In the primary version of the Herald’s Patriots mock draft, the staff drafted a first-round defensive again who suits all the pieces Bill Belichick seeks in his secondary.
It was an ideal marriage of participant and system, even when Michigan’s Daxton Hill could be out there later, a projection that might entice the staff to commerce again.
In the most recent version of this mock draft, Lady Luck does Belichick a favor. Another defensive again, a top-20 prospect, falls to him at twenty first total, the primary domino in a draft class that addresses each main want on the roster.
And why not? Mac Jones fell to fifteenth final 12 months. In different drafts, the Patriots have discovered a number of high targets out there at their first choose, which leads them to commerce again. Why can’t fortune favor the Pats once more?
Welcome to the Herald’s second seven-round Patriots mock draft.
McDuffie falls into the Patriots’ lap for 2 predictable causes: separate runs on quarterbacks (it occurs yearly irrespective of how poor the category is) and huge receivers. Momentum is constructing for as much as six or seven wideouts to be drafted within the first spherical. So, enter McDuffie.
He’s an all-around cowl artist who checks each single field, from bodily traits to psychological strategy, tackling and system expertise. He’s a three-year school starter equally succesful in man and zone protection, a participant opposing quarterbacks outright prevented final season. As a bonus, McDuffie is already acquainted with components of the Patriots’ scheme, which Washington’s defensive employees put in after visiting Foxboro a couple of years in the past.
He additionally doubles as a punt returner, having averaged 8.2 yards per return final 12 months. Bottom line: McDuffie is an “instant impact player,” as new director of participant personnel Matt Groh coined final week. Stash any considerations about his manufacturing or arm size. McDuffie is the precise participant on the proper place and the precise time for New England.
2nd spherical
No. 54: WR John Metchie III, Alabama
Ht/Wt: 5-11, 187
Out of any prospect within the class, Metchie often is the participant mostly projected to the Patriots. And for good cause.
Nick Saban as soon as referred to as Metchie “the epitome of what you look for in a wide receiver.” He was extremely productive as a two-year starter, piling up greater than 2,000 receiving yards and 14 touchdowns. He established robust chemistry with Mac Jones in 2020 and may play in and out, a should for many Patriots receivers.
Once Metchie finishes recovering from the torn ACL he suffered final December, he profiles as an influence participant early in his profession. Why? Slick, nuanced route-running, elite physique management and his reputed skilled mindset. He screams Patriot.
third spherical
No. 85: OL Sean Rhyan, UCLA
Ht/Wt: 6-5, 321
Rhyan efficiently protected UCLA quarterbacks from the second he stepped on campus, incomes Freshman All-American and First-Team All-Pac 12 honors over his three-year profession. He allowed simply two sacks over greater than 1,000 pass-blocking snaps, per Pro Football Focus. Perhaps better of all, Rhyan presents positional versatility, with some projecting him as a guard on the subsequent degree.
The Patriots can enable Rhyan to find out his finest place as a rookie, then transfer him right into a beginning position for years to come back.
4th spherical
No. 127: OLB DeAngelo Malone, Western Kentucky
Ht/Wt: 6-3, 243
Edge defender is a sneaky want for the Patriots, who’ve a gap of their entrance seven reverse Matt Judon. Their decision, it appears, is to throw numbers at that beginning spot, hoping one among their younger cross rushers stick. Based on his manufacturing, Malone may very well be that participant.
Patriots personnel govt Matt Groh assesses huge receivers, 2022 NFL Draft class
Malone was named MVP of the American staff on the Senior Bowl, posting six tackles and a half-sack. He was additionally extremely productive in school, posting 9 sacks, 17.5 tackles for loss, 4 compelled fumbles and 4 cross breakups final 12 months alone. Malone should add weight to higher maintain up towards the run, however his pure bend off the sting and talent to play in house ought to enchantment to the Patriots within the center rounds.
fifth spherical
No. 158: P Matt Araiza, San Diego State
Ht/Wt: 6-1, 200
A punter?! Yes.
Araiza is a one among one, a game-changer who usually flipped the sector in school by bombing punts longer than 60 yards. He averaged nearly 50 internet yards on punts and crushed 85% of his kickoffs for touchbacks. Nicknamed “The Punt God,” Araiza might nicely get drafted earlier, however this could be the candy spot for the Patriots.
Three years in the past, they drafted Jake Bailey 163rd total, and if Araiza wins a coaching camp battle, they might create nearly $4 million in cap house by releasing Bailey, based on Over The Cap.
No. 170: OG Justin Shaffer, Georgia
Ht/Wt: 6-4, 314
Shaffer is a bruising mauler, who proved his mettle by overcoming a number of accidents in school to start out all 15 video games for the nationwide champion Bulldogs final season. He took most of his snaps at left guard, however has performed some on the precise facet. Shaffer reportedly held his personal on the Senior Bowl, a hotbed for future Patriot prospects.
Guregian: Patriots wish to get on the quick observe in terms of enhancing staff velocity
sixth spherical
No. 200: CB Chase Lucas, Arizona State
Ht/Wt: 5-11, 180
Few gamers on this class are extra skilled than Lucas, who turned 25 final month and totaled 49 begins over six seasons with the Sun Devils. He tasks as a backup outdoors nook who might present worth on particular groups. Lucas checks a number of Patriot bins: he is a former staff captain who clocked an elite 3-cone time (6.78) and may cowl towards the boundary or over the slot.
Concerns pertain to age and his ball manufacturing, however this late within the draft, compromises should be made.
No. 210: QB E.J. Perry, Brown
Ht/Wt: 6-2, 211
Like a number of positions on the roster, backup quarterback is a necessity set to floor in 2023 the Patriots will seemingly deal with sooner. Jarrett Stidham’s contract is up after this 12 months, and 36-year-old Brian Hoyer, newly signed to a 2-year deal, may be launched with out a lot penalty subsequent offseason.
Perry is a developmental, dual-threat prospect who led the FCS in whole offense through the 2019 season and scored 30 touchdowns final 12 months because the Ivy League’s Offensive Player of the Year. Perry’s high traits are his quickness, velocity — he ran a 4.65 on the NFL Combine — and toughness. At the very least, he might assist the Patriots higher simulate the dual-threat passers on their schedule as a rookie on scout staff.