Patriots selected Missouri S Joshuah Bledsoe with the No. 188 overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft.
Bledsoe (5'11/204) is as much of a true box/nickel safety as there is in this class. A contributor for three seasons, a majority of Bledsoe’s best work came with him rolled down near the line of scrimmage. Whether that meant as a pseudo-linebacker, in the slot, or even on the edge against tight ends on occasion, Bledsoe was at his best when his field of vision was allowed to be more limited and he could get after it. Bledsoe proved himself a fiery, aggressive run defender and menace against wide receiver screens. He also has enough athletic ability to work in man coverage. However, it was rare to find Bledsoe playing deep often or effectively, even from split-field alignments. If things shake out right, Bledsoe could be something of a diet Keanu Neal.