Three 2022 New England Patriots 7 Round Mock Drafts

We’re back at it after a couple of years off! Usually, I do one Patriots 7 round mock draft in a blog – but I thought it might be more fun to format it slightly differently this year. First, I’ll go over the Patriots’ biggest needs by position and who some of my favorite potential draft targets are at each position. Then, I’ll get into the mock drafts. Yes, plural! Each mock draft will be done using the PFF NFL Mock Draft Simulator, which is an amazing tool.

The Patriots currently have the following picks in the 2022 NFL Draft:

First Round: #21 overall
Second Round: #54 overall
Third round: #85 overall
Fourth round: #127 overall
Fifth round: #158 overall (via Dolphins in Davante Parker trade)
Fifth round: #170 overall (via Buccaneers in Shaq Mason trade)
Sixth round: #200 overall
Sixth round: #210 overall (via Rams in Sony Michel trade)

Overview of Our Three 7 Round Patriots Mock Drafts

Below are links to the drafts in case you want to skip over the positional overview.

Patriots Mock Draft #1:
NO TRADES – We’ll select the best players (or fit) available at our current draft spots,

Patriots Mock Draft #2:
MY DRAFT – If I were calling the shots in Foxborough, what would I do and who would I take? Trades are fair game!

Patriots Mock Draft #3:
WHAT’S MOST LIKELY – We’ll select the best players (or fit) available at our current draft spots. Trades are fair game!

Alright let’s get started!

Patriots Top Positional Needs & Potential Draft Targets

I’m going to try to keep this short, which is tough to do because quite honestly, there are a lot of holes on this team’s roster. In this section, I’ll name a few players per area of need and where they could fall in the draft. In short, it became apparent that the main issue for the 2021 Patriots, on both sides of the ball, was speed – or lack thereof. The Patriots didn’t really have any true “playmakers” on offense and arguably, our best playmaker on defense, Mr. INT, left the team for the Los Angeles Chargers in free agency. So, here are the top needs for the Patriots, in order of importance.

^ = Player met with Patriots either at Combine, Pro Day, or Team Visit.

Linebacker (LB)

The linebacking corps for the Patriots is about as fast as it’s going to take you to read this blog. F*CKING SLOW. Seriously though, the lack of speed was noticeable throughout the year, but especially vs. the Bills in the playoffs. 7-8 yard runs or screens every single play because there was absolutely no closing speed. Dont’a Hightower is old, Kyle Van Noy was a shell of himself, and Jamie Collins’s third time was definitely not the charm. Ja’Whaun Bentley is a great leader and run stuffer, but he’s slow. Even though Mack Wilson is an intriguing add, this corps needs a complete rebuild with much more athleticism and sideline-to-sideline speed. Good thing for the Patriots, this year’s draft’s shelves are stocked at the position. Here are 5 guys I love:

Devin Lloyd, LB – University of Utah

Honestly, this one is a pipe dream. Devin Lloyd is the best linebacker in the draft. If you were to mock up a prototypical Patriots linebacker, he would be it. An intelligent leader, who has the length to play from anywhere, who also has elite sideline-to-sideline skills. He’s EXACTLY what the team would need. Vegas pegs the odds of him still being there at #21 at 70%, but I just don’t think its going to happen. There aren’t any other linebackers in this draft as good as Lloyd and after the league saw what Micah Parsons did in his rookie year, Lloyd smells to me like a prime candidate to climb the boards on draft night. I’d be remiss if I didn’t write about him, but it’s unlikely to happen.

Nakobe Dean, LB – University of Georgia ^

The first of what seems like 50 linebackers from Georgia this year that will all make an impact in the NFL. It’s no surprise that they won the 2021 National Championship beating Alabama. Dean was the Georgia linebacker corps playcaller in 2021. A leader through and through, most people are willing to overlook his small frame (5’11” and 220 LBS) because of his football intelligence. Dean has elite athleticism and consistently shows explosive sideline-to-sideline closing speed. Size is really his only question mark, and for the Patriots, it goes against who they typically target. That said, given that speed is the top priority here, it could be a great fit. He’ll most likely be there at #21, so if the Patriots grab him, it’ll be intriguing to see how Bill Belichick will utilize him.

Troy Andersen, LB – Montana State University

This guy has Patriots written all over him:

• 4.0 GPA in High School & Valedictorian
• Random college nobody really comes from
• QB in high school who also won titles in Track & Field
• Made the switch to LB in college and won the FCS ADA National Defensive Player of the Year Award
• Superb performance at the Senior Bowl practices & game

Anderson will be there in round 2. He’s super athletic with a great combination of size and speed. No, seriously. He ran a 4.42 — which is a faster 40 time than the majority of WRs in this year’s draft. He’s also not small, measuring in at a 6’3″ and 242. Andersen excels at rushing the passer and his zone coverage is a strength, as he routinely makes great reads in order to close the gap in the most efficient way. Andersen is truly one of the players with the most upside in the draft, and given where the Patriots are picking, he would be an excellent fit. His weaknesses are mostly from his lack of experience at the position, but I don’t see that being a problem for the Patriots given Bill’s defensive mind.

Quay Walker, LB – University of Georgia

Walker is another Georgia linebacker who would be a solid fit with the Patriots given his lateral mobility and edge speed. Walker played most of his reps at linebacker, but he also had snaps on the defensive line. That type of versatility could be huge for the Patriots, and he’s another guy who is likely to be available in round 2 or possibly even 3. Walker struggles with reads at times, but with the Patriots’ defensive coaching, could become a great fit. Walker just needs more experience. He didn’t start a game until 2020 because Georgia had too much depth at the LB position. His raw athleticism and ability to make plays in space could make him a steal if he can improve his football intelligence. The Patriots are masters of that on defense.

Chad Muma, LB – University of Wyoming

Another guy who’s likely available in round 2 or 3, Muma was an absolute hawk. Last season, he amassed 142 tackles (83 solo), 1.5 sacks, 1 fumble recovery, 3 interceptions, and 2 scores. Muma has pass rushing skills and uses his closing speed to bottle up runners. He’s 6’2″ and 241 and can play any of the LB positions, inside or out, on all three downs. He’s got excellent downhill explosion and hits runners with force. Coming out of high school, Muma was actually a safety. This is yet another Belichick-type guy whose game is multifaceted.

Christian Harris, LB – University of Alabama

It’s obligatory to mention Alabama’s top linebacker in a blog about the Patriots, especially when it’s the team’s primary need. Harris is a typical Patriots pick. That may seem good, but the issue here is the speed. Harris profiles as another thumper. He’s super physical and would instantly fit into the current scheme. However, Harris was awful in coverage. He allowed close to 1,000 yards in coverage in his final 2 years at Alabama. Would I be upset if we picked him? Absolutely not, but it wouldn’t exactly solve the need for speed.

Channing Tindall, LB – University of Georgia

Yes, another LB out of the University of Georgia. At 6’2″ he’s smaller than Walker but bigger than Dean. Tindall, like the other Georgia linebackers, has superb athleticism. Tindall is a great tackler in open space, featuring a long wingspan he uses to his advantage often. Tindall was a key run stopper in the Georgia defense given his east to west speed and has the potential to develop in to a coverage linebacker, too. Another day 2 prospect with a ton of upside, it’s no wonder Bill Belichick himself attended Georgia’s pro day along with the other two decision makers: Matt Patricia and Matt Groh.

Cornerback (CB)

JC Jackson out; Malcolm Butler and Terrance Mitchell in. What is this, 2017? The Patriots have some serious holes at the CB position. That said, I don’t rate it as high a need as linebacker because I expect them to play a lot of zone and use their strength at safety to attempt to cover, whereas at linebacker, there’s absolutely no speed. Still, we absolutely need a true #1 man coverage corner if we’re going to address these issues.

Andrew Booth Jr., CB – Clemson University ^

The CB1 at Clemson, Booth is an alpha. He’s flat out the best CB that should be available at #21, with Gardner, Stingley, and McDuffie going before him. Booth is an excellent man coverage corner, which is a huge area of need for the Patriots, especially given the schedule up ahead and some of the movement within the conference at WR. Booth immediately shores up the position for the Patriots.

Daxton Hill, CB/S – University of Michigan

Hill is an intriguing prospect who’s quietly risen up draft boards over the past few months. Likely available at the end of round 1 or even early round 2, Hill is a combo DB who probably profiles more as a safety in the NFL. Sound familiar? Yep. Devin McCourty. Hill is a bit bigger than McCourty, and he’s far more athletic – having the highest SPARQ rating in his 2019 HS class. If the Patriots pull a Celtics and go with “positionless football” in the secondary, he’d be a really enticing get.

Marcus Jones, CB – University of Houston ^

Jones, who measures at 5’8″ and 174, probably is a slot CB given his frame. However, he’s definitely got game breaking ability. He amassed 6 interceptions and a forced fumble as a starter at Houston. Over his career, Jones had 6 return TDs, making him one of, if not the best, kick & punt returners in all of college football. With the departure of Gunner Olszewski, Jones is an interesting dual fit for the Patriots in round 2-4.

Zyon McCollum, CB – Sam Houston State University

SPEED. Zyon is one of the most interesting projects in the draft. He’s got blazing speed (4.33 40-time) and he’s very tall for a DB, measuring in at 6’4″. McCollum’s potential is tantalizing. At his pro day, he became only the fifth corner since 2003 to earn a max-99 athleticism (Next Gen Stats). His 3-Cone at 6.48 seconds, Broad Jump (11’0″) and his 20-yard Shuttle earned him top rank out of any player in the entire draft, regardless of position. Zyon’s got some great film, too, showing versatility in both man and zone schemes. However, at SHSU, he didn’t exactly face top-tier competition, which some scouts think could hurt his ability to translate into an NFL starting cornerback. Now try to remember where Kyle Dugger went to school and tell me that’ll matter to the Patriots.

Josh Jobe, CB – University of Alabama

Jobe started all 4 years at Alabama, who did a little bit of everything well, but never really popped off the page in terms of elite athleticism. That’s likely why he’ll be there in rounds 4-6, perfect for the Patriots to grab another smart, physical, Bama star. Jobe is super aggressive at the line of scrimmage, which led to a lot of penalties at Bama. He’s not likely to develop into an elite outside defender, but he absolutely could plug-and-play here. He’s got good ball skills, but will need to hone in on his aggression. Worst case for Jobe is a consistent role on special teams, which is absolutely not a knock. All three phases of the game, amiright?

Coby Bryant, CB – University of Cincinnati

That’s not a misspelling. Playing opposite of Ahmad “Sauce” Gardner, the Bearcats secondary was truly elite. Bryant has all the tools to become a #2 CB in the NFL. He’s got excellent ball skills and he plays with physicality in the run game, however he struggles at times with slippery receivers who can shake him at the line. It’s not a lack of IQ or speed, but sometimes an over commitment to a move that traps him. That’s a fixable technique he can learn to improve, which makes him a super value in rounds 3-5.

Wide Receiver (WR)

Before acquiring Davante Parker, this would’ve been the #1 need for me. Mac Jones is a star in the making. Get him weapons. While I don’t think adding Parker and Ty Montgomery solves the need here, I do think that it lessens the likelihood of them taking a WR with their first pick. In addition to the aforementioned, I haven’t given up on Jonnu Smith. I expect the Patriots to re-write his role in the offense and get the ball to him in space more often. He’s a playmaker, but not a great route runner, and I think after a season on film, the Patriots will make the adjustments to better leverage his talent. This WR draft class is also pretty deep, so there will be plenty of opportunity. Here are my favorites:

John Metchie III, WR – University of Alabama ^^

Ok, for the last two positions, I’ve started with the best available and worked my way down. For this one, I’m going with my favorite. Why? Metchie is my absolute #1 get for the Patriots this draft. He and Mac Jones were an amazing connection at Alabama and Metchie has said he “would love to reunite” with Mac. It really is a match made in heaven. Metchie was expected to be a top 20 pick but he tore ACL last December in the SEC Championship Game. He’s expected to be cleared medically by June, so it shouldn’t be a worry. Still, he’ll be on the board in round 2 or 3, which is perfect for New England. As far as his profile, Metchie’s a slot receiver, whose route-running skills and instant chemistry will be a boon for the Patriots. In 2021, before his ACL, Metchie caught 96 balls for 1142 yards and 8 TDs – good for 8th in the FBS in receptions. GIVE MAC HIS MAN.

^^ And yes, the team has met with him 2x.

“Mac and I are really close … He was my quarterback that year, so Mac and I got along really well. We also spent a lot of time together my freshman year on the two team, so we have a lot of chemistry.” (transcript via NBC Boston’s Phil Perry).

Jameson Williams, WR – University of Alabama

Jameson is the #1 receiver in the draft. Explosive. Great hands. He has everything. Think Ja’Marr Chase. In the SEC Championship Game, Metchie tore his ACL, and in the National Championship Game, the tide continued to roll in an unfortunate fashion as Jameson also tore his ACL. Williams was a transfer from Ohio State to Alabama in 2021, so he never played with Mac. There’s a slight chance he’ll be there at #21, but it’s looking increasingly unlikely. If he’s there at #21, it’ll be so hard not to pull the trigger, as he’s an instant playmaker – the likes of which the Patriots haven’t seen since Randy Moss.

Chris Olave, WR – Ohio State University

Jameson’s former teammate at OSU is also an elite game breaker who probably won’t be there at #21 either. But like Williams, if he is, you almost have to take him for the same reason. Olave’s teammate, Garrett Wilson (also in this draft) is the favored of the OSU prospects, but I see Olave as the better fit for the Patriots, and potentially better player. He’s a crisp route runner and a downfield threat – another major weapon that would instantly upgrade our offense.

George Pickens, WR – University of Georgia

Pickens was supposed to be the WR1 coming into the season, but tore his ACL last spring. He came back to play in the final game of the regular season, as well as a few snaps in the SEC Championship Game, the CFP Semifinal, and the National Championship game, where he caught a 52 yard bomb. Pickens’ comp is AJ Green. Physical, great body control, and elite speed. If it weren’t for a bust of a 2021 season due to injury, he would easily be a top 15 target after he put up monster numbers as a freshman (727 yards and 8 TDs) and good numbers in a shortened 2020 season. He’ll be available at the end of round 1 or early round 2.

Treylon Burks, WR – Arkansas ^

Think N’Keal Harry. No, not the shit he’s produced on the field in his NFL career, but what he was supposed to produce coming out of school. A physical receiver who wins at the line of scrimmage, who will fight for every jump ball. While N’Keal did have the best 10 time in the NFL Combine, that never translated to breakaway speed in the NFL. Burks’ speed and power absolutely could. At 6’3″ and 225, he’s a monster who should become a vertical weapon in the NFL. Don’t get scared off with the Harry comp — Burks’ comp is closer to AJ Brown. Essentially, this would be a “do-over” pick.

Jahan Dotson, WR – Penn State University ^

Dotson caught all but 2 of his 93 catchable balls at Penn State last year. At only 5’11” and 184, Dotson has some size issues, but his athleticism will make up for it. In high school, Dotson was a three sport athlete, lettering in basketball, football, and track & field. He’s able to create easy separation with fluid routes, smooth moves, and great vertical speed. Although he’s willing to run-block, something the Patriots always put a premium on, his size and strength can only go so far. Look for Dotson to come off the board in the early-to-mid 2nd round.

Slade Bolden, WR – University of Alabama ^

A late round flyer worth mentioning. We all know Belichick and Saban’s relationship and we have to imagine Bill knows the type of worker he’d get with Bolden if he took him. Bolden is a good route runner and a hard worker. He’s a great blocker and made some plays on special teams, too. He’s not fast, and he’s not really going to separate on the outside, but he works really hard. You could do much worse in the 6th or 7th round. Some of the Patriots’ most successful WRs have been taken there (or gone untaken): Braxton Berrios (6th – Jets’ leading receiver last year before injury), David Givens (7th), Julian Edelman (7th), and Jakobi Meyers (undrafted).

Offensive Line (OL)

Injuries galore last year and we traded Shaq Mason away. While yes, Trent Brown is returning, his health isn’t a guarantee. The pro here is that Joe Burrow proved that even with a sieve at OL, you might be able to still get to a Super Bowl. Obviously that’s not the best way to protect your franchise, so I do expect it to be a focus in this year’s draft.

Bernhard Raimann, OT – Central Michigan University ^

Flash back to 2019 and you’d find a kid who was a former foreign exchange student from Austria, who was lining up at Tight End for CMU. The guy is another typical Patriots offensive line pick: lauded for his versatility and athleticism on the line. His leap from former TE to one of the top tackle prospects is special and it’s one reason he’s expected to go in round 1 now. Without any truly elite weapons in the passing game, the run game will be a focus in 2022 for New England. That narrative suits Raimann well. On the line he’s an explosive run blocker and he’s learning to better use his athleticism to his advantage in pass schemes. While he is still a bit of a diamond in the rough given his experience at the position, he definitely would fit the mold of an OL that the Patriots tend to gravitate towards. Drafting Raimann wouldn’t shock me, but given the depth of the position and other pressing needs, he’s not my favorite to take even if available at #21.

Trevor Penning, OT – Northern Iowa University ^

Penning is a savage on the line. At 6’7″, he has surprising mobility – plays with ultimate physicality and shows superior strength. A redshirt senior, Penning has a lot of experience in a starting role on the line, which gives him a leg up in the football IQ department. He played well against the power five conferences when he faced them, so there’s less of a concern about competition. He’ll need to work a bit on his technique vs. some of the more athletic edge rushers who cut inside, but he has all the traits to be a strong NFL tackle, whether he ends up on the left or right side.

Zion Johnson, OG – Boston College

The hometown favorite. In all of 2021, he only allowed a total of 6 pressures. Even more impressive he only allowed 1 pressure on 46 pass blocking snaps vs. Clemson. Zion’s technique is elite and he plays with physicality. Zion has some experience at tackle, too, starting a season as Boston College’s LT, but he profiles as an interior lineman in the NFL, most likely at LG. Johnson transferred after his freshman year (from Davidson) and immediately became a starter, which says a lot about his ability to pick up new schemes and systems. He’ll for sure be there at #21 and possibly even into the early second round.

Kenyon Green, OG – Texas A&M ^

Kenyon Green is a three year starter, as well. He bulldozes over people in the run game and tends to utilize great quickness in the passing game, giving up only 2 sacks on 285 recorded pass blocking attempts. He was forced to fill in at tackle when the Aggies had injuries and he did a decent job, though nobody profiles him as an NFL starting tackle. Some of that is due to a lack of lateral movement, which also limited him from time to time at the guard position. Nonetheless, the Patriots are known for valuing versatility and tend to move players around the line. In the mid 2nd round, Green would be a good fit.

Daniel Faalele, OT – University of Minnesota

I had to have one of my Gophers in there, right? Faalele and Trent Brown together on an offensive line would be sort of hysterical to see. Faalele is a 6’8″ 387 lb BEAST. Not only is he big, he’s long — with an 86 inch wingspan. People just cannot run through or around him. While he’s not going to beat you laterally, he doesn’t need to. Faalele’s strength and pure size make him a great pick in rounds 2-4.

Kellen Diesch, OT – Arizona State University

Diesch is my favorite. Of the linemen available in this year’s draft, I think he’s the best fit for the Patriots. Yes, even over my Gopher. At 6’7″ you’d expect another guy that struggles to move a bit, or is at least a step behind some. Nope. Diesch ran a 4.89 40-yard dash and an even more impressive 4.43 20-yard shuttle. The guy can move. He only gave up 7 total pressures in 2021, only once registering more than 1 in a game. The only measurable that is not in Diesch’s favor: he has smaller arms. So, there’s a chance he might get kicked inside. But is that really a “worst” case scenario? Imagine having Brown at 6’8″ and Diesch at 6’7″ on the left side of Mac? Blind side, strong side.

Dylan Parham, OG – University of Memphis

In the 2020 season, Parham lined up at right tackle and proceeded to register a 90.6 overall grade. Another athlete on the interior line is something Belichick surely covets. His grade of 78.8 at guard in 2021 was decent, though he did seem to progress throughout the season. The line needs some flexibility, and the more comfortable players are at moving around, the more likely they’ll fit into our scheme. Parham has great upside once he gets more reps under his belt as a guard.

Zach Tom, OT – Wake Forest University

Tom reminds me a bit of Isaiah Wynn in that he’s an undersized tackle weighing in at 304 and 6’4″, but who is super athletic and could likely move around. Over the course of the season, he earned the highest pass-blocking grade of any FBS player. Given the need to protect Mac in pass-blocking schemes, Zach Tom could be a later round get. His versatility has him moving up some draft boards though and he’s being taken at the back end of the 2nd round despite his 3-5th round projection. It’ll be fascinating to see where he falls.

7 Round Patriots Mock Drafts

OK! So here we go!! Let’s get to (mock) drafting!

7 Round Patriots Mock Draft #1: NO TRADES

Format Reminder: No trades, picking where the Patriots are currently slotted.

MOCK DRAFT #1 – ROUNDS 2-7 ANALYSIS

As you’re probably guessing, there are a lot of guys available still at the end of the 1st round, and we missed out on some of our favorites with only one 2nd and 3rd round pick.

Round 2: Got our guy at LB in Troy Andersen.

Round 3: Stretched for Kellen Diesch, but felt as if he would be the best available tackle and couldn’t risk waiting to round 4.

Round 4: Someone we haven’t mentioned above, Marquis Hayes is one of the premier pass blockers. But as you can see above, there are plenty to pick from. He fell in our lap here.

Round 5: Tycen Anderson is one of the biggest project players in the draft, but if he lives up to his potential, his value here could be elite. He’ll range from nickel CB to S, and reminds me of a smaller Jalen Mills. Also in the round, as much as I hate Wisconsin, I do like Jack Sanborn and his leadership traits. A role player in his NFL career, he’s not a bad grab this late.

Round 6: Ok hear me out, I’m aware we have one of the best punters in the NFL, but he’s also $3.2M cheaper. Belichick is usually 1 year ahead of that increase in salary. Remember how awesome Ryan Allen was? Remember how awesome Jake Bailey is? Exactly — start putting it in the past because Matt Araiza is going to be your new Patriots punter. Meet him. This one just makes too much sense. He’s left-footed, he’s punted for over 81 yards twice (there was only 1 punt over 80 yards in the NFL in 2021), and he’ll save the Pats about $3.987M in salary. In other words, he’s saving us approximately half of Davante Parker’s salary. SIGN. ME. UP.

We round out the draft with Smoke Monday, a punishing defender who struggles in coverage — there’s a chance he goes significantly higher than round 6, but given his inability to pivot, he’s also a candidate to fall here.

7 Round Patriots Mock Draft #2: MY DRAFT

Format Reminder: Here’s what I would do if I were in charge of the Patriots. Trades included.

The Strategy

Going into this draft, I’m looking to make a lot of trades with my eye on a few of the key names listed above. This draft is so deep at OL and LB in the middle rounds, and offers a ton of talent late, too, so I’m looking to acquire more picks by moving back where I can. Then, in the later rounds, let’s place some bets on athleticism, even if we reach a bit. Get ready, here come the trades.

Pick By Pick Recap

ROUND 1: You can see how the complete first round shook out here, but the key point is that by #21, we still had a ton of big names left, including Zion Johnson, Tyler Linderbaum, Bernhard Raimann, Treylon Burks, Trevor Penning, Andrew Booth Jr., and Jermaine Johnson II. With our eyes set on Andrew Booth Jr., we took a risk by trading down a few spots with Dallas, essentially betting that the Cowboys need line help, and the Packers and Cardinals both need a WR (Burks?) or offensive line help. It was a bit of a gamble as the Cardinals could have easily taken our guy, Andrew Booth Jr., but given the depth throughout the draft we would’ve been content with trading down (and likely out of round 1) if that had been the case.

TRADE: NE trades pick #21 to DAL for picks #24, #88, and #167

SELECTION: Pick #24 – Andrew Booth Jr., CB – Clemson University

ROUND 2: We sit tight until our pick at #54. By this point in time, we have our eyes set on one of Quay Walker or Troy Andersen, at LB but again there’s a ton of depth here, so it’s possible to quickly pivot

SELECTION: Pick #54 – Troy Andersen, LB – Montana State University

Now, before we took Andersen, we noticed there was a bit of a run on WRs in at the end of round 2 and in round 3 so far. Typically you don’t want the runs at a position to influence your strategy, but that’s exactly why we took the risk in round 1 and acquired more assets. Since we picked in round 1, we’ve seen Treylon Burks, Skyy Moore, George Pickens, Jahan Dotson, and Christian Watson come off the board. Garrett Wilson, Jameson Williams, Drake London, and Chris Olave had come off before we picked. It’s time to get our guy.

TRADE: NE trades picks #85, #158, and a 2024 3rd Rounder to ATL for picks #58, and a 2023 4th Rounder

SELECTION: Pick #58 – John Metchie III – University of Alabama

‘Nuff said here. Mac now has his favorite target and the Patriots got it done essentially by flipping similar picks as we acquired in the deal with Dallas + a 2024 3rd for a 2023 4th.

ROUND 3: Now, we don’t pick again until #88. We have our eyes on Marcus Jones, but unfortunately he goes off the board at #85. We pivot and flip the picks we acquire from Dallas to move back in round 3, but also acquire another 4th round pick.

TRADE: NE trades picks #88, #168 to CLE for picks #99, #118, and a 2023 4th Rounder

SELECTION: Pick #99 – Kellen Diesch, OT – Arizona State

So far, we love this. We’ve plugged 3 major holes and we’ve done so without sacrificing draft position. The biggest piece we dealt was a 2024 3rd rounder, but we’ve also acquired 2 additional 2023 4th rounders that easily could turn themselves into something either this year or next. Looking forward, we don’t pick again until the 4th round at #118, but Channing Tindall is still on the board. It’s possible he is still there at #118, but it’s not worth the risk, so we make a deal to go get our guy with a friendly partner. Essentially, we trade back into the 3rd round, up 13 picks, and for that, we move back 7 picks in the 4th, 11 picks in the 6th, and we give up a 7th next year in return for a 7th the following season.

TRADE: NE trades picks #118, #127, #210, and a 2023 7th Rounder to SF for picks #105, #134, #221, and a 2024 7th Rounder

SELECTION: Pick #105 – Channing Tindall, LB – University of Georgia

ROUND 4: We’ve now gotten an elite man CB, two sideline-to-sideline speed linebackers, Mac’s favorite weapon from his Bama days, and some insurance on the OL with one of the more athletic Tackles in the draft. We’re not done yet though! Marquis Hayes is one of the highest graded pass blocking OGs in this draft and he’s still on the board. So is Zyon McCollum, the athletic freak of nature at CB we covered above. Our next pick is #134, but we’d love to nab either of those guys and have the extra assets that we’ve compiled from this year’s trades, so we make yet ANOTHER move!

TRADE: NE trades pick #134 and a 2023 6th BAL for pick #119

SELECTION: Pick #119 – Marquis Hayes, OG – University of Oklahoma

This is our lowest graded trade so far, but given we now have a total of four 2023 4th rounders, we’re not worried about the implications for next year’s 6th round. We expect to recoup that in the future. McCollum goes off the board at #115, which makes the decision to draft Hayes easy. He should be a good replacement for Shaq Mason and help to shore up the pass protection void he’ll leave.

ROUND 5: We have our eyes on a lot of players still. Tycen Andersen and JT Woods are strong potential playmakers at the Safety position, there are a number of decent RBs to take a flyer on, like Eyioma Uwazurike or the 6’7″ Michael Clemons, but that’s not who we have our eye on.

Aaron Hansford is one of the more intriguing LB prospects in the draft this year. A former WR, Hansford has transitioned his speed into an outside linebacker and has had success. Hansford ran a 4.6 40-yard at his pro day and measured in at 6’2″ 239 LBS. The Patriots met with him at both the combine and Senior Bowl, so they’re definitely interested. However we’ll need to move up if we want to lock him in…. again.

TRADE: NE trades picks #170, a 2023 4th Rounder, and a 2024 7th Rounder to CHI for picks #148, #186, and a 2023 5th Rounder.

SELECTION: Pick #148 – Aaron Hansford, LB – Texas A&M University

Now, we’re finally done our trading for the year. To recap, we’ve intentionally made realistic deals based on the actual draft pick value charts. We’ve dealt a total of 15 picks, and received a total of 15 picks. In doing so, we’ve acquired 2 additional picks for this years draft and only moved back slightly in (round 3 to 4) in 2024’s draft. This is the kind of calculus we should expect to see on draft day.

Round 6: NO MORE TRADES! JUST PICKS.

SELECTION: Pick #186 – Matt Araiza, P – San Diego State University

We’ve covered this above, but this should be the odds on most likely pick of the draft out of any team, and any position. He’s a future star who’d save you $3.2M in cap space at a position Bill has historically been keen on turning over.

SELECTION: Pick #200- Jack Jones, CB – Arizona State University

Jones met with the Patriots in a private top 30 visit, so there’s definite intrigue. He’s a late round CB who impressed under former Jets coach, Herm Edwards. Jones led the Sun Devils in pass deflections (19) over his final 3 seasons, adding 6 interceptions. He’s a good late round flyer who’s a bit polarizing. Some have him as high as the 4th round, but his 4.51 40-yard dash was disappointing. His high football IQ should be his saving grace in New England’s system.

SELECTION: Pick #221- Darien Butler, LB – Arizona State University

Butler, a team captain at ASU, is undersized. He’s listed at 6’0″ and 225, but measured at 5’10” and 226 at his pro day. Butler opted out of running a 40 this year, but scouts have commented he’s light on his feet. As a 2nd team All Pac-12 nominee, he’s shown some playmaking ability. He did have a private visit with the Patriots, so they’re definitely interested. At this point in the draft, you’re hoping to find diamonds in the rough, or at least special teams role players. Butler seems like a good gamble here.

And that’s it! If this were to happen, I’d be absolutely thrilled.

7 Round Patriots Mock Draft #3: WHAT’S MOST LIKELY

Format Reminder: Here’s what I think is most likely to happen. Trades included.

UPDATE (4.25): PATRIOTS HAVE ALREADY MADE A TRADE (#170 to HOU for #183 and #245) … The above mocks were done pre-trade, but we’ll roll with the updates here for this one. We’re going to see a lot of movement.

The Strategy

Similar to the above, it’s most likely that there will be a lot of moves. I think the Patriots are most likely going to pass on a guy like Booth Jr. or one of the stud WRs and trade back towards the end of the 1st round or even fully out. Lots of similarities to the above though!

Pick By Pick Recap

ROUND 1: Like I said above, this class is just so deep at the positions of need, that I think it’s most likely that the Patriots trade entirely out of the first round. Here, we project a deal that helps set up the rest of the draft for the Patriots.

TRADE: NE trades picks #21, and #124 to ATL for picks #43, #58, and #82

While yes, they give up the ability to take potential stars in Andrew Booth Jr. or Daxton Hill, both of whom could also help immediately, this trade gives the Patriots a total of three 2nd round picks and a second 3rd round pick.

ROUND 2: This round was seamless as all of the players we want are right there for the taking.

SELECTION: Pick #43 – Quay Walker, LB – University of Georgia

SELECTION: Pick #54 – Troy Andersen, LB – Montana State University

SELECTION: Pick #58 – John Metchie III, WR – University of Alabama

Super successful round 2 for the Patriots here. We get 2 elite athletes in a much needed position (LB) and we also still get to reunite Mac with Metchie.

ROUND 3: We continue rolling, filling needs at crucial positions.

SELECTION: Pick #82 – Marcus Jones, CB – University of Houston

Jones not only fills a hole at CB, but also brings his return skills to a special teams unit who ranked 18th in Rick Gosselin’s annual rankings last year.

TRADE: NE trades picks #85, #183, and #245 to SF for picks #93 and #105

This deal gives the Patriots another 3rd round pick, their third total in this draft. It also provides another asset at the ready, should they need it.

SELECTION: Pick #93 – Kellen Diesch, OT – Arizona State University

Covered above, a number of times. The Patriots pick again at #105, but decide to trad that pick. Without a trade, their next pick wouldn’t be until 158. With so much depth in between, the Patriots look to acquire another pick by trading back again and flipping one of the picks they just got from San Francisco.

TRADE: NE trades picks #105, and #158 to NYG for picks #112, #147, and #182

ROUND 4: Now with a pick in the 4th thanks to the above trade, New England can continue to help rebuild the offensive line. Here they take one of the best pass-blocking prospects in the draft.

SELECTION: Pick #112- Marquis Hayes, OG – University of Oklahoma

ROUND 5: Again, thanks to the trade with the Giants, the Patriots pick in the 5th round. By this point, Zyon McCollum has gone off the board and so have a few other CBs we haven’t mentioned.

SELECTION: Pick #147- Josh Jobe, CB – University of Alabama

As mentioned above, Jobe was a starter all four years at Alabama. He’s seen elite competition and he’s done well. Jobe’s physicality will be welcomed in this renewed secondary. Along with Marcus Jones, the Patriots have done well to help add playmakers to a needy unit.

ROUND 6: Continuing to add depth.

SELECTION: Pick #182- Brian Robinson Jr., RB – University of Alabama

Bill loves his power backs. Robinson’s comp is…. wait for it… Damien Harris. He also hasn’t had a lot of mileage on his body as he spent 3 years backing up Najee Harris. He was a stud last season once given the starting role. Nothing more than a depth add here, but worth it.

SELECTION: Pick #210- Matt Araiza, P – San Diego State University

SALARY CAP SAVINGS. Covered numerous times.

TRADE: NE trades pick #200 to LAR for picks #212 and #238

This deal moves us back a bit in the 6th round, but we get an extra 7th for this year. Possibly unnecessary, but this way, the Patriots don’t have to battle teams for the undrafted free agents.

TRADE: NE trades picks #212 and #238 to LAC for picks #214, #254, and #260

Another trade that sends the two picks you just received from the Rams across Los Angeles to the Chargers. This essentially turns #200 into #214, #254, and #260 and puts the final touches on the draft class and adds two 7th rounders.

SELECTION: Pick #214- Smoke Monday, S – Auburn University

Smoke Monday, covered above, is a physical punisher who is average at best in coverage. He adds insurance to a unit, but also could be a good add in the special teams game.

ROUND 7: Two lottery picks late in the second round. They join teammate Kellen Diesch as the second and third picks from Arizona State drafted by the Patriots.

SELECTION: Pick #254- Chase Lucas, CB – Arizona State University

SELECTION: Pick #260- Darien Butler, LB – Arizona State University

You’d rather Jack Jones from ASU, but unfortunately he goes at #235. Lucas also met with the team and started for ASU, so it’s another depth piece to add to your chest. We covered Butler above, but he’s got great potential as a former ASU captain and 2nd team All Pac-12 nominee.

That’s it! That’s a wrap.

CONCLUDING THOUGHTS

Honestly, I don’t have any more. Thanks for reading!