FOXBOROUGH, Mass. – The defending Super Bowl champion New England Patriots held on to coveted backup quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo through the first three rounds of the NFL draft, choosing instead to make a couple of minor deals on Friday night and pick up help on the offensive and defensive lines.
Spurning offers for Garoppolo, who won’t play in New England unless Tom Brady is injured or retires, Patriots Coach Bill Belichick waited out the first seven hours of the draft. Asked how close he came to trading Garoppolo – the Cleveland Browns were one suitor – Belichick declined to say.
“I’m not going to comment,” he said. “Everybody that’s on the team is here to compete, and that’s what we’re going to do.”
New England had given up its first-rounder to get receiver Brandin Cooks from New Orleans, and its second-rounder for Carolina pass-rusher Kony Ealy. They also gave up a draft pick to land Colts tight end Dwayne Allen and Bills running back Mike Gillislee.
“We’ve been watching a lot of picks go by,” Belichick said. “The four players that we acquired already are also part of the draft.”
After waiting out the entire first day of the draft and another three-plus hours on Day 2, Belichick then traded the No. 72 pick to Tennessee for a pick later in the third round (No. 83) and used it to select Youngstown State defensive end Derek Rivers. Belichick said he liked the fact that 6-foot-4, 248-pound edge rusher was well-coached in college, and also praised his performance in the all-star games.
“I was shaking, man. It was an overwhelming feeling,” Rivers said of being drafted by the defending champions.
On Belichick, he said, “I love everything that he is and what he stands for and how he coaches, his demeanor … I can learn a lot from him.”
Josh Norris, a draft expert, said: “Derek Rivers still available in round three is an absolute steal.”
The Patriots then made a deal with Detroit to acquire the No. 85 pick and used it to select Antonio Garcia, a tackle from Troy. Garcia visited with the Patriots last week and Belichick was impressed.
“I think he’ll be competitive,” the coach said.
Of that pick, Norris said, “Antonio Garcia is my No. 44 overall prospect. The Patriots just drafted him at No. 85.”