The New England Patriots traded back in the first round of the NFL Draft on Thursday night, but they were still able to get their guy at 29th overall. That guy happens to be someone most people have never heard of, and Sean McVay got a real kick out the pick.
McVay and Rams general manager Les Snead happened to be meeting with reporters at the time the Patriots selected Chattanooga offensive lineman Cole Strange. McVay’s face lit up and he said “Strange just went!” Snead got just as much of a kick out of the pick. McVay then joked that the Rams “wasted our time” scouting Strange thinking he would still be available when L.A. finally came on the clock at No. 104.
Rams reaction to Patriots selection of Cole Strange at #29.
This is hysterical. pic.twitter.com/ADzqt4lizQ
— Andrew Siciliano (@AndrewSiciliano) April 29, 2022
If Strange becomes a Pro Bowler, that clip is probably going to haunt McVay and Snead. The two seemed to be laughing at themselves for thinking they had found a gem in Strange who might be there at No. 104. Obviously New England saw the same thing the Rams did and didn’t take the chance that someone else might like Strange.
Strange is a tremendous athlete. The 6-foot-5, 307-pound lineman impressed teams in drills at the Scouting Combine earlier this offseason. Belichick told reporters after the first round that Strange “wouldn’t have lasted much longer,” but media analysts seemed to disagree.
Belichick is often a step ahead of his peers, which is why he is a future Hall of Famer.
