2019 PatsPropaganda Draft Big Board

Welcome to year nine of the PatsPropaganda Top 50 Draft Big Board! As always, these are my 50 favorite Pats fits roughly in the order that I like them.

This year there are a few areas of near-critical need. Seeing the Pats jump up to take a wide receiver, tight end, tackle or even quarterback wouldn’t be all that surprising. For what feels like the first time in a long time, the Patriots need something out of their draft picks immediately.

That makes the prospect pool a fascinating one. I focused heavily on those four positions, along with the omnipresent need for defensive front seven players. There are a lot of talented fits who could add a jolt of energy to the Patriots just like Gronk did in 2010.

The goal here is to hit as many picks as possible. Therefore, top-15 picks, cornerbacks, interior linemen and running backs are taking a back seat this year. Let’s jump in and make up for last year’s atrocious 1-for-9 performance.

The Top 50

1. Jerry Tillery – Notre Dame – DL: Could play a variety of spots up front with good size and length. Former OL with surprising power. Could be worth trading up for. Not the biggest need but my favorite fit in the class. He’d be just the boost the front seven needs.
2. Andre Dillard — Washington St. — Offensive Lineman: Four-year starter at left tackle, Dillard checks every box but will need to adjust to NFL running offenses, basically, the opposite of Shaq Mason had to do. With him, Wynn and Cannon the Patriots would look a lot better at tackle.
3. Noah Fant — Iowa — Tight End: Assuming Hockenson is out of reach, Fant would give the Patriots a versatile tight end. Fant could immediately stretch defenses up the seam, a place where they’ll miss Gronk most in the passing game. Whether or not he could develop into a full-time Y determines if the Pats would trade up to get him if necessary.
4. Deebo Samuel — South Carolina — Wide Receiver: Super tough and competitive, he could be an instant factor from the slot to groom behind Edelman. Constant effort. Punt returner. One of the more fun prospects to watch in this year’s draft class.
5. Irv Smith Jr. — Alabama — Tight End: Probably the best of the many pro-style projections, Smith would project to the “F” spot but would also bring value as a fullback. Again, he can do some of what Gronk did in the passing game, but he’s gonna need time as a blocker.
6. N’Keal Harry — Arizona State — Wide Receiver: Good size for the outside and highly competitive, Harry could be an immediate factor in the passing game. Would be bring a boost of personality to the receiver group.
7. Taylor Rapp — Washington — Safety: Versatile safety who can play in box. What he lacks in coverage he makes up for with solid tackling and heads up play. Smart. Lot in common with Patrick Chung.
8. Terry McLaurin — Ohio State — Wide Receiver/Gunner: One of those tough route runners who is a special teams demon. BB loves these kind of guys. His potential would be more at the X spot and learning how to beat man coverage.
9. Parris Campbell — Ohio State — KOR/Wide Receiver: Versatile athlete, team captain. Campbell could replace much of Cordarrelle Patterson’s role in the offense. But is he more than a special teams, gadget player? Another team might value that more than New England does as WR4/5.
10. Chase Winovich — Michigan — Edge: A fiery defender, Winovich would project to the up/down left defensive end spot, has the requisite toughness to develop against run.
11. Jace Sternberger — Texas A&M — Tight End: He’s never blocking like Gronk did, but Sternberger is a sure-handed route runner in the passing game.
12. Zach Allen — Boston College — Edge: Smart, intense competitor who has experience reducing inside as a pass rusher. Tweener traits make him a good fit for multiple roles, but likely would be a base hand-down end. Question is whether he’s better at that than Adam Butler, who’s got the sub-interior rusher role pretty much locked.
13. Jalen Jelks — Oregon — Edge: Long-limbed physical fit for the edge of the defense needs to add some bulk, but attacks in the run game. Fluid in space with good closing speed.
14. Will Grier — WVU — Quarterback: Intelligent and accurate but a bit undersized, big check for leadership and commitment. He’s a popular Patriots pick and for good reason. He’s more Mallett than Garoppolo and that scares me a bit.
15. Mack Wilson — Alabama — Linebacker: Prospect who can do it all and has three-down potential. Not a glaring need right now with the emergence of Ja’Whaun Bentley. Still, some Van Noy, Hightower insurance is always welcome.
16. Devin White — LSU — Linebacker: Converted wide receiver who’s still learning to play defense, but is a true football nerd who can’t get enough. Fast with work ethic.
17. Jalen Hurd — Baylor — Wide Receiver: Still learning the position, but a hard worker who’s 6’5″. Definitely a developmental player but he has the potential to develop into a big-time outside receiver.
18. Drue Tranquil — Notre Dame — Linebacker: Loves the game and is tough, but ceiling might not be very high. Special teams potential.
19. AJ Brown — Mississippi — Wide Receiver: Thickly wound receiver who can win in short area quickness.
20. Anthony Johnson — Buffalo — Wide Receiver: Perfect frame, hands catcher. Route running the question. Could be a good outside receiver fit.
21. Hunter Renfrow — Clemson — Wide Receiver: Quick with good hands and a polished route runner. It’s hard not to look at Renfrow and see how well he would fit into the Patriots offense and what has always worked best with Brady. Clutch too.
22. Andy Isabella — UMass — Wide Receiver: Lower-round value option to Renfrow because of smaller stature, but Isabella checks all the other slot receiver boxes with elite quickness and long speed (4.31 40 at combine).
23. Stanley Morgan — Nebraska — Wide Receiver: No relation to the Patriots’ legend, he’s one of those non-flashy football types who just always seem to get it done despite not having a ton of talent. Sound familiar?
24. Armon Watts – Arkansas – DL: Good two-gapper traits, schematic fit for early-down work inside.
25. Joe Jackson — Miami — Edge: Physically fits the part, with plus toughness. How athletic is he will determine how much value he could bring to the Patriots front.
26. Daniel Wise – Kansas – DL: Dietrich’s brother is another versatile front seven piece. Would need time to develop but never rule out bro teammates under BB.
27. JoeJuan Williams — Vanderbilt — CB: Interesting combination of size and aggression at cornerback. He’s 6’4″ and really physical.
28. Albert Huggins – Clemson – DL: Big powerful block eater. Bull rush potential.
29. Daylon Mack – Texas A&M – DL: Untapped potential for an interior two-gapper. Big ceiling.
30. Daniel Jones — Duke — Quarterback: Good size and arm strength, more traditional pocket passer who could blossom with a better cast.
31. Kyle Shurmur — Vanderbilt — Quarterback: Son of Pat, understands the game at a pro level. Fits the pocket mold but has mechanical issues to work out.
32. Riley Ridley — Georgia — Wide Receiver: Yes, Georgia receivers scare me too, but Ridley is the kind of tough and competitive receiver the Pats love.
33. Easton Stick — North Dakota St. — Quarterback: Undersized but “revered” leader of team. Passing and RPO experience. Developmental guy who has the intangibles if not the physical traits necessary.
34. Clayton Thorson — Northwestern — Quarterback: Four-year starter with prototypical pocket passer size, Thorson isn’t flashy but was consistent. Focused work ethic could make up for a lot of his current deficiencies.
35. Kaden Smith — Stanford — Tight End: Good size and willing to make tough catches, Smith has experience blocking in a pro-style offense.
36. Drew Sample — Washington — Tight End: Not one of the flashy Iowa tight ends but a serious football guy who is willing to do the dirty work. Culture fit.
37. Kahale Warring — San Diego State — Tight End: Warring is likely better value if they want a versatile F who may or may not develop into a Gronk replacement. An untapped athletic talent who played just one year of high school football, Warring might have a higher ceiling than Fant.
38. Zach Gentry — Michigan — Tight End: Good size but needs to fill out and get stronger, he’s a projection but one who might be an interesting depth chart pick.
39. Josh Oliver — San Jose St — Tight End: Former linebacker, Oliver has just kept on improving since moving to tight end. A hard worker who would attack learning to block at the NFL level, could already make an impact in the passing game.
40. Tytus Howard — Alabama St. — Offensive Lineman: Former quarterback turned offensive lineman? Yes, please. Really athletic, a common trait in recent years with Isaiah Wynn and Shaq Mason.
41. Cody Ford — Oklahoma — Offensive Lineman: Highly athletic developmental prospect, has the nasty necessary.
42. Paul Adams — Missouri — Offensive Lineman: Two-time captain was a three-year starter at right tackle. Might move to guard but has quickness on pulls and is strong at point of attack.
43. Johnathan Abram — Miss. State — Safety: Tough and physical, fills a lacking need behind Chung.
44. Tyrel Dodson — Texas A&M — Linebacker: Looks the part but doesn’t meet production standard. Usually, I avoid these guys but his special teams skills sneak him on.
45. Amani Hooker — Iowa — Safety: Special teamer potential for an instinctive box safety with plus coverage skills despite a lack of speed.
46. Maxx Crosby — Eastern Michigan — Edge: Developmental Day 3 prospect with the length to play a combination of roles on the edge of the defense.
47. Porter Gustin — USC — Edge: Physical, overcomes less athleticism with effort and work ethic. Not a flashy rusher but has traits to set the edge.
48. Sutton Smith — Northern Illinois — Special Teams: Small school edge rusher with eye popping stats will have to move position, perhaps safety? But has perfect demeanor for core special teamer regardless.
49. Darryl Johnson — North Carolina A&T — Edge: Hard working developmental small school prospect. Ideal size. Priority free agent.
50. Blake Cashman — Minnesota — Linebacker: Went from a walk on to a team captain and those guys always ping the BB radar. He’s a special teamer at best but the kind of guy you build a team around (see Slater, Matthew).