2015 draft class:
| Round/Pick | Name | Pos | College |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1/32 | Malcom Brown | DT | Texas |
| 2/64 | Jordan Richards | S | Stanford |
| 3/97 | Geneo Grissom | DE | Oklahoma |
| 4/101 | Trey Flowers | DE | Arkansas |
| 4/111 | Tre' Jackson | G | Florida St |
| 4/131 | Shaq Mason | C | Georgia Tech |
| 5/166 | Joe Cardona | LS | Navy |
| 6/178 | Matt Wells | OLB | Mississippi St |
| 6/202 | AJ Derby | TE | Arkansas |
| 7/247 | Darryl Roberts | CB | Marshall |
| 7/253 | Xzavier Dickson | DE | Alabama |
Starters: C David Andrews (8 starts), DT Malcom Brown (4), RG Tre' Jackson (4), LG Shaq Mason (4), LS Joe Cardona (played all 9 games), S Brandon King (team-high 6 special-teams tackles)
On the cusp: Second-round draft pick Jordan Richards, a safety out of Stanford, has been a regular in sub packages as well as a core special-teams player, appearing in all nine games this season. Some analysts had viewed him as a reach late in the second round, but he has a niche and probably would be the "next man up" if starter Patrick Chung wasn't available.
Undrafted free agents they like: Andrews, of Georgia, has been one of the surprise stories of the year. Through eight games, he had been the only Patriots player to be on the field for every offensive snap this season. Undersized by NFL standards at 6 feet 3 and 295 pounds, which probably was the primary reason he wasn't drafted, he was a roster long shot at the start of training camp before emerging and taking advantage of an opportunity when more experienced players in front of him were injured.
My take on class: Contributions from the rookie class have exceeded expectations, specifically along the offensive line. The best is yet to come for Brown, the first-round defensive tackle from Texas, who is adjusting to the 2-gap techniques the Patriots play but has still flashed at times. If cornerback Darryl Roberts (seventh round, Marshall) didn't injure his wrist and land on injured reserve in August, he projected as a key contributor as well. Considering the Patriots were primarily picking at the end of each round, this looks like a solid haul.
Mel Kiper's take on class: They've done a remarkable job adding depth and talent up front. Andrews was undrafted, and he, Mason (Round 4), and Jackson (Round 4) have all played a role in keeping this offensive line in pretty solid shape during a transition. That's extraordinary value (and coaching), considering where this team is. The big question is whether Brown can provide more of an impact during the second half? If he can, they're deeper up front, which is huge when you tack more games onto the schedule -- an inevitability in New England.