It’s pretty easy to bag on mock drafts. I know because I’ll be doing it a lot over the next two months. But the true value of a mock draft is not as a predictor of what will unfold, it’s getting a general consensus from a lot of sources as to who fits at the spot your picking.
I suggest you check out NEPatriotsDraft.com as well as this mock draft database and start familiarizing yourself with the potential Pats.
Here are some early names that are popping up as Pats picks in a lot of mock drafts.
1. JJ Watt – DL, Wisconsin
- Watt would project as a 3-4 defensive end. He has the size (6’ 6").
2. Ryan Kerrigan – DE/OLB, Purdue
- Kerrigan seems to possess a lot of what the Pats need, namely size and the ability to get after the quarterback. The question will be how well he can drop in coverage. We’ll see at the Combine.
3. Cameron Jordan – DE, Cal
- Jordan is 6’ 4" and close to 300 pounds which is good for a Pats style DE, but what makes him even more enticing are his huge hands and long arms… critical factors for controlling tackles.
4. Gabe Carimi – OT, Wisconsin
- Carimi is a huge beast and would be an excellent bookend of the future opposite Vollmer.
5. Mikel Lashoure – RB, Illinois
- This might be a little high for a running back, but if the Pats have a shot at Lashoure or Mark Ingram I think they might pounce. A break away back to go with Woody and Benny would provide an even more diverse ground attack.
Others mentioned:
- Aldon Smith – DE/OLB, Missouri
- Adrian Clayborn – DL, Iowa
- Justin Houston – DE/OLB, Georgia
