Three weeks away from the NFL Draft, the Patriots’ roster holes are clear.
Offensive deal with and cornerback lead the pack, adopted by some order of large receiver, tight finish and edge defender. The Pats sometimes make investments their high picks into positions that may turn into areas of want inside a 12 months or two. But will they try this once more this month, a time when Bill Belichick, Mac Jones and the remainder of the franchise can hardly afford to look forward?
Here is the Herald’s second seven-round Patriots mock draft.
1st spherical
No. 14: Tennessee OT Darnell Wright
Ht/Wt: 6-5, 333
A proper deal with who allowed the third-lowest stress charge within the FBS final 12 months and is a road-grading run-blocker? How quick do the Patriots flip on this card?
Wright initiatives as a possible Day 1 starter in New England, the place everybody would quickly learn the way he dominated Alabama move rusher Will Anderson, a projected top-5 decide, of their head-to-head matchup final season. He instantly addresses a place of want within the quick and long-term. Wright additionally has expertise taking part in left deal with, and NFL Network draft analyst Daniel Jeremiah, a former scout with the Eagles and Ravens, believes he has a case for being one of the best offensive deal with within the class.
Wright checks each field for Patriots O-lineman: good, robust and athletic sufficient. The relaxation, particularly for an offense that ranked useless final by ESPN’s Run Block Win Rate, is gravy.
2nd spherical
TRADE: Patriots ship their second-round decide (No. 46) and a fourth-rounder (No. 107) to Las Vegas to maneuver as much as thirty eighth general.
No. 38: Mississippi State CB Emmanuel Forbes
Ht/Wt: 6-1, 170
Fourteen interceptions. A half-dozen pick-sixes. Man-coverage abilities sharpened within the SEC.
Forbes matches the prototype for a Patriots cornerback with arguably one of the best ball abilities on this class and man-to-man expertise. The Pats should substitute Jalen Mills at one beginning spot now that he’s shifting again to security. Forbes may try this and/or present insurance coverage if not too long ago suspended Jack Jones doesn’t show dependable sufficient to earn extra taking part in time. Not to say, at 6-foot-1, Forbes provides the Patriots’ smaller cornerbacks room a weapon towards greater wideouts.
If the entrance workplace isn’t involved about how skinny he’s, they need to soar on the probability so as to add him.
Meanwhile, the commerce up for Forbes makes it 5 straight years the entrance workplace has climbed up the board within the second spherical to land a coveted prospect after Joejuan Williams (2019), Josh Uche (2020), Christian Barmore (2021) and Tyquan Thornton final 12 months.
third spherical
No. 76: South Dakota State TE Tucker Kraft
Ht/Wt: 6-5, 254
An damage inclined tight finish with an enormous body and the power to play in-line and break up out large? Sound acquainted?
While Kraft is actually no Rob Gronkowski, whose damage considerations dropped him into Day 2 of the 2010 draft, he’s a well-rounded participant who seemed like a person amongst boys on the FCS degree. In his final full season, he recorded 770 receiving yards and eight touchdowns. Kraft may take a season to develop behind Hunter Henry and Mike Gesicki – each getting into contract years – earlier than stepping in because the Patriots’ 2024 starter.
4th spherical
No. 117: Tennessee EDGE Byron Young
Ht/Wt: 6-2, 250
Young is an explosive, high-energy move rusher off the sting who seemingly comes with an excellent work ethic {and professional} method. He possesses good quickness and might drop into protection, often even in man-to-man. He matches the bodily prototype for Patriots edge defenders, and in the event that they don’t mine his superior age (25), count on him to be someplace on their board.
No. 135: Purdue QB Aidan O’Connell
Ht/Wt: 6-3, 213
O’Connell is without doubt one of the most skilled prospects on this class, a three-year starter and six-year participant at Purdue. He’s a conventional pocket passer with plus accuracy and command of his offense. O’Connell received’t scare any defenses along with his legs, however his quick-decision making retains him out of bother, and his profile matches precisely what the Patriots discovered within the fourth spherical final 12 months with Bailey Zappe.
Guregian: Level of Patriots dysfunction rising by the minute
sixth spherical
No. 184: Michigan WR Ronnie Bell
Ht/Wt: 6-0, 191
With their depth within the slot, between JuJu Smith-Schuster and new tight finish Mike Gesicki, the Pats add one other perimeter weapon in Bell, who got here off a torn ACL final 12 months. He’s a bodily and aggressive wideout with plus ball abilities and return expertise. The Patriots are larger on their pass-catching expertise than exterior consensus, however nonetheless see worth right here in Bell understanding he has higher soccer forward of him the additional he will get away from his ACL damage.
No. 187: UCLA OL Atonio Mafi
Ht/Wt: 6-3, 329
Another prospect the Patriots coached on the East-West Shrine Game, Mafi is a run-blocker at his core who has expertise taking part in each guard spots. He left UCLA having performed a program-record 56 video games, together with some at nostril deal with after he began his faculty profession taking part in protection. He’s highly effective and uncooked with some untapped potential that ought to enchantment within the later rounds.
No. 192: Oklahoma P Michael Turk
Ht/Wt: 6-0, 227
So lengthy as Corliss Waitman is the one punter on the roster, count on the Patriots to focus on one other one within the draft. Turk has immense energy in his proper leg and was a first-team All-Big 12 choice after rating third within the FBS with a 46.8 yards per punt common. He averaged greater than 50 yards per punt the 12 months earlier than and is the nephew of 19-year NFL veteran Matt Turk, a former punter.
No. 210: Oregon State FB Jack Colletto
Ht/Wt: 6-3, 258
If it is versatility Belichick needs, he can have it in Colletto.
The former fullback labored at his common place, tight finish and linebacker throughout his Pro Day final month. He posted explosive numbers within the vertical and broad soar. The Patriots used Colletto as a fullback throughout East-West Shrine Bowl practices, and with out one on the roster, it is honest to wonder if they have been ready so as to add one within the draft.
seventh spherical
No. 245: Penn State DL PJ Mustipher
Ht/Wt: 6-4, 320
A two-time captain at Penn State, Mustipher examined poorly on the NFL Combine however possesses the requisite toughness and flexibility that ought to land him on the Patriots’ board. He can play throughout the inside line of defense and kick out in short-yardage packages. Mustipher has already stated he would like to play in New England, and right here, the Patriots grant his want after teaching him on the East-West Shrine Bowl, the place he earned Practice Player of the Week honors.
Source: www.bostonherald.com