Cole Strange was the most puzzling pick in the first round of the 2022 NFL Draft.
The New England Patriots traded down to the No. 29 pick and they selected an offensive lineman that was projected to go in the third round. Bill Belichick had options like Nakobe Dean, Andrew Booth Jr., Christian Harris and John Metchie — he passed on them all to take a shot on an under-the-radar interior lineman.
The Patriots did lose Shaq Mason and Ted Karras this offseason, so there was a need for a replacement. The primary complaint from fans and NFL pundits was the timing of the pick, not the selection of Strange. It would’ve made much more sense to pick a top-tier player in the first round and get Strange later — but, Belichick didn’t believe he would “last much longer.”
