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2015 draft

2015 PatsPropaganda Patriots Mock Draft

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It’s time to unleash my one and only mock draft! You can check out my full Patriots-only big board here, where my Top 50 Pats prospects are listed. 

Not all the needs I see for the Patriots are easily filled. I find that’s often how national mock draft go – list team need, fill with best guy left at the position. But that’s never how it works.

Nearly all of these prospects have certain common threads – outstanding character and dedication to football, they play the game with intensity and aggression, and often feature superlative size, strength and quickness. 

Let me know what you think in the comments below. Here are my picks for the Pats…

1st Round (32nd Overall) – Eddie Goldman – DT – Florida State

I’ve often said if I were an NFL GM, I would never take anyone other than an offensive or defensive lineman in the first round, unless they were a can’t-miss slam dunk. There are almost never can’t-miss slam dunks at the end of the first round, and with no guard worth a first rounder, I’m sticking with the defensive tackle position and Eddie Goldman.

Last year, I was all over Dominique Easley and I’ve gone back to the position again as Goldman would be a perfect addition to the Pats’ rotation at DT. Despite the loss of Vince Wilfork, I wouldn’t call DT the biggest need in the draft, but I think Goldman would have the biggest impact.

Even with Wilfork playing at a high level last season, the Pats often struggled to win at the line of scrimmage with their defensive line. They were 32nd in Football Outsiders’ Power DVOA rankings and 28th in their Stuffed Ranking. 

So while there are some promising young players like Easley, Sealver Siliga, Chris Jones and even Antonio Johnson on the roster, along with veteran Alan Branch, I’m still not convinced they have the talent just yet to be a dominant front.

Goldman would give them more potential in that area. While there are other players in this DT class to consider, like Malcom Brown and Jordan Phillips, I think Goldman’s size and playing style best fit the Patriots.

His lack of pass rush doesn’t concern me given what he’ll be asked to do in New England – eat space and dominate blockers in the middle of the line. At 6′4″, 336 pounds he can be moved into a variety of spots on the DL just like Wilfork was. He’s not going to step in and replace Wilfork instantly, but he’ll provide insurance for Siliga, who dealt with multiple injuries last season, and raise the ceiling of just how good this front can be.

2nd Round (64th Overall) – Tre Jackson – G – Florida State

The second round seems like the sweet spot for the Patriots to find a guard who can immediately step in and start for them. Tre Jackson is the choice here as even though I like AJ Cann a little better, I think he goes early-to-mid second round. Laken Tomlinson could also garner consideration around here.

The Patriots need guards, that’s obvious and Jackson has the necessary temperament to step in next to his former Seminole teammate Bryan Stork right away at right guard.

Last year Stork mentioned how the Seminoles offensive line studied the Patriots offensive line extensively. That’s part of the reason Stork was an instant starter at center and there’s no reason to think Jackson wouldn’t excel in the same transition.

Some of the knock on Jackson is that his technique needs to be cleaned up and there’s no better place for that to happen than in Foxboro.

Perhaps the biggest question is how versatile Jackson is. If he can also play on the left side he becomes even more of a slam dunk. But even as a right-guard only, he’ll bring immediate value.

3rd Round (96th Overall) – Justin Coleman – CB – Tennesee

Some might have the Pats taking a cornerback before this, and while it’s certainly a possibility, I’m fine waiting on a player like Coleman in the third.

The biggest question surrounding the Pats taking a corner is do they go back toward more zone corners – guys who can pattern read, put their foot in the dirt and attack the ball/ballcarrier downhill – or do they want to find someone who can excel more in man coverage despite losing Revis and Browner?

Coleman has good size and superior quickness and strength – he was a top performer at the combine in bench press, three-cone drill, 20-yard shuttle and 60-yard shuttle.

His comfort in zone and ability to play special teams, along with an aggressive/physical play demeanor all make him a very good fit in a secondary that needs depth.

There are questions if he can play outside in the NFL, and I’m not sure how much his value would drop if he was deemed a slot-only guy. But overall, he checks almost every box the Patriots have traditionally liked in their secondary and he could compete to contribute immediately at least as a dime back.

3rd Round (97th Overall, Compensatory) – Daryl Williams – T/G – Oklahoma

I think the Pats have to double dip at guard and Daryl William is an excellent fit. He played mostly right tackle at Oklahoma but also had a stint at left tackle. His lack of athleticism prompts many to believe he’s headed to guard in the NFL.

Described as a powerful player with excellent football character and work ethic, Williams would give the Pats another potential starter on the inside of their offensive line along with Jackson. 

Balancing one of them at left guard and one at right guard will be the key to whichever guards the Pats select in the draft. I’d bet we definitely see one rookie starting inside this season, and I don’t think it’s entirely out of the question to see two, though that might not happen until well into the season.

4th Round (101st Overall, Via TB – Logan Mankins) – Lorenzo Mauldin – LB – Louisville

My flip-flopping between offense and defense continues as the Pats reinforce their linebacking corps with Lorenzo Mauldin in the fourth round. 

Mauldin has one of those stories that make you root for him – he grew up in 16 different foster homes and lost a scholarship to South Carolina, being told they no longer had room. The Pats always seem to bring guys like Mauldin, who have overcome a lot, into their program.

Mauldin played mostly a stand-up linebacker role at Louisville and while I’m projecting him to a similar spot on the Pats, he’ll have less edge responsibility in their system.

He’s a closer fit to Dont’a Hightower than Jamie Collins, despite being closer in frame to Collins. It’s his physicality that puts him more likely on the strongside, which could allow Hightower some more flexibility on the inside.

His pass rush skills would be a good asset off the edge, especially next to Ninkovich. While his biggest adjustment will be playing in space more than the straightforward approach he had at Louisiville. 

In time he would develop into a great compliment to the Mayo/Hightower/Collins linebacker grouping.

4th Round (131st Overall) – Obum Gwachum – DE – Oregon St.

The Pats also seem to have a soft spot for physical freak projections and that’s just what Gwachum is. Just a year removed from switching positions from receiver to defensive end, Gwachum will need time to develop in the Pats system.

At 6′5″, 246 pounds, there’s some uncertainty where he might end up. Can he add 20 pounds? Because then he could be a defensive end. He has the necessary fight to hold the edge, but having the strength to do so is something else entirely.

If he can’t put on that much weight he could project to a weakside linebacker spot, or at worst a designated pass rusher off the edge. He could immediately play special teams and that is critical to his value and sticking on the 53-man roster in his first season.

All these positions will require significant development, but Gwachum is an explosive player and has the right mental makeup to make the leap. Belichick would have some fun with him.

6th Round (177th Overall, Via TB – Jonathan Casillas) –  Bobby McCain – CB – Memphis

McCain embodies a lot of what I see in this year’s cornerback class – some good Patriots fits, but they’re undersized. Still, there’s always a need for defensive backs and McCain is the kind of quick-twitch ballhawk that fits well in the Patriots’ system.

He was a top performer at the combine in the long jump, three cone drill and both shuttles. He played both inside and outside at Memphis and returned kicks, so he could contribute in a number of different ways.

We can’t get too caught up in how it will all come together, that’s for competition and (unfortunately) injuries to decide.

7th Round (219th Overall, Via TEN – Akeem Ayers) – AJ Derby – TE – Arkansas

Derby is just one of those guys that screams Patriots to me. He played both quarterback and linebacker prior to moving to tight end, but he instantly became a weapon who could line up all over the field.

His experience in a similar offense at Arkansas would help his transition to the pros as well.

He’ll need time to develop like everyone taken on Day Three, but he’s just the kind of physical and versatile playmaker the Pats love to plug in and see where he fits.

7th Round (253rd Overall, Compensatory) – John Crockett – RB – North Dakota St.

If there was an area of debate based on this mock draft, it would almost certainly be not taking a running back until this last slot. I could easily see them taking one in the third or fourth round, but I’ve put it off here simply because I see more impact players elsewhere earlier.

Crockett has good size and comes from a pro style offense, and he was a top performer at the combine in both vertical and broad jump. That signals explosiveness. 

He can do a little of everything and while he’ll need time to develop, he has the kind of style that could really fit what the Patriots ask of their running backs. The fact that his nickname is Taz only adds to how much I like him.

Guest Post: Patriots Big Board from Cody LaChance

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I dropped my Top-50 Patriots big board earlier this week and now here’s a chance for contributor Cody LaChance (@HailtotheHoodie) to pick his 50 guys. 

1.) Malcom Brown* – DT – Texas – Wasn’t going to have him on the list, but Matt Patricia attending Texas’s Pro Day just makes this too enticing. Could be an immediate fill for the hole left by Wilfork. Could become anchor of DL for years to come.

2.) Cameron Erving* – C/G – FSU – Since Stork played so well in his first season, have to think Patriots will be interested in going back to the FSU OL well. Erving could be an instant starter at G, and interior OL is now a must more than ever with Suh going to Miami.

3.) Kevin Johnson – CB – Wake Forest – Johnson is not a flashy athletic phenom, but is reportedly one of the most “pro-ready” CBs in this year’s draft. The Patriots could definitely use a player of that caliber and could be a good value pick in round two.

4.) Byron Jones* – CB – UConn – Belichick loves athletic players and has turned another ex-combine star into an NFL stud in Jamie Collins. Jones is extremely raw in technique and would need time to learn the Patriots system before being thrust into it.

5.) Jordan Phillips* – DT- Oklahoma – Jordan Phillips has a massive frame measuring in at 6’5" and 329 pounds which could help fill the equally sized hole left by Vince Wilfork. Phillips could have great value in the second round as an instant starter for the Patriots in 2015.

6.) Owamagbe Odighizuwa* – DE – UCLA – Besides having the coolest name in this draft class, Owa is a phenomenal edge rushing talent who should thrive off his great combine numbers. His mix of size, speed, and athleticism would be a great addition to the Patriots as DE could be an area to add depth with Chandler Jones reaching the end of his contract next season.

7.) Ronald Darby- CB – FSU – Belichick might want to expand on his FSU well and go with Darby for a CB who could come in and produce in year one. With protoypical size at the position, he could instantly help fill the whole left by Revis.

8.) Arik Armstead – DT – Oregon – Brother of ex-Patriot Armon Armstead, Arik is a talented DL with a massive frame (6’8" 280 lbs). While he was prone of going invisible in college, his potential is there as a unique mixture of size and skill. With the right coaching, could become a phenomenal DL in the NFL.

9.) AJ Cann* – G – South Carolina – Cann fits all the intangibles that the Patriots love. Solid player and a leader. There are concerns if he has the versatility in blocking to thrive in NE scheme, but still could be an instant plug and play guy.

10.) Jalen Collins – CB – LSU – I really dislike having to put CB near the top of the list for draft needs, but that’s where the Patriots are at. Collins is a raw prospect, but has the athletic traits of a future star CB in the league. Sounds like another Collins the Patriots have drafted in recent drafts…

11.) Jake Fisher – T – Oregon – Although Fisher projects to be a tackle, he could be transitioned to playing guard due to his high football IQ and great hand placement. Belichick loves versatitlity, and having an offensive linemen that could play multiple positions is always a plus.

12.) Eli Harold – LB – Virginia – Harold could be a potential Jamie Collins 2.0 as he is an extremely athletic edge rusher. Might fit a 3-4 better than a 4-3, but is athletic enough to make an impact in any scheme.

13.) Laken Tomlinson – G – Duke – See a trend with interior OL here? Tomlinson has had talks with New England and could be available at the end of the first or second round.

14.) Ali Marpet- G- Hobart – Leave it to Belichick and the Patriots to draft Marpet. The overachiever from Division III school Hobart would continue Belichick’s tradition of drafting head scratchers early on. He does fill a position of need which only adds to the Patriots potentially drafting him.

15.) Carl Davis – DT – Iowa – Another big DT that could help replace Wilfork. Needs to work on being more consistent, but talent is there.

16.) Ameer Abdullah – RB – Nebraska – While Abdullah has some fumble issues, he looks like one of the most explosive RBs in this draft class. He is an all-purpose back that can play on all three downs.

17.) Danielle Hunter* – DE – LSU – Hunter has the size, speed, and length that Nick Caserio loves in one of his latest interviews this offseason. Has measureables similar to Chandler Jones (6’6" 240 pounds) but a 4.57 40 time shows he has the speed to get to the QB. A combo of him, Chandler, and Easley could be a VERY scary pass rushing trio.

18.) Eddie Goldman – DT – FSU – A prototypical run-stopping 3-4 NT. Not going to get a lot of pass rush from him, but could instantly fill in for Vince as team’s primary run stuffer. If available in round two, would be a great pick.

19.) Preston Smith – DE – Mississippi St. – Smith is another edge rusher in this strong edge rusher class that could interest the Patriots. He has similar size to Chandler Jones, and could add some more pass rushing depth to the front seven instantly.

20.) Marcus Peters – CB – Washington – Peters looks like an Aqib Talib 2.0. Plenty of off-field issues, but could potentially be a phenomenal NFL CB. Even if Patriots don’t draft him, could see Peters ending up in NE during his career at some point.

21.) Phillip Dorsett* – WR – Miami(Fl) – One of the fastest WR available in the 2015 draft, he had the fastest 40 time in the group at a blazing 4.33. He could instantly add a level of explosiveness to the Patriots offense, but is not the most consistent receiver. Would be a steal in the third round.

22.) Duke Johnson – RB – Miami (Fl) –  Johnson could be a great replacement for Vereen as he has the ability to catch the ball out of the backfield. Has phenomenal moves and can break off a big play anytime he touches the ball. With Gurley and Gordon potentially going in the first, Johnson is a guy NE could target in the middle rounds.

23.) Sammy Coates – WR – Auburn – Patriots fans want a DEEP THREAT?? Well here he is, fresh off an intense Pro Day private workout with Belichick. Coates is a burner who can stretch the field. Would provide competition with Dobson and Tyms in camp.

24.) Tre’ Jackson – G – FSU – Another day, another FSU interior lineman. With Scar having great contact with FSU’s program, I wouldn’t be surprised in the least for the Patriots to potentially have multiple Seminole linemen on their OL

25.) Quinten Rollins – CB – Miami (OH) – A former basketball player, Rollins has great start and stop speed. There are concerns about his technique, but with some coaching could be a talented NFL corner.

26.) David Cobb – RB – Minnesota – Yeah, I know the last RB the Patriots took from Minnesota still makes fans sick, but Cobb could be a solid addition to RB depth in the later rounds. Could be a Ridley replacement as it’s ironic NFL.com has his NFL comparison to Stevan Ridley.

27.) PJ Williams – CB – FSU – Good size for the CB position. Talented in bump and run coverage and could help replace Revis and Browner in that regard. Not overly impressive against the run.

28.) Grady Jarrett – DT – Clemson – Undersized, but explosive and plays hard until the whistle. Might be too much of a Dominique Easley copy, but has serious potential.

29.) John Miller – G – Louisville – Guard with great hand and arm usage in pass coverage. Can play either guard position and is intelligent and talented enough to be able to switch in game.

30.) Chris Conley* – WR – Georgia – I know the Patriots recent history (failures) in drafting WR, but Conley is a type of guy who could add an explosive aspect to the offense. He was made famous from his ridiculous combine, but don’t forget Belichick spent a lot of time with him at Georgia’s pro day.

31.) Max Valles – LB – Virginia – Harold’s pass rushing counterpart at Virginia. Extremely raw, but athleticism leads lots of room for upside as a developmental prospect. Would need time to mature physically and mentally for NFL.

32.) David Andrews – C/G – Georgia – A player Belichick took time to meet with, 2014 Rimington Award Finalist. Could play any spot on NE’s interior OL. Could be the 2015 Draft version of Bryan Stork.

33.) Gabe Wright* – DT – Auburn – Wright is a player that at times was brilliant, and dissapeared in others. Commonly compared with Ra’Shede Hageman from last year’s draft, if Wright can find a way to not dissapear he has the potential to become an inside force. Should be available in the middle rounds.

34.) Jay Ajayi – RB – Boise State – Considered a dark horse at the RB position in this draft. Has loads of potential if put in right scheme. Could become great player in Patriots system.

35.) Stephone Anthony – LB – Clemson – Linebacker depth has plagued the Patriots for the last few seasons, making Anthony an attractive mid-round pick. He has the ideal size for a Patriots LB, and is being prasied for great interviews so far.

36.) Tyler Lockett – WR – Kansas State – Pretty much the later round version of Phillip Dorsett. Great speedy, shifty WR that could add more speed to current WR core.

37.) Jose Matias – G – FSU – Another FSU OL, can’t say enough about these guys. Pro ready from day one. Could be a great mid-round selection.

38.) Shaq Mason* – C/G – Georgia Tech – While Mason was seen giving snaps to Scar, he projects to be a RG in the NFL. He is a little undersized, but is underrated as a powerful run blocker and stout pass blocker.

39.) Tyrell Williams – WR – WOU – A big-bodied WR coming in at 6’4" and 200 pounds who has the ability to be a RZ target as well as a solid run blocker. Williams would be a solid addition to the WR core as potential Brandon LaFell insurance.

40.) Ben Heeney – LB – Kansas – Heeney is a solid linebacker and could provide depth on special teams with the loss of Jonathan Casillas.

41.) Eric Rowe – CB – Utah – Cornerback with ideal height and length. Has issues with man coverage, but would be a good fit in zone schemes.

42.) Cameron Artis-Payne – RB –Auburn – Patient runner who won’t beat many defenders to the edge. Good ball security and stocky frame make him a viable RZ option.

43.) David Johnson – RB – Northern Iowa – Johnson is a big bodied RB who has the ability to catch the ball out of the backfield. His KR skills give him extra versatility for NE.

44.) Terrence Jones – G – Troy State – Guard with immense strength and power. Could provide solid camp competition for guard positions.

45.) David Parry – DT – Stanford – Parry is a former walk-on player with a BIG chip on his shoulder. While he lacks the ideal size, he has the type of hard-working and nasty attitude that the Patriots love to draft late in the draft. Could add depth to DT rotation.

46.) Marten Ifedi – DE – Memphis – You can never have enough pass rushers, and the Memphis product could be a solid late round addition. Solid size and a staggering 11.5 sacks his junior year could bode well in the Patriots DE rotation.

47.) Damaar Aultman* – WR – Maine – Had to sneak a Maine player in here. After bringing in Derrick Johnson for a look last offseason, they should bring in Aultman. Aultman has the speed and hands to be an NFL WR and is an experienced return specialist.

48.) Tyler Kroft – TE – Rutgers – Keep the Rutgers pipeline open and active! Kroft is another large TE product (6’6" 240lbs) that could turn into a dominant red zone option. The Rutgers connection only helps the chances he’s drafted by the Patriots.

49.) James Crowder – WR – Duke – A small and shifty slot receiver who put up great numbers at Duke. Just the type of receiver to give insurance for Edelman and Amendola.

50.) Joe Cardona – LS – Navy  – How could I do a Patriots Big Board without adding a Navy player. Joe Cardona is actually considered one of the top long snappers in the country, and you just never know with BB’s love for Navy.

We’re On To The Patriots Offseason!

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Okay, there will still be plenty of 2014 posts coming (Butler INT will be reblogged at least another 1000x), but today we start looking forward at 2015.

While everyone can’t wait for all those mock drafts to start pouring in, we’ll begin mostly with free agency here, since the Patriots will likely fill just about every major hole long before the draft gets here.

As for the draft, I pay zero attention to college football until now. So I’ll start looking into guys and putting together my big board for the fifth year in a row. 

Let’s start with the depth chart. I’ve left holes where starters are hitting free agency, or are under option like Revis, and I’ve bolded players that I generally think are locks to remain, i.e. probably won’t be cut or restructured. Doesn’t mean it won’t happen of course.

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Based off the depth chart, and the weaknesses of the 2014 Patriots, here are some general priorities as a starting point. This list is highly fluid, but given the Pats current roster and strengths/weaknesses of the past couple years, this is where I’d start.

1. Darrelle Revis/LCB – There’s no question the first priority is to try to get Revis an extension before they have to pick up his huge option or he hits free agency. There’s no corner I’d rather have. It’s a no-brainer to keep him while he’s still in his prime.

2. Devin McCourty – McCourty seems a good candidate to be franchise tagged, but if there’s a way to give both him and Revis long-term extensions, things will be looking good on the back end, especially with so much depth. Honestly, I love McCourty, but if I had to choose only one, I’d pick Revis. 

3. Dan Connolly/LG – Connolly seemed to settle the line once he moved to left guard. Is he an elite guard? Nope. But he’ll give you a solid presence and he should be cheaper than his last deal. I’m sure there will be plenty of people who want to go after another guard in free agency (I like Clint Boling from Cinci), but I think the best play is sign Connolly and another low priced FA, then draft at least two.

4. Stephen Gostkowski – This is where things start to get interesting with the Pats and kickers. Let’s not forget they tagged Vinatieri twice (one time he was later extended, the second he played it out). Gostkowski has shown no sign of slowing down. It would be hard to let him walk, but he won’t come cheap.

5. Shane Vereen/3rd Down RB – The Pats do have James White waiting in the wings, but it will be hard to forget Vereen’s clutch performance in the Super Bowl. Still, there have to be priorities and I don’t think it’s a lock that Vereen returns. I don’t think he’s irreplaceable.

6. Right Guard – We didn’t even know Ryan Wendell could play guard until last season. He proved he can do it pretty well, but I still think we can upgrade him. While I don’t expect the Pats to spend big money on external free agents, they need to add at least a couple legitimate guards to the competition, assuming one of them is Connolly. Using a high-round pick on a guard seems like a good idea. The found Stork last year, he needs a mauler next to him with good size.

7. Big Defensive Lineman – Wilfork’s future seems to once again be up in the air. Maybe he retires? Or maybe the Pats try to re-work his deal again. Either way, we know New England will end things a year early rather than a year late. Wilfork had an amazing year coming off an Achilles tear, but with Siliga waiting in the wings, how much more can they squeeze out of Big Vince? A defensive tackle with size could be an excellent draft target. Bringing back Alan Branch is a possibility but I thought he was just okay. Ideally I’d like to upgrade with a big ugly who can play multiple spots. Easley/Chris Jones have the penetrator-type covered. 

8. Defensive End – Chandler Jones hits free agency next year while Rob Ninkovich just turned 31. A third developmental defensive end could be a good ideal, depending on how they feel about the futures of Zach Moore, Michael Buchanan and Jake Bequette. Re-signing Akeem Ayers would be a good step as well. We saw what happened last year when Chandler went down and they had to trade for Ayers. They can’t keep running Ninkovich and Chandler into the ground, it will come back to haunt them eventually.

9. Early Down RB – The Pats do have some depth already in this spot, including Blount, Jonas Gray and Tyler Gaffney, who was a rookie this year who spent the season on IR after being snapped up from Carolina. Maybe re-signing Stevan Ridley to a prove-it deal makes sense. Or they could just wait until the draft which I think would be fine as well. 

10. Box Safety – Patrick Chung had his best season as a pro and earned an extension, but the search should never end for a strong safety with size who can cover tight ends. That was a big weakness for the Pats this year and one they should continue to try to address.