Retired New England Patriots safety Rodney Harrison wasn’t among those looking skeptically at Bill Belichick’s decision to draft DII standout Kyle Dugger. Few had heard of Lenoir Rhyne, Dugger’s alma mater, in the football community prior to his selection in the 2020 NFL Draft.
But it’s not necessarily about what school Dugger came from. It’s about where he’s going in the NFL. Harrison thinks the young safety, who is a freak athlete with blazing speed (4.5-second 40-yard dash) and impressive size (6-foot-1, 215 pounds), is capable of big things.
“To me, if you can play — there’s a lot to be said about Division I-AA players like myself, Division II players,” Harrison said to NBC-10 Boston’s Raul Martinez last week. “We’re hungry … And you get so tired of all the big schools and LSUs and (2020 second-round pick) Grant Delpits being named in front of you, so I think this kid’s going to come in with an edge on him.
“I think Belichick’s going to use him whether it’s over the slot, over the tight end, because they need a bigger guy that can come in and relieve Patrick Chung and cover tight ends. I love this pick. I absolutely love this pick.”
New England has been looking for a rangy and versatile defender for the last few years, with safety Obi Melifonwu (6-foot-4, 210 pounds) and cornerback Joejuan Williams (6-foot-4, 210 pounds) making the 53-man roster in 2019. Bill Belichick clearly favors these defensive backs, who are unique athletes with exceptional size and speed. It seems to be a response to the receivers and tight ends with that same size and speed. But the Patriots coach didn’t seen payout from Melifonwu, who the team released this offseason, or Williams, who spent the 2019 season on the bench.
Surely, the Patriots hope to buck that trend with the addition of Dugger and the development of Williams.
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