Pats take another edge rusher at the top of Round 4
The Patriots made their first selection of the 4th Round of the NFL Draft on Saturday afternoon and chose Trey Flowers, DE, Arkansas. The team will have two more selections in the fourth round at pick #111 and #131.
Flowers is another piece of the Patriots retooling their defense and specifically their pass rush. Flowers is 6’2, 268 and earned 2nd team All-SEC Honors. His 2014 season was his most productive with 68 tackles, 15 tackles for loss and six sacks.
Another versatile edge rusher, Flowers has lined up on the left defensive end, right defensive end and as a stand-up edge rusher.
Flowers has a wide wingspan, long arms and has a very quick first step where he can beat blockers to the edge. He’s been effective stunting inside and has been very good at knocking down passes at the line of scrimmage, with 11 passes defensed.
Flowers ran a decent 4.82 in the 40 but turned in a good time of 7.82 in the Three-Cone Drill. He doesn’t have gaudy sack numbers but has the size and strength to be an effective edge player at the next level. Flowers has been excellent at setting the edge in the running game and is good at shedding blockers and has a high motor.
In his Draft Guide, CBS Sports Dane Brugler says, “he doesn’t cheat himself and uses every asset in his bag of tricks to make plays, showing the mentality in the trenches to do the dirty work.”
“Flowers isn’t a dynamic athlete but he plays passionate and tough with a high energy level to always play at full speed. He projects best as a 4-3 defensive end who is at his best taking on blocks and setting the edge as a stout run defender. A Top-60 prospect who should see significant reps as a rookie before settling into a starting role.”
Where Does He Fit With New England: Flowers is another edge rusher, a sign that the Patriots plan on really amping up the pass rush in 2015. But he’s also a very good at setting the edge in the run game. Flowers may have more immediate production than their 3rd round pick in Geneo Grissom in 2015.
Flowers will be in rotational system behind Chandler Jones, Rob Ninkovich, Jabaal Sheard and fight for reps with Michael Buchanan, Zach Moore and Grissom.
Here’s a highlight clip of Flowers at Arkansas courtesy of NFL Draft Geek:
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