New England Patriots Possible Target in the 2015 NFL Draft – Eddie Goldman, DT FSU
 Eddie Goldman from FSU is a big, bodied run stuffer who can two-gap and push the pocket. He'll be a top tier DT in the 2015 NFL Draft. (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
RB Jay Ajayi from Boise State
WR Jamison Crowder from Duke
CB Kevin Johnson from Wake Forest
With New England losing an icon in the middle of the defense in the case of Vince Wilfork the Patriots have some big shoes to fill in the defensive line. Having brought back Sealver Siliga, and Alan Branch the team signed former Titan and Colt Antonio Johnson. Also on the roster is Chris Jones and Dominique Easley at the position. But Easley is more of a smaller penetrator and the Patriots could use another big body there. And Jones is more of a pass rusher than a stout run stuffer.
The team would ultimately like to bring in some youth, size and physicality there via the NFL Draft. If Johnson is healthy after recovering from arthroscopic knee surgery in August, then the pressure on the team and whomever they draft will be lessened somewhat. But if available, the team would really like one of these big defensive tackles that can do both, stuff the run in the middle and collapse the pocket from the interior.
Eddie Goldman from Florida State is a versatile blend of size and power and can play the nose or DE in a 3-4 as well as a DT in a 4-3. Big, strong and quick off the line, the 6’3, 320 pound Goldman started off his Seminole career at defensive end but in 2014 he moved to his natural defensive tackle position and was a key part of a defense that allowed only 12.1 points per game.
Goldman almost never gets pushed back in the running game and has good use of his hands, driving them into the chest of blockers and extending his arms which allow him to stuff plays at the point of attack.
He has wide shoulders and a thick lower body which gives him the power and leverage to defeat blockers and double teams. Goldman also has a great motor, he never quits on a play and keeps his feet moving and as a result ends up as big play opportunities.
Goldman notched 35 tackles, eight tackles for a loss, four sacks and a forced fumble in 2014. He ran a 5.27 in the 40 and a 7.62 in the Three-Cone Drill at FSU’s Pro Day. Can two-gap and collapse the pocket although some scouts want to see more of a burst in the pass rush department, and question if he can be a 4-3 penetrator.
Pros:
- Outstanding upper body strength, explodes off the line driving defenders back
- Excellent leverage and hand use, can two-gap and disrupt running game
- Can bull rush and create interior pocket pressure
Cons:
- Didn’t have the gaudy stat totals for a first round pick
- Inconsistent pass rush
- Sometimes plays too tall when getting after the quarterback
Where can the Patriots can get him?: The Patriots would love to see Goldman still available at the end of the first round. He’d be a perfect fit for the Patriots defense and will be a nice addition to the middle of the defense now that Wilfork is a Houston Texan.
He is a big, big guy who will clog the middle and eat up double teams. What separates Goldman from other big guys is, that he won’t just clog the middle, he’ll disrupt, penetrate and make plays in the interior of the defensive line.
He plays with great power and leverage and can push the pocket and pressure the quarterback. He needs to work on his pass rush repertoire however and could learn a few more moves. But with the Patriots playing some different styles of defense, Goldman has the versatility and the length, strength and physicality at the point of attack to be a key player on this defense.
Here is a highlight film compilation of Goldman at FSU:
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