Los Angeles Rams head coach Sean McVay was stunned when the New England Patriots announced they had taken University of Tennessee-Chattanooga guard Cole Strange with the 29th pick in the NFL Draft.
McVay and Rams General Manager Les Snead had time to relax during the first round — the Super Bowl champions won’t pick until Friday’s third round — and were speaking to reporters when the pick was made.
McVay immediately did a double-take when he saw the news.
“Wow! Cole Strange just went! How about that? And we wasted our time watching him, thinking he’d be at [pick] 104, maybe,” McVay said, laughing.
Rams reaction to Patriots selection of Cole Strange at #29.
— Andrew Siciliano (@AndrewSiciliano) April 29, 2022
This is hysterical. pic.twitter.com/ADzqt4lizQ
Strange, a five-year starter at left tackle and guard for the Mocs, was projected as a third-round pick by ESPN.
But Patriots head coach Bill Belichick disagreed, telling reporters he didn’t think the offensive lineman would have been available much longer.
The Patriots initially held the 21st overall pick but traded it to the Kansas City Chiefs for the 29th, 94th, and 121st selections.
“There were some other conversations going on there, but ultimately that’s the one we chose. Glad Cole was there when we picked, and as I said, feel like we made the best decision that we could at 21,” Belichick said, NBC Sports reported.
After Boston College guard Zion Johnson and Texas A&M guard Kenyon Green were drafted earlier than expected — Johnson was ranked 24th on Pro Football Focus’ big board and went 17th, while Green was ranked 39th and taken 15th — Belichick was willing to reach to get his guy.
But UT-Chattanooga head coach Rusty Wright said he never talked to Belichick during the pre-draft process.
“He was one of the few [NFL coaches] I did not [talk to],” Wright told WEEI Friday morning. “Maybe someday down the road he will, if he knows where Chattanooga is.”
Still, the Patriots’ scouts did go to the college.
“We had a couple of different scouts here at a couple of different times and that was the biggest thing,” Wright said. “They did their homework and really took their time and made sure it was right for them, and evidently it was.”
Strange fills a significant need for the Patriots, who traded guard Shaq Mason to the Buccaneers last month.
This isn’t the first time a Patriots selection has raised eyebrows across the league, but it’s hard to argue with their track record. The team has won six Super Bowl titles since 2000.
• Peter Santo can be reached at psanto@washingtontimes.com.
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