Patriots go with defense in first round, select Auburn's McCreary
The New England Patriots have selected cornerback Roger McCreary out of Auburn University with the 26th pick of the 2022 NFL Draft.
McCreary, listed at six-feet tall and 190 pounds, impressed many at the combine with his 4.35 40-yard dash which he improved on at his pro day, getting his time down to 4.31 seconds.
A feisty cornerback who won’t back down from a battle, McCreary possesses great hip fluidity and good change of direction to stick with receivers at the top of routes. He has experience in press, off man, cover two and deep thirds which should ease his transition into New England's versatile and ever changing defense.
New England hasn't had much success drafting corners with a long list of selections that haven't panned out including Joejuan Williams and Duke Dawson.
2022 NFL Draft Selections
1. NYJ ‣ S Kyle Hamilton, Notre Dame
2. HOU ‣ DE Aidan Hutchinson, Michigan
3. DET ‣ DE Kayvon Thibodeaux, Oregon
4. CAR ‣ LT Evan Neal, Alabama
5. PHI ‣ DT Demarvin Leal, Texas A&M
6. NYG ‣ CB Derek Stingley Jr, LSU
7. NYG ‣ G Kenyon Green, Texas A&M
8. PHI ‣ WR Drake London, USC
9. PHI ‣ CB Andrew Booth Jr, Clemson
10. JAX ‣ WR Garrett Wilson, Ohio State
11. HOU ‣ T Nicholas Petit-Frere, Ohio State
12. MIN ‣ CB Kair Elam, Florida
13. WAS ‣ WR Treylon Burks, Arkansas
14. NYJ ‣ CB Ahmad Gardner, Cincinnati
15. DEN ‣ WR Chris Olave, Ohio State
16. CIN ‣ OLB Drake Johnson, USC
17. PIT ‣ QB Matt Corral, Ole Miss
18. CLE ‣ WR Jahan Dotson, Penn State
19. ATL ‣ QB Malik Willis, Liberty
20. KC ‣ HB Isaiah Spiller, Texas A&M
21. BUF ‣ WR Justyn Ross, Clemson
22. TEN ‣ C Tyler Linderbaum, Iowa
23. DAL ‣ LT Rasheed Walker, Penn State
24. DET ‣ DT Jordan Davis, Georgia
25. NO ‣ QB Sam Howell, North Carolina
26. NE ‣ CB Roger McCreary, Auburn
27. TB ‣ QB Desmond Ridder, Cincinnati
28. BAL ‣ DE Kingsley Enagbare, South Carolina
29. ARI ‣ LT Sean Rhyan, UCLA
30. LAC ‣ G Ikem Ekwonu, N.C. State
31. GB ‣ DE George Karlaftis, Purdue
32. LV ‣ QB Carson Strong, Nevada