2018 PatsPropaganda Draft Big Board

Welcome to year eight of the PatsPropaganda Big Board! The goal here is to hit as many Pats’ draft picks as possible with these 50 players, so it’s a combination of fits and needs, even if Bill Belichick doesn’t subscribe to need picks.

These are the football nerds, the team leaders, the special teams demons, the kind of players that would buy into the Patriot way and be able to make some sort of impact or at least push the starters. Next week I’ll release my mock draft featuring my favorite of this list.

The biggest areas I focused on were athletic off-the-ball linebackers, mid-round quarterbacks, potential left tackles and versatile edge players. Those are the biggest glaring needs as I see them, though I can certainly see running back, tight end and defensive back being taken because there are quite a few good fits in this draft class.

Am I missing someone you love as a fit? Let me know in the comments!

1. Leighton Vander Esche — EDGE/LB – Boise State – 6’4″ 256: The top Pats guy on many big boards, Vander Esche is the kind of player I’ve been dreaming about this offseason, a three-down middle linebacker who could instantly give the defense a much-needed injection of athleticism.
2. Conor Williams — OL – Texas – 6’5″ 320: Tad undersized but one of those competitive football junky types the Pats can’t get enough of. In terms of play demeanor he’s my favorite tackle.
3. Orlando Brown — OT – Oklahoma – 6’8″ 345: Son of Belichick-coached Zeus, a big, tough fit who could step right in if the Pats believe he’s athletic enough.
4. Mike McGlinchy — OT – Notre Dame – 6’8″ 309: Has the desireable athleticism, will need to develop but has all the measurables and intangibles. Can he be a LT?
5. Rashaan Evans — LB – Alabama – 6’3″ 232: Another Alambama linebacker who can play off the ball would be a great need fit. Checks a lot of boxes and is one of the best fits in the draft.
6. Kolton Miller — OT – UCLA – 6’9″ 309: Tall, is he athletic enough to play NFL LT?
7. Lorenzo Carter — EDGE – Georgia – 6’6″ 250, 34″ arms: Perfect size and length to be a versatile edge piece for the Patriots. These kind of guys are so hard to find for the system but he’d be a really good compliment who could play in space but also set the edge as a 5-tech.
8. Hayden Hurst — TE – South Carolina – 6’4″ 250: Energetic and sure-handed tight end who would bring some excitement with him. Would be a nice compliment to Gronk.
9. DJ Moore — WR – Maryland – 6′ 210: Quick, bigger slot receiver who can return punts too.
10. Dorance Armstrong — EDGE/LB – 6’4″ 257, 34 3/4″ arms: Fits the prototype 34 OLB with really good size and arm length, especially athletic and with coaching could really develop.
11. Justin Reid — S – Stanford – 6′ 207: Versatile with good FBI. Not a huge position of need but Reid would step into the fourth safety spot and likely contribute in multiple other ways, including special teams. Oh, and he’d push fellow-Stanford grad Jordan Richards down the depth chart.
12. Jeff Holland — EDGE – 6’2″ 250, 10 1/2″ hands: Not the greatest athlete and a bit undersized, but all day tough with a good motor and can hold ground. Mid-round guy who could carve out a spot.
13. Kyle Laulette — QB – Richmond – 6’3″ 222: Dad went to Navy, team leader, arm strength the biggest concern.
14. Luke Falk — QB – Washington St. – 6’4″ 215: Stand-tall QB who can spin it but takes a lot of sacks. Sounds like another former Coug QB…
15. Nick Chubb — RB – Georgia – 5’11” 228: Good one-cut runner that could be an early down back for the Pats. Injury set him back last year, he’ll slide in the draft.
16. Brian O’Neill — OT – Pitt – 6’7″ 297: Good athlete, inconsistent Senior Bowl, 2-3 round, might be in Pats wheelhouse.
17. Josey Jewell — LB – Iowa – 6’1″, 235: Jewell could have a chance to be a three-down linebacker in the NFL, but he’s a little smaller than the Pats traditionally target with their linebackers.  He’s still 15 pounds bigger than Elandon Roberts and definitely a better total athlete so Jewell could be an upgrade at MLB.
18. Christian Kirk — WR – Texas A&M – 5’10” 200: Receiver who plays tough and knows how to get open, can also return kicks and punts.
19. Michael Gallup — WR – Colorado St. – 6’1″ 205: Explosive ascending receiver who would need time to develop with an extremely high ceiling.
20. Daesean Hamilton — WR – Penn St – 6’1″ 205: Off-field leader might not be the most explosive, but gets open and competes.
21. Trey Quinn — Slot WR – SMU – 5’11” 203: Good hands and play speed, with an understanding of the position.
22. Cedrick Wilson — WR – Boise St. – 6’2″ 197: Former QB with two years as a WR, he’s ascending.
23. Trevon Young — EDGE – Louisville – 6’4″ 258 pounds: Ideal outside linebacker size with good playing demeanor. Recovering from hip injury improves his value.
24. Dorian O’Daniel — LB/ST– Clemson – 6’1″ 223: Yes he’s an athletic middle linebacker, albeit undersized but what gets him on here: special teams demon.
25. Carlton Davis — DB — Auburn – 6’1″ 203: Experienced SEC corner who has the necessary size and length to play tough man coverage.
26. Terrell Edmunds — S – VT – 6′ 217: Aggressive former cornerback who is a team leader and can cover tight ends. Could immediately step into special teams role as well.
27. M.J. Stewart — DB — UNC – 5’11” 200: Tough and physical, with good anticipation. Could be a safety hybrid with solid size for inside.
28. Tony Brown — DB – Alabama – 6’0″ 198: Alabama corner who could get drafted on special teams talent alone? Sign BB up.
29. Brandon Facyson – DB – Oklahoma – 6’1″ 203: Leader with great size and length, gets a lot of hands on balls.
30. *Avonte Maddox – DB – Pittsburgh – 5’9″ 180: Other than being undersized he’s a model teammate and leader.
31. DJ Reed – DB – Kansas State – 5’9″ 188: Tough, confident slot corner who is fearless, can return kicks and punts too.
32. Marcus Allen – S – Penn State – 6’2″ 215: Good sized safety who likes to hit, was team captain and a good tackler.
33. Oren Burks — LB/S/ST – Vanderbilt – 6’3″ 233: Athletic coverage ‘backer with special team skills, Burks played a number of spots including safety. Hybrid player alert.
34. Hercules Mata’ Afa — DL/LB – Washington St. – 6’2″ 254: Undersized but one of my favorite football madmen in this draft. Competes on every snap and plays really hard. Not sure exactly how he fits but he can play.
35. Shaun Dion Hamilton — LB/ST – Alabama – 6′ 228: Doesn’t have the size to get excited about as a linebacker but certainly has the smarts and instincts to carve out a depth role, including athleticism.
36. Tim Settle — DT – Virginia Tech – 6’3″ 335″: Athletic two-gapper who fits but at a position of low need.
37. Brandon Parker — OT – NC A&T – 6’8′ 305: Consistent, experienced coach’s son who will need development time.
38. Foley Fatukasi — DL – UConn – 6’4″ 318: Brute strong-type who could be a versatile piece up front.
39. Jaylen Samuels — H-Back -NC State – 5’11” 223: Samuels could be a TE, RB, FB or H-Back, but is he good enough at any of them to stay in the NFL? BB loves guys who do it all, including special teams, so Samuels is intriguing.
40. Nyheim Hines — RB – NC State – 5’8″ 198: Okay maybe Hines is on here because I already miss Dion Lewis but he is undersized and explosive, a one-cut runner who can returns kicks as well.
41. Olubunmi Rotimi — DL – Old Dominion – 6’4″ 273: High-character with injury concerns, Rotimi played a number of spots on the defensive front. He’s athletic enough to play the LDE Ninkovich role and strong at the point of attack.
42. Harrison Phillips — DL – Standford – 6’4″ 397: One of those “football” guys who also happens to be a wrestler. Not sure how he would fit exactly but he makes a ton of plays and could be worth a late round flyer if he’s around.
43. Braxton Berrios — WR – Miami – 5’9″ 184: Tough, crisp route runner, punt returner.
44. Quadree Henderson — KOR/PR – 5’8″ 190: One of top returners in the country, he’d be a gadget player on offense, maybe taking some of that load off Julian Edelman/ replacing Danny Amendola.
45. Mason Rudolph — QB – Oklahoma St. – 6’3″ 235: Roughly fits what the Patriots do in terms of being more of a pocket quarterback. Shown steady improvement, could be a good development project for a couple seasons. Quick release is a plus.
46. Chase Litton — QB – Marshall – 6’6″ 232: Another developmental QB who plays tough and stands tall in the pocket. Litton has the arm and the competitiveness, but will need to learn how to be an NFL QB.
47. Kalen Ballage – RB – Arizona State – 6’1″ 228: A bigger back who can also catch, I’ve long wanted a guy like him the program. Question mark is if he can make one cut and go, an imperative quality for the Pats’ backs.
48. Micah Kiser – LB – Virginia – 6’2″ 238: An instinctive tackling machine, he might not have the coverage range but he’d push Elandon Roberts. Heavy production has to be considered as a “football guy”.
49. David Bright — OG/OT — Stanford – 6’5″ 305 – Smart, tough and versatile. Low round pick.
50. John Atkins — DT – Alabama – 6’4″ 321: Similar anchor piece to Valentine, he works hard and fits the system. 6th/7th