Danny Shelton didn’t quite live up to high expectations in Cleveland after he was drafted 12th overall back in 2015. However, he’s got a chance to start fresh after he was traded to the New England Patriots this offseason. Shelton plans to make the most of that second chance he’s been given, though, with help from none other than former New England nose tackle Vince Wilfork.
As Karen Guregian of the Boston Herald notes, Shelton says he’s already been in touch with the Patriots great and is looking forward to learning more from him as he tries to establish himself in New England.
“For me, he’s someone that I still look up to even when he was with the Texans,” Shelton said about Wilfork. “I got the opportunity to reach out to him and kind of pick his brain and just learn a couple of tips from him. He’s been really responsive. He’s been a guy that has been really helpful this offseason and I’m looking forward to reaching out more and learning some more from him.”
The Patriots defense could definitely use some improvement, particularly on the ground. They plummeted all the way to 30th in run defense last season after being a top-five unit in 2016 and top-10 in 2015.
Just like Wilfork, Shelton is a massive space-eating tackle who can be a big help against the run. Even if he can’t reach Wilfork’s Pro Bowl-caliber play, Shelton should still be a welcome addition to the team if Wilfork can successfully get him playing the Patriot way by next season.
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