Patriots Select Dominique Easley in First Round of NFL Draft
Jack Andrade, GoLocalProv Sports Reporter
Patriots Select Dominique Easley in First Round of NFL Draft
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
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50 Potential Patriots
Tom Savage
Position: Quarterback
School: Pittsburgh
Projected Round: 2-4
A.J. McCarron
Position: Quarterback
School: Alabama
Projected Round: 2-4
Carlos Hyde
Position: Running Back
School: Ohio State
Projected Round: 2-3
Tyler Gaffney
Position: Running Back
School: Stanford
Projected Round: 5-7
Brandin Cooks
Position: Wide Receiver
School: Oregon State
Projected Round: 1-2
Davante Adams
Position: Wide Receiver
School: Fresno State
Projected Round: 1-2
Bruce Ellington
Position: Wide Receiver
School: South Carolina
Projected Round: 3-4
Robert Herron
Position: Wide Receiver
School: Wyoming
Projected Round: 4-6
Jared Abbrederis
Position: Wide Receiver
School: Wisconsin
Projected Round: 3-5
Kevin Norwood
Position: Wide Receiver
School: Alabama
Projected Round: 4-6
T.J. Jones
Position: Wide Receiver
School: Notre Dame
Projected Round: 5-7
Ryan Grant
Position: Wide Receiver
School: Tulane
Projected Round: 5-7
Walt Powell
Position: Wide Receiver
School: Murray State
Projected Round: 7-Undrafted
Damian Copeland
Position: Wide Receiver
School: Louisville
Projected Round: 7-Undrafted
Jace Amaro
Position: Tight End
School: Texas Tech
Projected Round: 1-2
Austin Seferian-Jenkins
Position: Tight End
School: Washington
Projected Round: 2-3
Troy Niklas
Position: Tight End
School: Notre Dame
Projected Round: 2-3
C.J. Fiedorowicz
Position: Tight End
School: Iowa
Projected Round: 3-4
Marcel Jensen
Position: Tight End
School: Fresno State
Projected Round: 5-7
Antonio Richardson
Position: Offensive Tackle
School: Tennessee
Projected Round: 2-4
Justin Britt
Position: Offensive Tackle
School: Missouri
Projected Round: 4-5
John Urschel
Position: Offensive Guard
School: Penn State
Projected Round: 4-6
Xavier Su'a-Filo
Position: Offensive Guard/Offensive Tackle
School: UCLA
Projected Round: 1-2
Wesley Johnson
Position: Center/Offensive Guard
School: Vanderbilt
Projected Round: 3-5
Weston Richburg
Position: Center
School: Colorado State
Projected Round: 1-2
Ra'Shede Hageman
Position: Defensive Tackle
School: Minnesota
Projected Round: 1
Louis Nix III
Position: Defensive Tackle
School: Notre Dame
Projected Round: 1-2
Stephon Tuitt
Position: Defensive Tackle
School: Notre Dame
Projected Round: 1-3
DaQuan Jones
Position: Defensive Tackle
School: Penn State
Projected Round: 2-4
Shamar Stephen
Position: Defensive Tackle
School: Connecticut
Projected Round: 4-6
Kony Ealy
Position: Defensive End
School: Missouri
Projected Round: 1-2
Will Clarke
Position: Defensive End
School: West Virginia
Projected Round: 3-5
Kareem Martin
Position: Defensive End
School: North Carolina
Projected Round: 2-4
Adrian Hubbard
Position: Defensive End
School: Alabama
Projected Round: 3-5
Aaron Lynch
Position: Defensive End
School: South Florida
Projected Round: 3-6
Shayne Skov
Position: Linebacker
School: Stanford
Projected Round: 3-5
Yawin Smallwood
Position: Linebacker
School: Connecticut
Projected Round: 4-6
Khairi Fortt
Position: Linebacker
School: Penn State
Projected Round: 5-7
Max Bullough
Position: Linebacker
School: Michigan State
Projected Round: 6-7
Phillip Gaines
Position: Cornerback
School: Rice
Projected Round: 2-4
Pierre Desir
Position: Cornerback
School: Lindenwood
Projected Round: 2-4
Bennett Jackson
Position: Cornerback
School: Notre Dame
Projected Round: 4-6
Dontae Johnson
Position: Cornerback
School: North Carolina State
Projected Round: 5-7
Rashaad Reynolds
Position: Cornerback
School: Oregon State
Projected Round: 4-6
Terrance Mitchell
Position: Cornerback
School: Oregon
Projected Round: 4-6
Demetri Goodson
Position: Cornerback
School: Baylor
Projected Round: 7-Undrafted
Deonne Bucannon
Position: Safety
School: Washington State
Projected Round: 1-3
Vinnie Sunseri
Position: Safety
School: Alabama
Projected Round: 5-7
Brock Vereen
Position: Safety
School: Minnesota
Projected Round: 5-7
Mo Alexander
Position: Safety
School: Utah State
Projected Round: 7-Undrafted
