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Patriots mock draft 2.0: Some unconventional possibilites

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Patriots mock draft 2.0: Some unconventional possibilites

Draft week is finally here and there should be plenty of mock drafts to post, including this one from Mark Daniels that takes a look at some outside-the-box guys.

Of course topping the list is Shaq Thompson, a player plenty of Patriots fans have an interest in. In my opinion he’s not worth a first round pick to the Patriots because he’s not likely to ever play a legitimate linebacker role in their system. Could he be an interesting player at the “Money” position, aka a dime linebacker? Sure, but that’s a limited role and one you would draft in the third round.

Now I’ve been shocked plenty of times by the Patriots’ moves and I expect to be shocked plenty more, so I’d never write off Thompson entirely because he’s definitely an intriguing player. It’s just that in the first round I think they’ll look for a player who can impact almost every down.

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.
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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.

Pats Posits: There is No Offseason

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I finally started to dive in on the draft this week after taking a nice three week somewhat-hiatus from the grind of the blogging hobby. The draft is a whole subset of NFL fans and it’s pretty much Thunderdome, especially on Twitter. 

Hoodie help anyone who drops a full mock draft because there will be immediate backlash against pretty much every fake pick you make. 

I keep going back to Belichick making fun of meteorologists this season, because draft prognostication isn’t too much different. There are plenty of folks out there who done a ton of great work and research and they deserve credit, and they love this stuff far more than I. But I appreciate their work and I use much of it in putting together my research. 

Put it this way, I love the draft, I hate the social media atmosphere leading up to the draft and prefer to stay out of the fray.

At the end of draft weekend you’re left with 8-10 players, plus a few free agents in the week following, and then I find it much more fun to analyze how those players who are actually now part of the team fit. You know, instead of projecting how 300+ guys could possibly fit. 

But it’s a long offseason so we all need something to keep us busy, so if the draft if your bag, go for it.

The way I do the draft here on the blog is by putting together a 50 prospect big board and trying to hit as many Patriots picks as I can. You can see the last four years of big boards here. 

Then I’ll drop a mock draft the week before the draft. I don’t claim to know much about scouting, but I think I know the Patriots system and the kind of players they look for. In seven years of following the Pats’ drafts I think I’ve learned a lot about the process and how they use the draft.

Here’s how I’ve done:

My goal for this year remains to break 50% on the big board.

Some thoughts as I’ve gotten into the research are that everyone is accurately projecting the Pats to pick a guard (AJ Cann) with their first pick. The Pats mock draft cycle is often in sync for most analysts who know the team and this is no different. Still, a lot can change after free agency, so the biggest rule is to never fall too in love with one prospect.

I don’t think wide receiver or defensive end are huge needs at this point, but there seem to be a lot of players who really fit the Pats’ system. It’s important to think about drafting replacements a year before you need them, and with Chandler Jones entering his final year and Ninkovich on the wrong side of 30, it might smart to snag a big DE now and develop him this year.

Similarly, I think the big nose tackles are extremely intriguing. We’ll see how things play out with Wilfork, but I could see one of the highly-regarded prospects being targeted in the first round there as well.

Another area to look at is linebacker, where the Pats’ depth is razor-thin and that’s before knowing what will happen with Jerod Mayo.

Put it this way, there are quite a few things to play out before March 10th before we can really get a bead on the draft needs. Outside of the long-range needs at DE/DT, interior OL, there’s not a lot we can say definitely at this point.

Still, it’s exciting to have an offseason where I’m not depressed about how it ended. The 2015 Pats will be different, but there’s no doubt, they’ll be very good.

The New England Patriots’ Round 1 Big Board Before Combine

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The New England Patriots’ Round 1 Big Board Before Combine

Frenz has five prospects who might be a good Patriots fit. As expected, guard is a big position of focus in almost all of these early mocks.

The Pats will fill all their major holes in free agency, even if it’s just temporary, so they won’t have to find a started in the draft at any spot. That flexibility will allow them to pounce on value.

2015 NFL Draft Projections: Examining the AFC East | The MMQB with Peter King

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2015 NFL Draft Projections: Examining the AFC East | The MMQB with Peter King

And so begins some draft coverage, though I struggle to understand how draft needs can be projected at this point. Yes, you can always use offensive and defensive linemen, but after that who knows how free agency will shake out. What if Revis or McCourty walk? That would change things quite a bit. Still, we’ll continue to slowly wade into the NFL draft with some major reservations about making assumptions until after the bulk of free agency has passed.