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2016 Top-50 New England Patriots Draft Big Board

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It’s year six of the PatsPropaganda Top-50 New England Patriots Draft Big Board. You can find previous year’s big boards here. As always, the goal is to get as many Patriots picks on this board as possible. Given that the Pats don’t have a first rounder this year it makes things a little more difficult, because I try to be realistic so you won’t find any of the usual top prospects here. Still, the Pats do have enough ammo to move up in the second round, all the way to the top if they choose to, so that gives us a bit of flexibility.

Here’s how I’ve done in the first five seasons of the big board and mock drafts:

New England Patriots Draft Big Board History

The goal is to get 50 percent on the big board, as I haven’t gotten close since 4-of-9 in 2011. Some disclaimers:

  • “mm” signifies how many matching measurables as compiled by Doug Kyed of NESN. These are the number of height/weight/testing results that matchup with what the Patriots like at each position.
  • The numbers are the scouting rankings from NFL.com, giving us a rough idea of how that site’s scouts project them.
  • Prospects who have met or worked out for the Pats are designated with (met) per Pats Pulpit’s great list.
  • The list is fluid and will be updated up until the draft. If there’s someone you feel is a perfect Patriots fit LET ME KNOW IN THE COMMENTS!

I make no claims to being a scout, but I know what the Patriots like and look for. This is all for fun trying to beat myself. If you love or hate a prospect let me know in the comments, this list will be fluid up until the draft. I’ll drop my single mock draft a week or so before the draft.

Let’s do it!

New England Patriots Draft Big Board

  1. Sterling Shepard, WR, Oklahoma, 5.77 5102 194 (mm5) – maybe the most Patriots-ready wide receiver in the draft. Polished route running, stop-on-dime ability and a willing blocker in the run game. Size is a bit of an issue, but great burst with both long speed and quickness. Might sneak into the first round.
  2. Austin Johnson, DT, Penn St., 5.98 (met) – Good size and athleticism, Johnson would fit well on the interior of the Pats’ defensive line. More of an effort pass rusher, Johnson still has the goods to mix single- and double-gapping.
  3. Jason Spriggs, Indiana, 5.51 (mm 10) 6050: Like Nate Solder, Spriggs is a former tight end and after four years at left tackle at Indiana, that’s probably where he’s headed in the pros. If he can adjust to the power of the NFL game he could possibly make the switch to right tackle and that’s where the need truly lies.
  4. Shon Coleman, OT, Auburn, 5.84, 6’060 313 – Cancer survivor who plays with toughness and handles himself like a pro already, Coleman is already 25 years old having spent extended time off the field while he was sick. Pats didn’t shy away from this kind of thing with Marcus Cannon (cancer) and Sebastian Vollmer (older prospect), Coleman could be the developmental right tackle they need for 2017, but by then he’s already closing in on 30.
  5. Joe Haeg, T, North Dakota St. (met) – Good size (6’6″, 304, 33 3/4 inch arms) and athletic performance. Played both sides but coming from a small school will need a year to develop. Sounds like NE would be a good spot for him. He seems like he’ll be right in the Pats sweet spot in the second round, but could go in the third so they’ll have a decision to make.
  6. Willie Beavers, T, Western Michigan, 5.48 (mm 4) 6040 324, Three-year starter who’s athletic enough to play the left side in the pros. Good burst off the snap, and has the ability to get into space to block screens that the Patriots love. Beavers is just what I’m looking for with the Pats in this draft and he should be available to them if they feel the same.
  7. Jordan Jenkins, LB, Georgia, 5.91 (met) – Jenkins played both at linebacker and as a pass rusher in the four-man front, a similar role to Dont’a Hightower coming out. He’s got those tweener traits that make some wonder how he fits, but he was a captain and is athletic and strong. He’d fit right in with the Patriots linebacking corps. Not a huge position of need, but a great fit, and one who’d need to play special teams out of the gate.
  8. Le’Raven Clark, OT, Texas Tech, 6.05 (met) (mm 4) 6050 312 – Clark might be better suited at left tackle and that doesn’t fill the need I want. There are concerns about his college offense not translating to the pros, but he has the athleticism that would be an interesting evolution at the right tackle spot. I think that’s where the game is going.
  9. Hassan Ridgeway, DT, Texas: The Patriots certainly saw plenty of Ridgeway as they scouted 2015 first rounder Malcom Brown. Some think he’ll be even better than Brown. Good size with unique movement skills, Ridgeway would be an excellent fit next to Brown once again.
  10. Alex Collins, RB, ARK 5.7 (met) – North-South runner who can also catch, Collins developed into a team leader at Arkansas while putting up big numbers.  Biggest concern is 16 career fumbles, a big no no in New England and something that could drop him off this board. Still, he’s just what the Pats need as an early down back to soften up the defense. Stylistically he’s my favorite Patriots fit at RB and a realistic option.
  11. Kenneth Dixon – LA Tech, 5.69, 5’10”, 210 (mm8) – Determined runner, good speed and hands, but up and down in pass protection. Fights for every yard. Reminds me a bit of Ridley. Seems like this is the guy always atop the running back board who is available when the Pats pick.
  12. Leonte Carroo, WR, Rutgers, 5.34 5’117 211 – Yup, a Rutgers guy, but Carroo fits beyond that. Polished route runner with attention to detail and a good combination of speed and quickness. Knows how to set up defenders. Assault charge is a question mark, but on the field Carroo seems to have what it takes to succeed as a WR in NE. Good ability on deep balls, something that could help the Pats’ offense.
  13. Tyler Boyd, WR, Pittsburgh, 5.9 6014 197 – Lined up all over the place for Pitt, including as a returner. Great hands, but isn’t going to be the deep threat some want, but would be bring some size to the Edelman position. Worries about his durability. Smooth runner, not sure if he has the quickness in and out of his routes for the full Pats route tree.
  14. Devontae Booker, RB, Utah – Do-it-all back with good size (5’11”, 220), doesn’t have a great burst of speed and had six fumbles last season, but can make a cut and go. Also good on short yardage. Tough and determined. Team captain.
  15. Jaylon Smith, LB, Notre Dame – With huge knee injury issues Smith is likely out for 2016, but he’d be a surefire first rounder if he was healthy. Given BB’s love for linebackers and the patience they’ve shown in the past, I have to think the Pats could easily take a flyer on Smith.
  16. Joshua Perry – MLB, Ohio St., 5.31 (mm7) – Noted leader, who’s physical at the point of attack, Perry is a good MLB fit. Good instincts and physical, but not a destroyer like Spikes. He seems to see the plays develop and knows where to go.
  17. Braxton Miller, Ohio State, 5.4 6’013 201 (mm7) – Former quarterback is raw in his route running, but has the smarts to adapt with practice. Unquestioned athleticism with good size. Biggest question is durability and how well he’ll handle an NFL pounding. Tough to read, seems to be thinking on every snap and that tells me with the Pats offense he’d need at least a year to grasp the offense.
  18. Jonathan Williams, RB, ARK 5.65 – Stock has dropped after a foot injury this past season. Still, good size at 5′ 11″, 225 pounds, will just have to work at lowering his pad level. Another early down pounder, a role the Pats need in their rotation.
  19. Harlan Miller, CB, SE Louisiana, 5.78 – Fiery competitor who’s not afraid to tackle, Miller played both press and off-man coverage, usually following the top receiving threat.  Plays with a chip on his shoulder and fits what the Pats like in the corners and their scheme.
  20.  DJ White,  CB, GTech, 5.56 (met)- One of my favorite CB options this year, White is undersized but has played all kinds of coverage and is a captain with instincts. About the same size as Logan Ryan, some thing that’s undersized but he has the aggressive play to overcome that.
  21. Cyrus Jones, CB, Alabama (met) – Classic undersized but fearless corner who plays special teams that the Pats love, coming out of one of the best programs in the country. Four punt returns for TD as a senior. Has been consistently improving.
  22. Carl Nassib, Penn St. 5.61 – One year wonder but all the measurables and work ethic. Nassib is seems like an ideal DE fit for the Patriots, but I worry that he’s one of those try-hard guys who can’t win with effort alone in the NFL. Still, his rise at Penn State after being told by Bill O’Brien that he’d never make it has Patriots written all over it.
  23. Blake Martinez – MLB, Stanford, 5.32 (mm5) – A Captain and highly aggressive linebacker who would fit nicely into the middle of the Pats defense as a mid-round selection. In a potential two-down role, Martinez’s lack of speed in coverage could be mitigated.
  24. Matthew Ioannidis, DT, Temple, 5.57, (mm7) – Country strong two-gapper, Ioannidis isn’t going to be a flashy player, but is equipped to do the dirty work inside. Non-stop effort, he played both inside and outside and is coachable.
  25. Sheldon Day, DT, Notre Dame, 5.55 – Two-year captain who is super athletic with quick hands, he’s in the Easley interior rusher mold. Problem is he is just six feet tall with short arms and has durability concerns. Still, a great teammate and has pass rush skill.
  26. Daniel Braverman, WR, Western Michigan: Small school receiver but even the scouting reports think he’s the prototypical Patriots slot receiver type. Definitely undersized but there seems to be little doubt he’ll be able to get open in the NFL.
  27. Jihad Ward, DE, Illinois, 5.57 – Versatility to play inside or outside on the defensive line with good size (6’5″, 297) and long arms (33 5/8 in.). Has the athleticism to do multiple things in the Patriots front. Seems very much in the Chandler Jones mold, so he could make sense as part of a replacement plan.
  28. DeAndre Houston-Carson, S, William & Mary, 5.56 – Moved from corner to free safety. Was a team captain and a special teams demon. Question is level of competition, but could be groomed as a Duron Harmon replacement as he enters his last year.
  29. Sean Davis, S, Maryland, 5.4 – Big frame and a hard hitter who’s played all over the secondary. There are some man coverage concerns but could be groomed for a role that works around his weaknesses. Third-best 3-cone time at combine.
  30. Justin Simmons, BC, 5.36 (mm 7) – tall SS with cornerback experience. 2nd best three cone, future coach, played both FS and SS, lanky but physical, interesting Pats SS projection, has size for taller slot/TE coverage.
  31. Devon Cajuste, WR, Stanford, 5.43, 6030 216 – Former TE who moved to WR had the best 3-cone, but might lack the pull-away speed that might make him more of an H-back in the NFL. Interesting mismatch player who was underused in Stanford’s offense.
  32. Joe Dahl, G, WSU, 5.4 (mm 8) – Left tackle who will move to guard has great work habits and the football smarts. Well-balanced player who might not be the mauler the Pats often like, but would do well in their pass protection game.
  33. Connor McGovern, G, Missouri, 5.37, (met) (mm 10) – Weight room warrior but it translates to the field and doesn’t hinder his athleticism. Can play tackle in a pinch as well. Checks every box the Pats like for the position, but need and value probably won’t match up.
  34. Dan Vitale, FB/H-back, Northwestern, 4.85* (met) (mm8) – Like projects to an H-back, Vitale has surprisingly nice routes for his size and good toughness. Highly coachable leader, Nick Caserio took time to speak with him privately at Northwestern’s pro day. Checks a lot of boxes and could compete for a third-TE/H-back role in NE’s offense.
  35. Jake McGee, TE, Florida, 5.3, (mm 1) – Former QB with great hands, McGee’s one season in Florida ended early with a broken tib/fib.  Total team guy with the smarts to potentially pick up Pats’ system.
  36. Aaron Burbridge, WR, MSU, 5.49 6000 206: Emerged as starting X last season, committed to working at his craft and makes the tough catches. Possession target with good size.
  37. Keenan Reynolds, RB, Navy, 4.96: Making the transition to RB from QB, and has fumble issues, but I just have to put a star Navy player on here because you know he’s on BB’s radar. D-1 record for touchdowns and set FBS rushing record.
  38. Glenn Gronkowski, FB, Kansas St. (met) (mm6): He’s a Gronk so he’s on here. Committed to blocking and has the desired temperament, but got limited touches in college so that’s a bit of an unknown. But he checks some boxes and the Pats have already had two Gronks, a third has to be a consideration.
  39. Juston Burris, CB, NC St., 5.42 – Doesn’t have great play speed but is physical, reliable, and experienced. Also a willing run defender, a necessity to play in New England.
  40. Devon Johnson, RB, Marshall, 5.31 – Played a bunch of different positions, Johnson runs like a “bull in a china shop”. At almost 240 pounds he seems to be in the LeGarrette Blount mold. Injury history needs investigating.
  41. Brandon Wilds, RB, South Carolina, 4.94 – Tall running back who runs hard, but lacks creativity. A number of small injuries held him back at times in college. Has great hands. Intriguing low round guy.
  42. Nelson Spruce, WR, Colorado, 5.38 6011 206 – Average speed and quickness but a reliable route runner with soft hands and the ability to make tough catches in traffic.
  43. Tyler Matakevich – LB, Temple, 6’/233, Productive but undersized. Instinctive and physical despite his limitations. Leader with great work ethic.
  44. Steve Longa – LB, Rutgers, 5.27. Productive but not overly athletic. Played all three LB positions.
  45. Dean Lowery, DE Northwestern, 5.2 -Max effort edge player who lacks an explosive quick twitch. Can set the edge but might not have enough to get after the passer.
  46. Lawrence Thomas, DL, Michigan St. 5.17 (met) – Athletic, try hard guy, but hasn’t put it all together yet. Played linebacker, defensive tackle and defensive end.
  47. Theiren Cockran, DE, Minnesota, 4.65 (met) – Long defensive end who has rushed the passer both standing up and down. Coaches son, leader, but gets pushed around.
  48. Michael Thomas, WR, Southern Miss, 4.99 – Hair on fire.
  49. Ben Braunecker, TE, Harvard 5.23, (mm7) – Top performer in all combine drills, Braunecker is a tough blocker who runs quality routes. Coming out of Harvard a bit of a concern with the NFL jump but seems to have all the skills needed.
  50. Joel Heath, DL, Michigan St., 5.11, (met) (mm10) – Devout leader with good size (6060, 291), Heath checks all the boxes. Classic grinder who was overshadowed in college. Pats love to give these kind of guys a look, especially when they have Heath’s character.

 

Pre-Combine New England Patriots Draft Posits

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Welcome to the start of my sixth draft season here at PatsPropaganda! For those of you who are new to the site I don’t pay much attention at all to college football or the draft until the Patriots season ends. Back in 2011, I started a yearly challenge with myself to pick 50 prospects I liked for the Patriots with the hopes of getting as many picks as I could. You can see the last five Top-50 Patriots-only big boards here. I also try to only do one mock draft a week or two before the actual draft in an effort to have some accountability with my picks.

Here’s how I’ve done, still trying to break 50% on the big board:

new england patriots draft record

The process has begun yet again, but with the Pats not having a first round pick, and no selection until the end of the second round, this is going to be the hardest year yet because most of the top guys at each position are going to be gone. Still, with compensatory draft picks, the Pats will likely have these selections, more than enough to fill some holes and do some damage:

  • 2nd Rounder
  • 3rd Rounder
  • 3rd Rounder (compensatory)
  • 4th Rounder
  • 5th Rounder (compensatory)
  • 6th Rounder (from Houston in Keshawn Martin trade)
  • 6th Rounder (compensatory)
  • 7th Rounder
  • 7th Rounder (compensatory)
  • 7th Rounder (from Houston in Ryan Mallett trade)

Having dipped my toe into this year’s draft class, here are some quick hit thoughts. It’s a long process but matching up the Pats needs with the kind of players available gives you a sense of where they might be able to operate.

  • I don’t think Edge or Interior DL are huge needs but those just might be the two deepest areas of Pats’ fits. He’ll be long gone by the time the Pats pick, but Alabama DT A’Shawn Robinson might be the perfect Pats DT fit. There are quite a few undersized DTs that could fit as well. With the rotation the Pats like to run, the more diverse group of players they have the better.
  • Another player who will be long gone but would be a good standup linebacker in the Pats system is Jordan Jenkins from Georgia. A low-round option could be Theiren Cockran from Minnesota who has all the intangibles.
  • The two running backs from Arkansas are intriguing with Alex Collins getting the slight nod. I think the Pats need an early down grinder who can pick up tough yards and soften a defense. Hopefully other teams continue to devalue running backs and the Pats could have a shot at one of the better guys. Devon Johnson out of Marshall could be a mid-round fit.
  • The area I’ve really been focusing on is tackle and my early thought is that things could line up well in the late second round to get an athletic swing tackle. Taylor Decker from Ohio State has a lot of Sebastian Vollmer in him, he’s an early favorite. But there are others who will be in that range that could be a good Pats fit like Jason Spriggs from Indiana.
  • I don’t have wide receiver being as big of a need as many Pats’ pundits, but Sterling Shepard from Oklahoma is pretty much a perfect fit for the Pats system. He’s not that deep burner many want, but he can get open instantly and has the smarts to likely pick up the Pats system. Too bad he’ll likely be long gone too.
  • The tight end class is terrible and it makes me think if the Pats do cut Scott Chandler they have to address replacing him via free agency. Also, AJ Derby’s development after spending his rookie year on IR will be something to monitor though I think it might be a bit much to expect him to take the #2 TE spot, he seems more in the H-back mold.
  • Middle linebacker is a need but I am wondering what kind of player they need. Really I think Brandon Spikes is somewhat the model —  a two down fierce run stopper. Too bad Spikes is such a meatball or he might still be with the team in that role. Most of the MLBs coming out in the draft don’t quite have the size you’d like. Blake Martinez of Stanford and Joshua Perry of Ohio State are two that check some of the boxes.
  • Cornerback is another position I don’t see a huge draft need for but one they’ll probably take a player at regardless. DJ White of Georgia Tech seems like a good Pats fit, but he’s one of those tough, undersized guys that would likely be limited to the slot.

I’ll drop the initial big board in a couple weeks as free agency starts to play out and needs are met or exacerbated. There’s plenty of film to watch until then.

PatsPosits: The Patriots 2015 Draft Picks Are In!

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It’s now my favorite time of the draft season – the Pats have made their selections, there’s no more speculation and now we can dive in on figuring out how it’s all going to come together.

First, a quick look at my own performance in predicting the Pats’ picks. I was just 3 of 11 on the big board but did hit two of the picks in my mock draft (Tre Jackson and AJ Derby). Not bad, not great, about the average of my draft prognostications so the quest to hit 50 percent of the picks continues.

Generally, it’s hard not to immediately notice the focus on defense in this draft. Three of the first four picks went to the front seven, and overall they added at least two players at every level of the defense.

The common theme is athleticism and versatility, hence why this draft felt like Belichick was like a kid in the defensive player toy store.

Elsewhere, they were far more strategic. Everyone knew they should double-dip on guard and they not only did that but also added Georgia center David Andrews as a free agent. That’s three good interior lineman additions and they were all much-needed.

Then there’s long snapper Joe Cardona out of Navy, a pick so Belichick it hurt. Cardona is a perfect storm of everything the Pats love – superlative talent coming out of Navy. If the Navy gives him the okay, Cardona will be the Patriots long snapper for a long time.

Let’s dive in on the specifics!

I’ve left the starting left guard spot open because I think Dan Connolly will now re-sign and take that spot. If not I still have MAJOR questions because Tre Jackson is likely only playing right guard. Can Shaq Mason work at left? He’s undersized but super athletic.

I am not surprised as some are that running back and wide receiver were not addressed significantly. There’s some unproven talent but it is talent. I want to see what Dobson/Gibson and Gaffney/Gray/Cadet show up to camp with. All are big candidates to step into a role this year.

So really on offense not a whole lot has changed. They reinforced the guard spot, which was an absolute necessity but even still some questions remain there. Once again it will be interesting to watch the competition in camp, with some rotation likely to still be going on in the early part of the season.

How many of these new rookies can legitimately contribute to the defense this year? Brown is a slam dunk but after him it gets murky. That’s why special teams might have the most interesting of all the positional battles this sumeer. That’s what happens when just about every guy you select is a special teams demon.

Grissom is probably the most intriguing guy to me outside of Brown. He’s kind of like the Jamie Collins of this class, an athlete who never quite found his position. Belichick knows how to use those guys. Is Grissom a defensive end or a stand up linebacker? That’s the first question that needs to be answered, but he has the athleticism to do just about anything.

Flowers enters an interesting edge group where young players like Buchanan, Moore and Bequette will be trying to take a step forward this year. Jabaal Sheard took some pressure off of Chandler and Ninkovich, but if they can find a legitimate 4th edge option it will be a very good thing.

Wells has incredible athleticism, but I am not sure we’ll see him playing linebacker any time this season. Still, he could be an intriguing cover guy at some point, perhaps sooner if injuries hit.

Finally, we end in the secondary where it will be a thunderdome at every spot except Devin McCourty at free safety. It’s hard to even pencil anyone anywhere because injuries will surely play a part.

Ultimately, I’m not that concerned about the secondary if the front seven lives up to the talent and athleticism they’re dropping with.  Once again it should be a great training camp filled with great competition.

2015 PatsPropaganda Patriots Top 50 NFL Draft Board

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Welcome to year five of the PatsPropaganda Patriots-only Top 50 big board! Some important things to note before you start tearing this apart:

  • This is Patriots-only and I’m trying to hit as many of the Pats’ picks as I can. So guys who I think will be gone are not on here. 
  • The value is roughly how much I like them coupled with how much the Pats need them. So if you think someone is ranked too low, it’s likely the Pats don’t have a glaring need as his position or I just don’t love him that much. 
  • This is for fun. I am not a scout and there are plenty other people out there watching far more film than I do. Still, I know what the Pats like and I do okay at this each year (see below). Take from this what you will.
image

With that said, the goal as always, is to break 50% of the Pats picks on here. This list is still fluid, so expect some movement. All input is welcome, but we’ve got to stay at 50. Guys with an asterisk are prospects I especially like. Here we go:

  1. Eddie Goldman – DT – Florida State: Good size to eat up blocks and violent hands to hold his ground. Wonder how well he can hold his ground, seems to have the size. Active enough to make an impact on passing downs.
  2. Cameron Erving – G – Florida State: Played all over the line at FSU, with good size and length. Smarts and versatility are obvious. Instant starter at guard, while backing up center and tackle to an extent.
  3. AJ Cann – OG – South Carolina: A popular mock draft pick for the Pats, could be an instant starter at LG. Moves well. Smart, leader, rarely penalized.
  4. *Byron Jones – CB – Connecticut: High character with good size (6′1″). Team captain with good instincts. Top performer in all combine drills. Checks a lot of boxes for Patriots.
  5. Tre’ Jackson – OG – Florida State: Powerful and aggressive, would need to put in the work to get into top shape. Possible instant starter at RG.
  6. Carl Davis – DT – Iowa: Big and powerful with long wing span. Perfect space eater inside for Pats’ scheme, despite his lack of pass rush acumen. Might be the best value DT pick. Quick off ball.
  7. Malcom Brown – DT – Texas: Shorter than Phillips and Goldman, but has good power and athleticism. More of a penetrator but enough size that he could develop holding ground. Rotational moreso than instant starter.
  8. Jordan Phillips – DT – Oklahoma: Superior size and ability inside, with great length. Could be used in a number of roles just don’t love his overall fire and aggressiveness. Size undeniable.
  9. Laken Tomlinson – OG – Duke: Developing prospect who turned heads at the Senior Bowl against Danny Shelton. Smart. Might be a RG-only guy and that drops value a bit. Possibly instant starter at RG.
  10. Kevin Johnson – CB – Wake Forest: Best cover corner in class. Lack of physicality a potential question mark. Special teams ability could define his Pats value.
  11. Josue Mattias – OG – Florida State: More technician than mauler but there’s a place for that in New England. Smart and moves well.
  12. Eli Harold – LB – Virginia: Strong at point of attack, probably best served as a stand-up linebacker.  Pass rush potential. Good fit in the Hightower/Collins linebacker role of the last two season. 
  13. Owamagbe Odighizuwa – DE – UCLA: Strong at point of attack, could be immediate core special teamer while developing at an edge position. Best fit is at left edge, with some pass rush potential. 
  14. Danielle Hunter – DE – LSU: Another freakish athlete with ideal size. Maybe a bit light, but could use a year of development. Projects as a right defensive edge.
  15. Jay Ajayi – RB – Boise St.: Good size who can do it all, good speed and explosion.
  16. Ameer Abdullah – RB – Nebraska: Great character, but undersized with some ball security issues. Ball skills, plus KR/PR.
  17. Duke Johnson – RB – Miami: Explosive player who competes and can catch out of the backfield.
  18. Benardrick McKinney – ILB – Miss St.: Big for an ILB in the Pats system, but plays within the defense and makes plays.
  19. Senquez Golson – CB – Mississippi:  Undersized but competitive. Played off-man/zone in college. Aggressive and explosive.
  20. Ifo Ekpre-Olomu – CB – Oregon: Can play inside and outside, also gunner. Instinctive ball skills and aggressive but undersized. Knee injury should drop his draft stock.
  21. *Ladarius Gunter – CB – Miami: Good height (6′1″, 202). Excels in off-man, played safety, vs. tight ends, special teams.*
  22. Shaq Thompson – SS – Washington: Versatile player who is undersized but can do just about anything on a football team. Interesting fit for New England. Not going to play linebacker, but overall passing down and special teams value could move him up the board.
  23. Kenny Bell – WR – Nebraska: Has all the Patriots-desired measurables with good size and explosiveness, especially short-area quickness. Checks a lot of Pats receiver boxes but need might be lower than value.
  24. Phillip Dorsett – WR – Miami: Explosive and fast, can play inside or outside.
  25. Jake Fisher – OL – Oregon: Former tight end with excellent athleticism. Might need a bit of time to adjust to NFL game, but could play both tackle spots. He’s ranked too low here, he’ll go long before the Pats would take a tackle.
  26. *Daryl Williams – OT – Oklahoma: Competitive with outstanding work ethic and football IQ. Good power and very tough with long arms. Could be a guard. Interesting projection.
  27. Bobby Richardson – DT – Indiana: Athletic, not a perfect need fit, a little too redundant to Easley/Chris Jones. But makes plays and plays hard. Captain. 
  28. Tyeler Davison – DT – Fresno St.: Stout with long arms and very strong. Might be too much of a two-gapper, but has what it takes to win in trenches.
  29. Joey Mbu – DT – Houston: Great character and football IQ. Okay size, but very good length. More of a projection, but fits the mold by playing hard.
  30. *Justin Coleman – CB – Tennessee: Aggressive and comfortable in man but has awareness for zone with good ball skills. Top performer in 3-cone. Special teamer.
  31. Steven Nelson – CB – Oregon St.: Average size (5′10″) but good arm length. Competitive, physical, aggressive, fearless. Has closing burst for zone.
  32. Bobby McCain – CB – Memphis: Outstanding instincts in zone/off-man, played inside and outside and can return kicks. Undersized (5′9″, 195).
  33. Chris Conley – WR – Georgia: Ran a variety of routes but was under-utilized. Great timed speed at combine plus great size make him intriguing.
  34. Mark Glowinski – OG – West Virginia: Strong and tough, moves well in space.
  35. Lorenzo Mauldin – OLB – Louisville: Good edge size but not elite athleticism. Good character across the board, active and productive. Likely an edge projection.
  36. Jordan Hicks – OLB – Texas: Undersized but has all the intangibles. Core special teamer, could potentially play MLB in base.
  37. Obum Gwachum – DE –  Oregon St.: Freakish athlete who is still learning to play defensive end.
  38. Martin Ifedi – DE – Memphis: Lunchpail toughness and strength in the mold of Rob Ninkovich as a developmental LDE. Similar to Zach Moore.
  39. Max Valles – OLB – Virginia: Solid OLB size who should add weight. Raw prospect, who at worst could end up a defensive end. Good playing demeanor.
  40. Jeff Heuerman – TE – Ohio State: Dealt with foot injury that dropped status, but intriguing move tight end prospect with versatility. Captain.
  41. AJ Derby – TE – Arkansas: Big, physical and fast, he played QB and LB before moving to TE. Natural catcher, can be moved all around field.
  42. John Crockett – RB – North Dakota St.: Tenacious, hard runner who can do it all with good size. Small school but a fun project. “Taz”
  43. Tre McBride – WR William & Mary: Tough enough to make plays in the middle of the field. Will need to improve route running and ability to get open at the NFL level.
  44. Clayton Geathers – SS – Central Florida: Good size at the SS spot and an aggressive hitter. Might need time to develop, but has the size we’re looking for at SS to handle TEs. 
  45. Rob Crisp – OT – NC State: Tough and high-effort, with good feet and length.
  46. Tyler Croft – TE – Rutgers: Rutgers alert! Blocks hard, and a good athlete. Would need time to develop.
  47. David Johnson – RB – Northern Iowa:  Has the frame and all the measurables. Lacks the hard runninng though?
  48. Jaquiski Tartt – SS – Samford: Tore it up at a small school, has the desired physicality and playing style. Competitive.
  49. Ibrahaim Campbell – SS – Northwestern: Great leadership traits, but special teamer/ in-the-box safety type with average size. Smart. Tavon Wilson.
  50. Zach Zenner – RB – South Dakota St.: Small school, but has all the one-cut traits. Willing blocker.

New England Patriots 2014 Draft Reaction

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Undrafted free agents will continue to land into this week, but the most of the major components of the Patriots’ 2014 draft class are in place.

Overall, I think it was an interesting haul for the Pats. My two favorite picks are Easley and Stork. Both fit the mold of exactly what I was hoping to solidify points of weakness.

My biggest surprise/disappointment was not getting a tight end in the second round. I don’t know how much the Pats loved Garoppolo, but I think they could’ve lived with one more year of Mallett as the only backup.

But oh well, Garoppolo is an interesting and unique player and I look forward to seeing how he does in the preseason.

James White runs hard and seems reliable. He’s also dangerous in space. Jeremy Gallon was a guy I had on my Pats Big Board and he fits their slot receiver mold. White should contribute immediately, Gallon could be headed for the practice squad.

Halapio and Fleming reinforce the offensive line along with Stork. One of my biggest areas to need was along the line and they really were aggressive there.

Zach Moore was on my Big Board at one point and I axed him for some reason. Unfortunately that cost me hitting four of the nine picks. Three out of nine ain’t bad. Also had Stork and Easley in my final mock draft.

Taking a closer look at Jemea Thomas, but early reports are that he could be used as a safety. Hes a ball hawk and I’m sure they’ll figure out a way to use him.

Overall, the needs at defensive tackle, offensive line and running back were addressed. Depth was added at quarterback, defensive back, defensive end and receiver.

I’d expect the Pats to add a veteran at tight end asap though the immediately signed 3 undrafted rookie tight ends. I’ll dig deeper on those guys to see if any might stick.

Perhaps even another defensive end. Depth there is still thin even with Zach Moore added to the mix.

Easley and whether or not one of the linemen emerges into a starter will make or break this draft. They need a pass rushing force so desperately, and there’s a good chance Easley could be that by the end of this season, even if he starts out on the PUP list.

All in all, another classic Belichick draft. Some solid football players and a couple picks that leave you scratching your head.

I wouldn’t have it any other way.

How do you think the extra few weeks now before the draft will effect things compared to last year

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More time for more mock drafts and misinformation! The pre-draft period was already annoyingly long before they pushed the draft back into May. It’s no accident that suddenly players who have been atop the rankings all year are suddenly getting destroyed by “scouts” and “sources”. A lot of this is done to try and affect draft stock, most often by teams who want that player.

I don’t love the draft like a lot of people out there. I’ll be far more happy once I can jump in and evaluate the players the Pats pick up, rather than trying to pick a few random needles out of the haystack and try to explain why they will be who the Pats select, when really, they’re probably not selecting them.

I’m not a trained scout. I don’t watch college football film all day. The bit I do watch are YouTube cutups that give little context. I do think I know the kind of players the Pats like and I do my best to find those types of players, but I could do without the surrounding hype leading up to the draft and much of the online draftnik community, especially those who think they have it all figured out.