We’ll be keeping an eye on all the mock drafts as they start to pour in over the next few weeks. If you have one you’d like featured please post a link in the comments below and we’ll put it up.
As always no one mock is ever going to be 100% correct, but when taken as a whole you get a pretty good sense of who the general football-following public thinks the Pats will take.
Wes Bunting (National Football Post) (3/2):
17. JJ Watt
- Watt seems like a perfect fit in the Patriots 34 front. He’s got the length/anchor to set the edge, is a better athlete than given credit for and offers some versatility to play inside in nickel situations as well.
28. Akeem Ayers
- His less than ideal 40 time (4.84) could cause him to fall a bit on draft day. However, the guy has a gifted skill set, plays faster on tape and could be a real find for the Pats at the end of round one.
PatsProp Comment: Love Watt, but not sure Ayers is the physical, tough player the Patriots look for.
NEPatriotsDraft.com (3/1):
17. JJ Watt
- Watt is a versatile defensive linemen that should excel at the NFL level. Explosive against the run and the pass, Watt has a motor that just won’t quit. He will need to learn to 2-gap effectively, but his physical and mental makeup make him a great fit for New England.
28. Muhammad Wilkerson
- Ideal 5-technique DE that sheds blockers with ease. This is a trademark Patriots pick, which will have most casual fans scratching their heads initially, followed by an eventual realization of just how good a player Wilkerson is. We have the Patriots loading up on DE’s as Ty Warren’s health is not guaranteed and Wilkerson/Jordan would fit well in the often-used sub-packages.
PatsProp Comment: Again, love Watt, but doubling down on the defensive line is an interesting choice. Would really solidify the front end of the Pats d-line for the next decade. Just the kind of crazy choice the Pats are known for.
PatsDraft.com (3/2):
17: Ryan Kerrigan
- Kerrigan is a very exciting Passrusher. He is a kinetic dynamo on the field, and is a much better athlete than given credit. In fact, I would compare him to Mike Vrabel, and say he is a more athletic Vrabel, and I really like him as an OLB in a 3-4. I see a lot of Vrabel in him. He had 33.5 career sacks and 14 FF, which is a Big Ten record. He has that knack for making the big play. Great quickness off the line. He looks like he has the size and athleticism to play OLB. The most important aspect of his game is his hustle and non-stop motor.
28. Adrian Clayborn
- Top rated player at the Pats top need position. He is just too good a player to be available here come Draft day, but stranger things have happened. Pats have some extra picks and can afford to take a chance on a guy who was truly great in 2009 and played terrible in 2010 do to injury
PatsProp Comment: Kind of a fail for the PatsDraft boys. Though I don’t rule Kerrigan completely out, Clayborn himself said at the combine he’s a 4-3 guy.
DraftEmpire.com (3/2):
17. Cameron Jordan
28. Mike Pouncey
PatsProp Comment: Hard to argue with either of these picks, both stabilize positions where depth is lacking, while bringing certain traits that are badly needed (Size/versatility).
