Patriots Select Dominique Easley in First Round of NFL Draft
Friday, May 09, 2014
With the 29th pick in the 2014 NFL Draft, the New England Patriots selected Florida Defensive Lineman Dominique Easley.
The 6'2", 288 pound Easley can play either End or Tackle in a 4-3 defense, but he projects best at DT. He was a part of Urban Meyer's 2010 recruiting class that also featured 2013 first round picks Matt elam and Shariff Floyd.
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLASTWidely regarded as a Top 10 talent in this year's class, Easley suffered major injuries to both knees over the course of his college career. He presents a boom-or-bust value to the Patriots at the back-end of the 1st round.
Easley's biggest strength as a player is his burst and ability to apply pressure from the interior. The Patriots likely envision him playing the 3-technique next to Vince Wilfork in a 4-man front.
Easley, Belichick Excited to Get to Work
Easley said he was excited tosee the Massachusetts area code on the caller ID Thursday night, citing the Patriots' pipeline in Gainesville with several other Gators making the trip North to Foxboro over the last few years.
Patriots' head coach Bill Belichick said he loved Easley when he evaluated him on game tape.
"I think he's a very disruptive player, and he came to play against good competition," Belihick said. "He's an explosive player."
The Patriots didn't get to work Easley out because he is still recovering from a non-contact ACL injury he suffered in the Fall. Belichick met with Easley on campus in Gainesville while working out some other Florida prospects, and the two talked extensively.
"He does a lot of things well," Belichick said. "He's smart, he has a great motor, he loves football...there's not much not to like about him."
Easley disspelled the notion that his health would be a factor as the 2014 season looms closer.
"I'm healthy," he declared. "I'm just ready to get up there and do whatever Coach Belichick needs me to do."
Belichick said he wasn't worried about Easley's health situation, saying the team would evaluate his circumstances when they open offseason activities and go from there. Easley is just itching to get on the field and win games,
"It's a winning team, so I'm really excited," Easley said.
Easley Highlights
The Complete First Round Results
1. Houston- Jadeveon Clowney, OLB, South Carolina
2. St. Louis (from WAS)- Greg Robinson, OT, Auburn
3. Jacksonville- Blake Bortles, QB, Central Florida
4. Bills (from CLE)- Sammy Watkins, WR, Clemson
5. Oakland- Khalil Mack, OLB, Buffalo
6. Atlanta- Jake Matthews, OT, Texas A&M
7. Mike Evans, WR, Texas A&M
8. Cleveland (from MIN)- Justin Gilbert, CB, Oklahoma State
9. Minnesota (from BUF via CLE)- Anthony Barr, DE, UCLA
10. Detroit- Eric Ebron, TE, North Carolina
11. Tennessee- Taylor Lewan, OT, Michigan
12. New York (G)- Odell Beckham Jr., WR, Louisiana State
13. St. Louis- Aaron Donald, DT, Pittsburgh
14. Chicago- Kyle Fuller, CB, Virginia Tech
15. Pittsburgh- Ryan Shazier, ILB, Ohio State
16. Dallas- Zack Martin, OT, Notre Dame
17. Baltimore- C.J. Mosley, ILB, Alabama
18. New York (J)- Calvin Pryor, S, Louisville
19. Miami- Ja’wuan James, OT, Tennessee
20. New Orleans (from ARI)- Brandin Cooks, WR, Oregon State
21. Green Bay- Ha’Sean Clinton-Dix, S, Alabama
22. Cleveland (from PHI)- Johnny Manziel, QB, Texas A&M
23. Kansas City- Dee ford, OLB, Auburn
24. Cincinnati- Darqueze Dennard, CB, Michigan State
25. San Diego- Jason Verrett, CB, Texas Christian
26. Philadelphia (from IND via CLE)- Marcus Smith, OLB, Louisville
27. Arizona (from NO)- Deonne Bucannon, S, Washington State
28. Carolina- Kelvin Benjamin, WR, Florida State
29. New England- Dominique Easley, DT, Florida
30. San Francisco- Jimmie Ward, S, Northern Illinois
31. Denver- Bradley Roby, CB, Ohio State
32. Minnesota (from SEA)- Teddy Bridgewater, QB, Louisville
