In this Patriots mock draft post, we’ll recap the Patriots current position, picks available, draft needs, and go round by round, complete with projections, scouting reports, as well as video footage.
Coming off their 6th Super Bowl Championship, and their 3rd win in the last 5 years, you would think the Patriots’ run of dominance has got to be coming to an end soon. “Brady is getting older!” Heard that before? “The team doesn’t have any receivers.” Commonplace. “We lost huge role players to free agency.” Again. The good news for Patriots fans is twofold. Not only do we face these “hurdles” every offseason, the team has a hoard of draft picks to “rebuild” again. That should be terrifying for fans who wish to see a new logo representing the AFC in Super Bowls to come.
In addition to their hoard, nearly all of the 2018 draft class will be “new talent” added to the roster. Sony Michel was the lone player from last year’s class that played significant minutes. Fellow first round pick Isaiah Wynn suffered a season ending torn achilles, Ja’whaun Bentley looked special until his season ended early on, Duke Dawson spent nearly the entire season sidelined, and Braxton Berrios landed on IR.
This draft, the Patriots have 12 selections at their disposal. Of the 12, a whopping 6 are in the first 3 rounds. That means this could either be a complete roster overhaul, or we’re in for some fireworks. With that, let’s take a look at some of the team’s most pressing needs.
NEED #1: Tight End
With the retirement of fan favorite and future Hall of Fame TE, Rob Gronkowski, the Patriots are thin, to say the least. Arriving in Foxborough for 2019 are Austin Sefarian-Jenkins, who’s shown flashes, and Matt LaCosse, who had a few decent games in Denver. Perhaps they’re the new “diamond in the rough” guys the Patriots always seem to sniff out, but aside from them and Jacob Hollister, the Pats need to draft to fill this need.
While it’s not really possible to “replace” the greatest Tight End in NFL history, it’s easily the first place the Patriots need to address. This year’s class is actually deep, so the timing couldn’t be better for New England.
NEED #2: Wide Receiver
Julian Edelman. Philip Dorsett. Braxton Berrios. This screams elite.
Sure, the team will likely bring back Josh Gordon, who I believe is a top 10 wideout when healthy/active. That certainly helps, but it’s hard to bank on his stability. I really do hope Gordon figures it out with New England.
In addition, the Patriots have added a few other names. Stop me when you’re super excited: Maurice Harris, Bruce Ellington, Demaryius Thomas and his one Achilles. While I’m actually intrigued by Ellington, I’m not ready to say “let’s roll” with this group of receivers. It’s more probable than not that two of these 3 guys don’t make the squad when camp ends.
NEED #3: Edge Rusher
Arguably the biggest pound for pound loss this offseason was Trey Flowers signing in Detroit – insert “but holy crap Trent Brown is a big human” line here. Sentimentally, it hurts more to lose Gronk, but Flowers was the entire pass rush all season.
While there’s certainly some buzz around the team signing DL Mike Pennel, there’s a ton more to be done here. In today’s NFL, getting pressure on the quarterback wins you games. It puts less stress on the defense and can completely neutralize an otherwise good offense (see: 2018 LA Rams).
Whether the Patriots elect to fill this need with a DE or an outside backer is up for debate, but New England will surely look to use their draft capital to bolster the pass rush.
2019 Mock Draft & Targets
Round 1
Pick 32 PROJECTION: NOBODY
That’s right. I really don’t expect the Patriots to make a selection at #32. Over the last few years, Bill Belichick has done everything in his power to amass a hoard of picks, knowing that he’ll need to replace Gronk, Brady, and bolster his WRs. I expect the Patriots to trade UP for the second year in a row to select….
TRADE UP: TJ Hockenson, TE – IOWA
Hockenson is an absolute monster. At 6’5″ and 251 pounds, he’s a physical specimen. In 2018, Hockenson turned 49 catches, 760 yards, and 6 touchdowns, into a Mackey Award – given to the best college Tight End. One of the biggest draws for Hockensen is his third-down efficiency. Last year, he led the nation with 15 third-down receptions and 23.3 yards per catch on those grabs. He’s not the fastest receiver in the world, but ran a 4.7 40-yard dash at the Combine in February, so he’s not exactly slow either. To nab Hockenson, the Patriots would definitely need to trade up into the top 20, and likely even into the top 15 to do so, but stranger things have happened. This should be the dream scenario for any Patriots fan.
I’ll let the tape speak for itself.
Other possible targets in Round 1
Noah Fant, TE – IOWA – The other Iowa Hawkeye is actually the more athletic of the two. Fant is more of a receiver than a blocker and he’s got better speed than Hockenson, but he’s much less explosive.
Irv Smith Jr., TE – ALABAMA – Bill loves products of Nick Saban. Irv Smith Jr. is another big name receiver in this draft class. He possesses great hands and the ability to run good routes, too.
Jerry Tillery, DT – NOTRE DAME – A player on the inside with Tillery’s ability to affect the run game and the pass game is pretty rare. However, given the Patriots signing of Pennel in the offseason, I think this pick is less likely now.
Jeffery Simmons, DE – MISSISSIPPI STATE – Once considered a sure-fire top 5 pick, Simmons unfortunately suffered a torn ACL in a workout this spring. He’ll miss a year, but a chance to grab this kind of talent this late might be too juicy to turn down.
Johnathan Abram, S – MISSISSIPPI STATE – Safety isn’t really a need but Belichick might opt to go for best available. Abram has the traits to be considered here, and the Patriots did invite him for a private Pre-Draft Workout.
Round 2
At the start of day 2, I expect the Patriots to continue to add weapons to Tom Brady’s arsenal. That said, if the above scenario holds, the Patriots might not end up selecting here.
Round 2, Pick 56 (from Chicago): Dalton Risner, OT – KANSAS STATE
Dalton Risner is about as solid as you can find. He’s big, durable, and has great technique. He’s strong, physical, and smart. So why isn’t he going in the first round? Well, to tell you the truth, I think he could. Risner is 6’5″ and 300 lbs, but he’s another one of those quasi-Tackles in the NFL. He can be moved to Guard if needed, but could also possess the ability to stick at either bookend on the line. His pass protection is great and given Trent Brown’s departure from New England, I think the Patriots will look to bolster their depth with a “non-sexy” pick here. Yes, Isaiah Wynn could be our LT, but he’s also 6’2″ and coming off of a torn achilles, so you can never have too much depth.
Round 2, Pick 64: Deebo Samuel, WR – SOUTH CAROLINA
Deebo is fun. He’s electric. He’s what every Pats fan dreams of drafting, but who never actually gets drafted. This year could be different. He’s an explosive athlete who runs clean routes and fights for the ball. He’s not afraid to go over the middle and he’s a threat to score from anywhere on the field. He’s all toughness, a trait that Tom Brady loves.
It’s also worth noting that Deebo was invited to Foxborough for a private visit and promised to see Bill in a month.
Other possible targets in Round 2
AJ Brown, WR – OLE MISS
Kaleb McGary, OT – WASHINGTON
JJ Arcega-Whiteside, WR – STANFORD
TRADE: If the Cardinals select Kyler Murray with the 1st overall pick, they’ll need to deal Josh Rosen. If the rumors of Patriots interest last year were true, look for New England to be a suitor.
Round 3
Round 3, Pick 73 (from Detroit): Blake Cashman, ILB – Minnesota
Everyone is going to call this a reach when his name is called out. Mark that. However, Cashman is one of the more exciting players I’ve seen all year. Yes, I’m biased because he played for my Alma-Mater. Yes, I’ve seen him more than I’ve seen others. Yes, I really really really want this pick. No, I’m not being a homer.
Cashman is projected to go anywhere from rounds 4 through 7, but I think New England has found a true diamond in the rough with the former walk-on, turned Gopher star. While Cashman is undersized at 6’1″, he shows elite-level compete. He simply never quits. If you’re not familiar with him, get familiar, because Patriot or not, he’s going to be good.
Round 3, Pick 97 (Compensatory): Mecole Hardman, WR – Georgia
Hardman is exactly the kind of receiver the Patriots look to draft. The Junior receiver made some great plays for Georgia last season, but it’s his physicality that has people impressed. Hardman is only 5’10” and 183 lbs, but his frame is rock solid. Working out of the slot, Hardman showed his explosiveness all season long. He’s FAST and he is able to burn all types of coverage. Hardman has visited with the Patriots on a private workout in Foxborough this season, and he was teammates with Sony Michel and Isaiah Wynn, so I’m sure the Patriots have the complete picture by now.
Hardman is being mocked around rounds 4 through 5 but I think New England will “reach” a bit to get their next gadget star. He has the potential to be a better NFL player than he ever was in college, especially if he has #12 throwing him the rock.
Round 3, Pick 101 (Compensatory): Joejuan Williams, CB – VANDERBILT
The Patriots don’t have a huge need at CB, with Stephon Gilmore holding down the fort alongside Jason McCourty and Duke Dawson (hopefully). However, Williams is a rare breed. He’s long and physical and he is one of the best CBs in this draft that can cover the bigger receivers in the NFL. The Patriots have privately worked him out, as well as invited him to Foxborough for a meeting. Joejuan is known to be one of the sharpest players in this draft, something Belichick is known for prioritizing. While he grades out somewhere in the late 2nd or 3rd round, I wouldn’t be surprised to see the Patriots select Williams higher than that. While CB isn’t a need, you can never have too many high quality players, and you never know what need may arise.
Other possible targets in Round 3
Josh Oliver, TE – SAN JOSE STATE
Oliver is a sneaky pick. He’s got great hands and absolutely could become a star NFL tight end, but is relatively unknown coming out of SJSU. His upside sits somewhere between a healthy Eric Ebron and a Jared Cook, due to his great ball skills and average (at best) route running. Not a bad value for round 3.
NOTE: Added Oliver to the blog post Round 1, before Round 2.
Jace Sternberger, TE – TEXAS A&M
Will Grier, QB – WEST VIRGINIA
Riley Ridley, WR – GEORGIA
Chase Winovich, DE – MICHIGAN
N’Keal Harry, WR – ARIZONA STATE
Round 4, Pick 134: Christian Miller, EDGE – ALABAMA
Belichick keeps the tradition alive here by selecting an Alabama prospect. Miller shows explosiveness and uses his hands well to fight to the QB. He’s more of an outside linebacker, but could move to the DE position. Miller had 11 tackles for loss and 8 sacks at Alabama last season and would be a great addition in New England after losing Trey Flowers.
Other possible targets in Round 4
Jarrett Stidham, QB – AUBURN
Ryan Finley, QB – NC STATE
Miles Boykin, WR – NOTRE DAME
Gary Jennings, WR – WEST VIRGINIA
David Sills, WR – WEST VIRGINIA
Round 6, Pick 205 (Compensatory): Byron Cowart, DE – Maryland
Out of Armwood High School in FL, Cowart was the nation’s #1 prospect. There, he was a three sport athlete, lettering in football, basketball, and track. Impressively, he actually didn’t start playing football until 9th grade.
Cowart signed his letter of intent to play for Auburn, and had a pretty uneventful 3 seasons from 2015 to 2017. While he showed flashes as a rotational player, he didn’t live up to his top prospect ceiling. In 2017, Cowart transfered to Hillsborough Community College to be closer to his sick mother. Taking the JUCO route allowed him to re-sign with another D-1 school, Maryland. There, he started all 12 games and accounted for 38 total tackles (18 solo). Cowart could become a late-blooming Day 3 steal as he’s definitely got the ability to stuff the run, but he will need to continue to master his craft to stick around in the NFL.
Round 7, Pick 239 (from Philadelphia): Clayton Thorson, QB – NORTHWESTERN
Ok hear me out. I don’t think the Patriots are in on any of the most talked about names. We keep hearing Daniel Jones from Duke in the first round. That’s a joke. The guy is Paxton Lynch 2.0. I’m not even sold they’ll take a QB at all.
Thorson has had flashes. He’s able to make rhythm throws and he’s got a very efficient set of throwing mechanics. At Northwestern, he was a 4-year starter with nobody outside of Austin Carr to receive his passes. Perhaps that’s why he’s not more well known. Some will argue that it’s because Thorson’s got inconsistent accuracy. Fair point. Others will say it’s because he doesn’t have a cannon. Also fair.
What Thorson does seem to have are all of the intangibles. He’s got good patience in the pocket. He know a when to zip the ball into a receiver, or when to lay the ball in with touch. He’s great against the zone and he’s not afraid of attacking it. He’s quick enough to step up in the pocket and make something happen. Perhaps those reasons are why he was invited to Foxborough on a private workout?
Look, I’m not saying Thorson is definitely the heir apparent to the QB position in Foxborough if and when Brady retires in 20 years, but I think he’s a great candidate to develop a lot faster under Tom’s teaching than many give him credit for. He’s my darkhorse.
Round 7, Pick 243 (from Kansas City through San Francisco, Cleveland): Tommy Sweeney, TE – BOSTON COLLEGE
Sweeney is much more of an old-school Tight End. He’s not a block-first guy and he does have good hands, but he doesn’t really have a trait that jumps off the page. He’s definitely a guy worth taking a gamble on because of his hand-eye coordination and soft hands, but I wouldn’t expect him to be a starter. One thing’s for sure – he’s not afraid of contact.
Round 7, Pick 246: Blessuan Austin, CB – RUTGERS
You can never have enough defensive backs from Rutgers, if you’re Bill Belichick. No, but seriously, Austin showed amazing promise until his final two seasons both ended in knee surgeries. That’s tough to come back from, but if he can, he’s certainly worth the risk vs. reward here.
Round 7, Pick 252 (Compensatory): Tom Costigan, LB – BRYANT UNIVERSITY
Costigan is someone the Patriots have scouted heavily, right in their back yard. He’s someone Buddy Andrade, of DraftSite, has been all over from day 1.
“Versatile LB who excelled at Bryant. Read and diagnoses well with sideline to sideline speed. Shows the ability to get to the QB on both inside blitzes and as a rusher. Solid zone coverage and reads QB eyes. Question of level of competition.”
@draftsitebuddy via draftsite.com
And that’s a wrap! Clearly you’ve read all the way down to here so you don’t even need to watch the draft. You already know what’s going to happen! Either that or you were looking for the TL;DR and now you’re pissed because there isn’t one.
