Instant grades for the Patriots drafting LB Namdi Obiazor in Round 6

FORT WORTH, TX - SEPTEMBER 30: TCU Horned Frogs linebacker Namdi Obiazor (4) reads the offense during a college football game between West Virginia Mountaineers and TCU Horned Frogs on Sept 30, 2023, at Amon G Cater Stadium in Fort Worth, TX.(Photo by Christopher Leduc/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

The New England Patriots hinted at selecting a linebacker on Day 3 of the draft, and with the 212th overall pick they finally got him. Namdi Obiazor out of TCU is joining the team as a sixth-round selection.

Let’s grade the pick.

Instant grades: Patriots draft LB Namdi Obiazor 212th overall

Matt St. Jean: Eliot Wolf said the Patriots liked the linebackers on the third day of the draft. They followed through on that by taking the athletic safety-to-linebacker convert Namdi Obiazor from TCU. He’s an older prospect who tested well with 80-plus tackles in each of the last three seasons. Obiazor profiles as a backup linebacker and core special teamer who could become a starting level player if his mental traits carry over into the speed of the NFL. | Grade: C+

Pat Lane: The Patriots keep moving back and obviously don’t like what’s left on the board for them in this draft. Obiazor has a solid RAS, at 9.14, but he’s not nearly big enough to actually play linebacker for the Patriots. This seems like a special teams only pick. That’s fine, because they lost a bunch of special teamers last year, but I think there were some players on the board that could have helped more than him. |