Georgia LB Nakobe Dean explains why he'd thrive with Patriots

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The New England Patriots have multiple needs heading to this month's NFL Draft, inside linebacker perhaps chief among them.

One prospect who could be the perfect fit in Foxboro is Georgia's Nakobe Dean. There's a chance he may not slide all the way down to the Patriots at No. 21 overall, but if he does, Bill Belichick and Co. will need to strongly consider using their first-round selection on him.

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Dean tallied six sacks, two interceptions, and two forced fumbles last season with the champion Bulldogs. He boasts the best speed among linebackers in the 2022 class, and that's a quality New England certainly could use on the defensive side of the ball.

So, what else does Dean bring to the table? He joined Phil Perry on a new episode of the Next Pats Podcast to share why he'd benefit any team that takes a chance on him in the draft.

Next Pats Podcast: Georgia linebacker Nakobe Dean explains why he'd thrive with the Patriots | Listen & Follow | Watch on YouTube

"Growing up, my mother's team was the Patriots. My mom is a big Belichick fan," Dean said. "I've had meetings with the Patriots. I feel like I definitely enjoy talking ball with them. ... They seem to have the same philosophy (as Georgia) when it comes to playing defense, when it comes to playing football."

Dean's mother once referred to him as a "math wiz," recalling a time when he entered a math competition and won it. The 6-foot, 225-pounder also was a Mechanical Engineering major at Georgia. He sees that part of his skill set translating to the gridiron.

"I took my education just as serious as I took my sports," Dean said. "Growing up, my mother, it was always education, education, education. It was never sports. Sports was just a hobby growing up until I got to high school.

"But as far as everything in the classroom translating to everything on the field, I feel like the study habits and retaining information helps me because it's just like me trying to study certain equations and everything or how to do a certain problem. It's just like trying to learn the playbook. ... Just things like that kind of help me basically -- it's like a puzzle piece, you kind of put it together and it definitely helps me out a lot."

Along with his smarts, Dean believes he can bring plenty more to an NFL locker room.

"I hope to bring the winning mentality," he said. "I feel like my mindset is second to none. It's unmatched not just on the field, but in life. I feel like I bring that winning mentality and that leadership to whatever team, and that passion and that energy that I play with."

Also in the new episode: Perry breaks down what makes Dean so special and what he’d bring to the Patriots' defense. Dean shares how the experience of interviewing with teams has gone and what those teams are saying to him about what they envision his role will be in the league. Dean explains how he developed as a leader while at Georgia and how will he adapt to the NFL with his smaller size for a linebacker.

Check out the latest episode of the Next Pats Podcast on the NBC Sports Boston Podcast Network, or watch on YouTube below:

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