Patriots Take Another Dawg At 31, Snag RB Michel

Sony Michel is a New England Patriot. 

Yes, you read that line correctly.

Despite having needs along the defense and at the quarterback position, and having guys like Lamar Jackson and Josh Jackson available to them, the Pats took Georgia's flashy running back at pick number 31 overall.

Michel, who starred in the Bulldog backfield last season, is the first skill player taken by New England in the first round since the team drafted running back Laurence Maroney 21 overall back in 2006.

The shifty backfield weapon will likely help fill the void created by the free agent departure of Dion Lewis. Though there are some questions about his knees and their ability to stay healthy, the Pats likely saw his abilities as a duel threat back as too good to pass on at the back end of the first round.

In 14 games in 2017, Michel rushed for 1,227 yards and 16 scores, while averaging a gaudy 7.9 yards per carry.

The Georgia product, who will now join his college teammate Isaiah Wynn as first round picks of the Pats, has the potential to be an elite level, lead back.

Joining a group that already has trustworthy, pass catching back James White, duel threat Rex Burkhead, Mike Gillislee and Jeremy Hill, Michel adds immense talent and upside to an offense that is already explosive.

Like Wynn, Michel being selected by the Pats might have been quite the shocker to Patriot Nation. While neither was necessarily considered sure things to be nabbed by the Pats, they both come from a winning program and both add talent to the offense.