Cole ordinary’s faculty head train was now not shocked he turned into drafted in the first circular - Pats Pulpit

count Rusty Wright amongst those no longer stunned that the new England Patriots selected Cole extraordinary in the first circular of the 2022 NFL Draft. peculiar's head educate at UT Chattanooga, he turned into able to get an up-close seem to be at the offensive linemen for the closing three years.

What he saw convinced him that the younger man became indeed helpful of a first-round draft decide upon. He become for this reason now not surprised when the Patriots introduced atypical aboard with pick No. 29 on Thursday night.

"Hell no," Wright pointed out throughout an appearance on WEEI's Gresh & Keefe exhibit on Friday morning. "guy can play. man can play. He can play soccer."

under Wright's tutelage, odd started 27 of a probable 28 video games. taking part in essentially at left protect but also starting one game every at middle and left address, he based himself as some of the most desirable linemen to enter this year's draft.

a powerful run blocker and stout circulate protector — giving up just 11 combined hurries and one sack in the remaining three years — bizarre became the Mocs' highest quality player between 2019 and 2021. His performances caught the attention of a few NFL groups, and the Patriots in certain. After buying and selling down in the first circular of the draft, they picked him up.

in response to Wright, youngsters, bizarre's draft position wouldn't have mattered.

"It wouldn't have mattered the place they drafted him, he would have played," the veteran teach referred to. "I'm now not going to 2nd-wager bill Belichick for nothing; he has more tremendous Bowl rings than I'll ever suppose about getting. So, he is aware of what he's doing. those guys comprehend what they're doing.

"a man like Cole, he has notable value as a result of he can play so many spots in a league where you've got constrained numbers. That's just going to add greater cost as he receives older in that league."

ordinary is expected to take over the Patriots' vacant left shield position upon his arrival, but there was talk about him probably succeeding core David Andrews extra down the road. Time will tell, however New England invested in lots of flexibility when drafting the 23-yr-ancient in the first round — despite the choose itself being a polarizing one.