PATRIOTS MOCK DRAFT 7 ROUNDS

Let me start this blog by saying, the Patriots need to have a strong draft in order to be successful next year. We need players who not only will help us in the future, but can make an impact starting with their rookie year. I'm no draft analysis or football expert, but I've watched a TON of college football and seen every Patriots game this year, and based off the other "experts" mock drafts, I believe the Pats have an honest chance at selecting each of these players.

ROUND 1, PICK 21: Nakobe Dean - LB - Georgia

Now in an ideal world, either Derek Stingley out of LSU, or Trent McDuffie out of Washington end up falling all the way to 21, and the patriots select a replacement for Gilmore, to play alongside J.C Jackson, and hopefully replace his role as top shutdown corner if the Pats fail to extend him. But, I'm a realist, and though many NFL franchises may have solid CB's, both these players have All-Pro skill, and should be gone by 21, so I'm going to use this pick to take another position the patriots need improvement at --- linebacker. With Donta Hightower and Kyle Van Noy both approaching 32 next year, and the struggles we had with the run game, we need a strong presence to appear in our LB core, and Nakobe Dean is that strong presence. En route to a national championship, Dean won the Butkus Award, given to the top LB in college football each year. He was a unanimous all american, collecting 72 tackles, 10.5 of which were for a loss, and 6 of were sacks, along with 2 interceptions and 2 forced fumbles, scoring a TD on a pick return along the way. You may be wondering, if Nakobe Dean is such a monster, how will the Pats be able to get him at 21? Well luckily for us, there is a plethora of talented DE's/OLB's in this draft, and the majority of mock drafts have true LB's Devin Lloyd out of Utah and Damone Clark out of LSU both taken before Nakobe Dean. I believe Dean is the best fit of the three to come in and make an impact right away (though I like the upside of the other two) and believe he should be the Patriots first round pick if he's available.

ROUND 2, PICK 53: John Metchie III - WR - Alabama

The Patriots desperately need help at WR, and there is no doubt in my mind Metchie can be that help. In 2020, Metchie caught 55 passes for 916 yards and 6 td's from none other then Patriots QB Mac Jones. There chemistry will be there, which we've seen as a recipe for success (Burrow and Chase), and the Pats do not have a #1 WR, which I believe Metchie can be. Had he not gotten hurt this year, he likely would be a top 20 pick as he put up monster numbers this year (96 rec, 1142 yards, 8 Tds, in just 12 games), and seemed to step up when the lights shine brightest (look up his game vs Georgia the first time they played). I truly believe Metchie has all the tools to be an All Pro and the best WR of his class, and it's extremely realistic that he will be available at pick 53, as there are 5 WR's ranked above him on nearly every NFL draft site. Metchie, if taken at 53, can immediately join Jakobi Meyers and Kendrick Bourne as the teams WR core, and will be able to play multiple roles, as he showed his ability to play slot and wideout, and is a monster in red zone situations, which is something the patriots desperately need as Hunter Henry was Jones only real redzone target last season.

ROUND 3, PICK 85: Jalen Pitre - Safety/CB - Baylor

As I stated earlier, the pat’s need a 2nd CB and eventually a replacement as their top lockdown CB if they fail to extend Jackson’s contract, which will likely be for 18 million plus, so there’s a high chance they don’t extend him. Jalen Pitre has all the talent to fill this role, as he has excelled in multiple roles for Baylor, playing both safety and corner the past 3 seasons, taking home First Team All-Big 12, First Team All-American, and the Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year award. He was a finalist for the Jim Thorpe award, as Pitre took every chance to prove he is on the top DB’s in the country whenever he took the field this past fall. Pitre is a beast at rushing up and stopping opposing teams run games, but what really impresses me is how talented he is dropping back in coverage. His footwork and direction changes are next level, and his speed allowed him to stay with any WR he covered all season. If Pitre had more experience playing pass coverage in college, he likely would be a top pick in this years draft, but this lack of true coverage experience on top of his smaller stature has forced scouts to drop his projection all the way to the 3rd round. I believe Pitre will be one of those players that can make an impact from day one, but can also improve into a really special player someday. If he is available at pick 85, the Patriots should 100% select him.

ROUND 4, PICK 123: John Paschal - DE - Kentucky

Paschal is an athletic freak, but the amount of talented rushers in this draft will likely cause him to slide down anywhere from rounds 3-5. If he is available round 4, he would be a perfect fit with the patriots. Paschal isn’t your typical edge rusher. He stands at 6’3″, 278 pounds, and has a long and thick frame. As you might imagine, he’s incredibly versatile with his alignments. He can play standing up or from two- and three-point stances at 5-technique. He can slide inside to 3-technique and even shade above the center. What makes Paschal so flexible as a player? It all derives from his physical profile. Paschal's initial get-off is very explosive. Paschal uses that explosiveness and power to knife through gaps and destroy run plays. He also clubs linemen aside and clears open lanes, as well as bulldozes opponents with bull rushes and long-arm moves. Safe to say —- he can make plays in a lot of ways and was known to wreak havoc on opposing teams during his days at Kentucky. Paschal brings a lot of pressure to QB’s, and is also solid stopping the run game. On top of that, he’s a very strong tackler, and uses great instincts to make plays. The negatives for Paschal is that he often lacks a game plan, and makes some mental mistakes. This is nothing that can’t be fixed by joining BB in New England, as he is known to preach the mental part of the game, and takes pride in making sure his players are prepared. Paschal's athleticism mixed with Belichick's mind could result in something special. If Paschal falls to the fourth round, he’s the guy to take.

ROUND 5, PICK 173: Justin Shaffer - G - Georgia

The Patriots need to obtain some sort of depth at the guard position, as Mike Onwenunu is the only backup guard currently on the depth chart. Shaffer is listed at 6’4, 330 pounds, but scouting reports claim he plays a very athletic style of blocking, as he uses his explosiveness to get off the line and push rushers back, while finding space for rushers and time for QB’s. He’s fairly light on his feet and has great mobility for his size. On top of this, he has great leverage and keeps his balance very well. Overall, Shaffer has the future starting guard written all over him. The only weakness he has is his core strength, as scouts have questioned if that will impact his ability to succeed at the next level, but I believe lack of core strength is an okay problem to have if the man has enough weight, and the right workout program to give him the core strength he is missing from having the complete package. As of now Shaffer, is a late round guy, but his upcoming performance in the senior bowl could change this stock. Regardless, if he falls this far back, the Patriots should take a chance and select him in the 5th round.

ROUND 6, PICK 209: Jarret Patterson - C - ND

The Notre Dame product is fairly quick out of his stance and flashes good explosiveness for his 6’5″, 305-pound frame. He possesses smooth lateral mobility and shuffles easily between landmarks. Additionally, Patterson changes directions quickly for his size and has great recovery athleticism. Patterson’s mobility allows him to adjust his angle in tight quarters, and he possesses good twitch, storing lots of potential energy in his frame. While Patterson has the athletic traits to adapt in tight quarters, he also has the physical capacity to withstand contact and power. The Fighting Irish center’s torso flexibility helps him absorb force at the point of attack, and he actively leans into rushes to stay well-balanced, using his strong base to stay on platform. Among other things, Patterson has excellent leg drive when latched onto opponents, and his grip strength is solid. He derives much of his power from a strong lower body, and he’s strong enough to hold his ground in congested areas. He has a high IQ on top of this, and is able to identify rushers quickly in real time. He has the ability to play C or either of the guard positions. The only question in Patterson’s game is his lack of length, but scouts believe his all around solid play in other areas makes up for the lack of reach. The only concern I have for Patterson is that he will not be available in round 6 when the Pat’s are selecting, but if he is available he is a no brainer selection here.

ROUND 7, PICK 219: Austin Deculus - LT/RT - LSU

You didn’t think I could go all 7 rounds without mentioning LSU did you? Deculus has had a wild career in Baton Rouge. He leaves LSU with the record for most games played, as COVID gave him an extra year of eligibility and allowed him to once again show off the skills that got him a starting job on arguably the greatest college team ever (2019 LSU). Standing at 6’5, and weighing 325 LBs, Deceulus has the size to play at the next level. Deculus is a very intelligent player, and hopefully can relieve Isiah Wynn of any starting duties. Wynn has caused Patriot fans several headaches with his poor play and constant penalties and mistakes. Deculus is a player who has a lot of work to do to be a true impact blocker at tackle, but he is already an improvement from Wynn as he likely won’t make all of the mental mistakes that have plagued Wynn so far. Overall, Deculus is not a sure thing to start at the next level, but at the very least he will be a serviceable backup, and no one should be upset if the Pats take him with their last pick. Plus look at how much his look has improved over a year. What a head of hair!