New England management really went all-in for Andrew Farrell at Thursday’s draft.
It was a bold move, trading up to get into the No. 1 chair – and it was all about the technically crafty center back who learned the game in Peru, where his American parents were missionaries during most of Farrell’s formative years.
It wasn’t just that Farrell was versatile and skillful. And it wasn’t just that he’s MLS-ready. For Heaps, it was the way the Louisville man carried himself when coaches, fans and media began sensing some special ability. The young man never bent under the rising weight.
We just felt that he was consensus No. 1 across [the board] from a lot of different feelings going into the draft. In college a lot of people were labeling him as the No. 1 pick when we were No. 4, but we still went to watch and see. He carried that pressure well, and I think those are important things. Then he also backed it up with a solid Combine. When you’re asked to perform at the level he’s had to perform in the spotlight, I think that also shows a little bit of character.”