patriots

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.

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.