stork and the rocket scientist Cameron Fleming, Halapio has an up hill battle to stick around on the roster.

Photo via bostonherald.com
But at least we know what we’re getting with Halapio. Zach Moore is a wild card, and I mean that in the nicest sense. He played at Concordia and was the first player in school history to be invited to the NFL combine and to be drafted to the league. There really isn’t any tape of Moore playing, let alone against high level talent. But, Moore does hold the record for career sacks at Concordia with 33 sacks and six forced fumbles. Evidently he has some pass rushing skill, which the Patriots need. They failed to really address depth at the ends, unless you think signing the aging fresh prince solved all our pass rushing problems. Then I guess Moore will be gone in your books.

My best guess is that Halapio has the best shot of making the team simply because he’s able to step in and play immediately, plus that O-line is starting to get old and it could be time to plan for the future. Moore could blowup camp, become the greatest thing since the beer bottle opener (far superior than sliced bread) and make the roster as a situational pass rusher. But sadly I must pick one. Or else that’s cheating. So Halapio has the best shot of staying on roster.

And you know whats great? We can watch all this take place in only a week! IT’S ALMOST FOOTBALL SEASON PEOPLE!

- Pete Rogers
@ftcsports
@petahrahgas

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