Predicting the Patriots’ first-round decide looks like a idiot’s errand as a result of it typically is.
But will that cease us from making an attempt? Ha.
Welcome to the top of draft season, the place the mock drafts, participant projections and daring predictions are nearly behind us. Almost.
In the Herald’s remaining seveb-round Patriots mock draft, the workforce provides Clemson edge rusher Myles Murphy at 14th general. But if Bill Belichick makes a distinct choice tonight, count on him to work from this checklist of the 5 different almost definitely Patriots first-round picks.
Georgia OT Broderick Jones
Ht/Wt: 6-5, 311
A projected top-15 decide, Jones may permit the Patriots to concurrently deal with a high want and choose one of the best participant obtainable. What may very well be higher than that?
Only 21 years outdated, Jones is arguably probably the most bodily gifted deal with on this class. He is immensely highly effective, explosive out of his stance and performs with a imply streak. Scouts describe him as having the toes of a basketball participant, making him powerful to get round. And regardless of his inexperience, he had zero holding penalties final 12 months.
Jones leaves Georgia as a one-year starter at left deal with who didn’t permit one sack throughout a nationwide championship marketing campaign. With some refinement, he tasks as a future Pro Bowler at a premium place.
Tennessee OT Darnell Wright
Ht/Wt: 6-5, 333
Wright could be a plug-and-play starter at proper deal with, the place the Patriots current and future stays unsettled regardless of signing Riley Reiff and Calvin Anderson in free company. He allowed the third-lowest stress charge within the FBS final 12 months and bulldozes defenders as a run-blocker. And nobody produced extra spectacular single-game tapes than him.
Against Alabama, Wright dominated edge rusher Will Anderson, a projected top-5 decide, of their head-to-head matchup final season. He additionally dealt with LSU’s B.J. Ojulari, a borderline first-round decide, and battled Clemson’s Bryan Bresee, a top-50 prospect, to a draw. NFL Network draft analyst Daniel Jeremiah, a former scout with the Eagles and Ravens, believes Wright has a case for being one of the best offensive deal with within the class.
Bottom line: Wright checks each field for Patriots O-lineman as a sensible, powerful and athletic sufficient lineman with plus tape.
Maryland CB Deonte Banks
Ht/Wt: 6-0, 197
An explosive athlete who tasks as a man-to-man nook, Banks has reportedly crept up draft boards the previous few months. Don’t be stunned if considered one of them belongs to the Patriots.
Banks has 4.3 velocity and an unbelievable means to reflect opposing receivers by their routes. He allowed simply 43% of his targets to be accomplished final season and performed in quite a lot of coverages. If the teaching workers can clean out some kinks in his press method and refine his ball abilities, Banks may problem for a beginning job straight away.
Mississippi State CB Emmanuel Forbes
Ht/Wt: 6-1, 170
If the Patriots commerce again from 14th general, Forbes must be on the quick checklist of their targets within the late teenagers or early 20s. He checks all the foremost packing containers for potential Patriots cornerbacks: ball abilities, quicks and man-coverage abilities.
Forbes completed his school profession with 14 interceptions, together with six he returned for touchdowns. Forbes’ recreation was cast within the fires of the SEC, the place he confronted a few of the nation’s greatest receivers week in and week out. At 6-foot-1, he would supply a a lot wanted measurement improve for a smaller group of cornerbacks. If the entrance workplace isn’t involved about how skinny he’s, they need to leap on the likelihood so as to add him.
The 10 NFL Draft prospects who greatest match the Patriots after the first spherical
Notre Dame TE Michael Mayer
Ht/Wt: 6-4, 265
Looking for a sleeper decide? Start with Mayer.
He’s a throwback participant who may push Hunter Henry for the beginning job this season and exchange him and/or Mike Gesicki subsequent 12 months, when each veterans’ contracts shall be up. Mayer is universally thought to be a top-two prospect amongst tight ends, and the most secure decide on this class. He’s punishing as a blocker and savvy together with his routes, one thing few, if any, different tight ends on this draft can say.
Mayer caught 67 passes for 809 yards and 9 touchdowns final season regardless of being an apparent go-to man. The solely knock on him is his lengthy velocity, however traditionally the Patriots have not prioritized that on the place. Mayer wins the place they need him to: down the seam, on contested catches and blocking in-line.
Best of all, he is been in comparison with future Pro Football Hall of Famer Jason Witten throughout the draft course of.
Source: www.bostonherald.com