The New England Patriots traded up to 91st overall in the third round of the 2020 NFL Draft to take UCLA tight end Devin Asiasi. Bill Belichick dealt the 100th, 139th and 172nd picks for the 91st and the 159th picks in a deal with the Las Vegas Raiders.
The tight end finished his final college season with 44 receptions, 641 receiving yards and four touchdowns. It was his most productive season of his career, by far. Because of his lack of playing time until 2019, he lacks experience, particularly in contested balls. But he should shoot to the top of New England’s depth chart at the tight end position, in competition with Matt LaCosse and Ryan Izzo.
New England made Asiasi the second tight end off the board, behind Notre Dame’s Cole Kmet, the Chicago Bears’ pick at 45th overall. Tight ends Adam Trautman and Hunter Bryant were on the board when the Patriots picked.
Asiasi is the Patriots fourth pick of the draft class, behind Lenior-Rhyne safety Kyle Duggan (pick no. 37), Michigan outside linebacker Josh Uche (no. 60) and Alabama outside linebacker Anfernee Jennings (87th overall).
