Patriots Select Ex-Georgia Cornerback Ameer Speed; Special Teams Star?

The New England Patriots selected a cornerback prospect in the sixth round who could contribute on special teams in Ameer Speed.

The New England Patriots could strengthen the secondary even more so special teams with their sixth-round pick. They drafted Ameer Speed, Michigan State cornerback, with the No. 214 overall pick. 

Speed, a former member of the national championship-winning Georgia Bulldogs, transferred to Michigan State prior to the 2022 season. Speed will now become the second cornerback that the Patriots have selected this draft class, with the other being Christian Gonzalez, who was taken No. 17 overall back on Day 1.

"Ameer Speed is an impact cornerback transfer from Georgia joining the Spartans for his sixth season of eligibility," NFL Draft Bible wrote about the Spartan. "He is a four-year letter winner at Georgia (2017, 2019-21), playing in 48 games for the Bulldogs and was a member of the 2021 National Championship team. He finished at Georgia with 25 career tackles."

Speed possesses some of the traits that the Patriots have looked for in cornerbacks under Bill Belichick, two of them being his height at 6-foot-3 and, as his last name suggests coincidentally, his speed. The ex-Spartan ran a 4.33 40-yard dash, according to ESPN's NFL Draft broadcast.

But even if Speed doesn't see time on the field at corner, he will likely feature on special teams where he recorded over 500 snaps on special teams for Georgia, according to Draft Bible.

The Patriots will be on the clock again at pick No. 245, their last pick of the NFL Draft. 

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