New England Patriots Possible Target in the 2015 NFL Draft – Jay Ajayi, RB Boise State
 Jay Ajayi is one of the most dynamic running backs in the 2015 NFL Draft and will be a tremendous target out of the backfield in the passing game.(USA Today Image) |
As the 2015 NFL Draft draws closer we’ll profile some of the players that may be on the Patriots radar. Some of these players have already been linked to New England as possible targets others, we feel would be a great fit.
Check out our earlier 2015 NFL Draft profiles on PatsFans.com:
DE/OLB Nate Orchard from Utah
WR Tyrell Williams from Western Oregon
DT Jordan Phillips from Oklahoma
DT Carl Davis from Iowa
RB David Johnson from Northern Iowa
CB Steven Nelson from Oregon State
OLB Zack Hodges from Harvard
CB Ronald Darby from FSU
WR Devin Funchess from Michigan
OG A.J. Cann from South Carolina
RB Mike Davis from South Carolina
ILB Benadrick McKinney from Mississippi State
OLB Hau’oli Kikaha from Washington
T Jeremiah Poutasi from Utah
OLB Kyle Emanuel from North Dakota State
The Patriots have lost two of their best running backs in free agency with Shane Vereen signing with the Giants and Stevan Ridley who just signed with the New York Jets. Ridley was the big back who ran between the tackles and could get those tough yards inside. Vereen was the third down specialist who excelled at catching passes out of the backfield and pass blocking.
Both of those players will be missed, as they were 1-2 in carries last season, even though Ridley played in only six games before tearing his ACL against Buffalo. And Vereen led all running backs with catches with 52, giving Tom Brady and the offense some great mismatches against linebackers in the passing game.
The Patriots have LaGarrette Blount, Brandon Bolden, Jonas Gray and Tyler Gaffney to handle big back duties inside and James White Travis Cadaret and Dion Lewis to handle third downs in the passing game. While there are still some interesting free agents available, the team may opt to delve into the draft for their next running back. While they are very unlikely to go for a back in the first round, some very good backs will be available to them.
Jay Ajayi from Boise State is a very intriguing prospect in that he can do it all. He’s the only running back in the FBS that has rushed for 1800 yards as well as had 500 yards receiving in the same season.
Good size at 6’0 and 220, Ajayi has explosion to make some sharp cuts and get upfield in an instant. He has very good footwork and the speed to break away from defenders. For a bigger back, runs with his pad level low to the ground and is a hard man to bring down.
Ajayi is very athletic in the passing game with outstanding hands and runs precise routes. He was used split out wide and will create mismatches when lined up on a linebacker.
He had off-field red flags back in 2011, as well as an ACL injury but the past two seasons has been a good team player who has kept his nose clean. Ajayi does have ball security issues and needs to tighten up in his pass protection skills.
Pros:
- Runs hard, and low to the ground, very difficult to bring down
- Excellent pass receiver with outstanding hands, makes tough catches easily
- Can split out wide to creat mismatches, out-classing linebackers in coverage
Cons:
- Ball security issues (12 fumbles) needs to improve
- Pass blocking is only average, must improve
- Tries to bounce outside too much, sometimes needs to take what’s there
Where can the Patriots can get him?: The Patriots aren’t in dire need of a running back with seven players already on the roster. Ajayi may very well go in the first round where the Patriots, with more pressing needs won’t be willing to spend a pick on a running back. But if he were still around in Round 2, then he’d be extremely appealing.
Ajayi would be a dynamic addition to the New England offense; he can run the ball or catch it out of the backfield with equal ease. He’s been a very productive player in both and on third downs; the Patriots could use him much like they used Vereen, split out wide to create mismatches on linebackers. He’d be an instant favorite to win the third down job and would provide another excellent option for Brady in the passing game.
There are some issues he needs to tighten up, he tends to try to bounce too much outside and wants to make every play a homerun, and sometimes it’s more prudent to take what the defense gives you. And he has carried the ball a ton, which shouldn’t be an issue in New England where they rely on a committee approach to the position.
His inside running as well as his pass blocking, something that is very important to the Patriots can improve. And ball security, something that followed Ridley all the way out of town would be an issue as Ajayi had 12 fumbles at Boise State. His off-field issues seem behind him now so that shouldn’t be an issue any longer as he’s grown up.
Only 21, Ajayi is going to be an interesting player to watch on Sundays…he hasn’t even scratched the surface as far as his potential goes.
Here is a highlight film of Ajayi:
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