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(PHOTO: Nick King/Lansing State Journal / USA TODAY NETWORK) After taking their second wide receiver of the night four picks earlier in Demario Douglas, the Patriots shifted gears a bit with their 214th overall selection.
They went ahead and took Michigan State defensive back Ameer Speed, adding some additional depth in their secondary.
Speed is a big player, coming in at 6’3″, 210lbs and was one of the Spartans’ better defenders last season. But looking at the tape, there’s a reason why he was a sixth-round selection.
Speed is certainly fast, but he still looks fairly raw in coverage. CBS Sports described him as “a little robotic at times”, and that’s probably a good way to describe him. He’s not fluid, and there was even a play in the “highlight” video posted by the Patriots where Speed broke up a pass, but never got his head around and it looked like, in the NFL, he may have been flagged.
However, that being said, he’s likely still a step up from a couple of players sitting at the bottom of their depth chart and if they can have any success developing him, it’s a low-risk move with a potentially worthwhile reward.
He’s still a pretty good player, having been part of the Georgia defense that won a national championship in 2021 before transferring to Michigan State as a graduate transfer. He’s a physical player who isn’t afraid to tackle and was also a standout on special teams, both of which are attributes that could help him potentially stick on New England’s roster.
The other thing Speed possesses, which can’t be coached, is what his name suggests and it’s backed up by the fact he ran a 4.33 40-yard dash at the combine.
If he can work on his technique and develop, especially given his size, the potential is there. Whether or not they can unlock it will be interesting to follow.
And here’s the full list of 2023 Patriots Draft Picks from this weekend.
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