4 winners and losers from Patriots drafting Gabe Jacas and Eli Raridon

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4 winners and losers from Patriots drafting Gabe Jacas and Eli Raridon

New England selected two players on Day 2 of the NFL Draft.

4 winners and losers from Patriots drafting Gabe Jacas and Eli Raridon

New England selected two players on Day 2 of the NFL Draft.

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The New England Patriots added a pair of players on Day 2 of the NFL Draft, first moving up to draft edge rusher Gabe Jacas before selecting tight end Eli Raridon in Round 3.

Here’s who the pick impacts for better, or worse, moving forward.

OC Josh McDaniels: New England’s offensive coordinator has a new weapon to deploy, and it should be one that he will like. Raridon’s size and athleticism will allow McDaniels to use him in multiple ways moving forward, while he has the potential to develop into an every-down, well-rounded tight end for the offense in future seasons — also making him a nice piece for Drake Maye.

OLB coach Mike Smith: One coach in particular made an impact on Gabe Jacas during his pre-draft visit to Gillette Stadium: Mike Smith. As Eliot Wolf shared, Smith and Jacas “really connected” during the visit and Smith now adds another powerful, violent rusher to his group of pass rushers.

“Just fell in love with the coaching staff, especially coach Mike Smith, outside linebacker coach there. And just his philosophy and his mindset on just the position, I just loved it,” Jacas said.

He then later added: “I’m so glad that I have coach Mike Smith, someone that I just speak highly of because of the way he presented himself, which is – that’s like my type of guy, my type of coach.”

OLB Bradyn Swinson: The addition of Jacas won’t impact Harold Landry and Dre’Mont Jones’ roster status atop the depth chart, but this year’s second rounder will immediately join the rotation behind the veterans from the start. That will make it ever harder for last year’s fifth-round pick Bradyn Swinson to see the field, and even question his spot on the 53-man roster.

TE C.J. Dippre: After ending last season on the active roster, Dippre has seen the Patriots sign Julian Hill in free agency and now draft Eli Raridon in the third-round of the draft. Dippre now sits as the fourth tight end on the roster, a spot that may not exist on the 53-man squad with the team additionally keeping a fullback.

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