The longer the mock draft the more and more ridiculous it becomes, but that doesn’t stop ESPN’s resident draft gurus Mel Kiper Jr. and Todd McShay from doing three rounders. At least they don’t attempt the ultimate exercise in futility, aka the seven round mock draft.
Here’s who they have the Pats taking:
- Cameron Jordan
- Justin Houston
- Danny Watkins
- Jonathan Baldwin
- Daniel Thomas
- Marcus Gilchrist
- JJ Watt
- Mark Ingram
- Clint Boling
- Daniel Thomas
- Jabaal Sheard
- Marcus Gilchrist
Instead of criticizing these picks (and I definitely don’t see all these guys as great fits) let’s just imagine that these are the actual results of who the Patriots drafted. Either way you get a sense of just how much talent the Pats are poised to add yet again this spring.
But clearly there are some divisive prospects on here. McShay’s draft alone would be great fodder for the podcast since Frenz would be psyched to get Watt, but scratching his head over Ingram.
Interesting that both mocks had Daniel Thomas and Marcus Gilchrist as selections, and along with Jonathan Baldwin make up the only three that aren’t on my big board.
Baldwin had some character flags that caused me to drop him. I believe there are better backs available than Thomas, though he’s big and seems like he would add a new element to the Green-Ellis/Woodhead backfield.
Gilchrist projects to safety but his lack of physicality is a big of a flag to me as well. There is definitely a need for a developmental free safety so perhaps Gilchrist could be a good fit, especially if he could play a little nickel corner as Wes Bunting believes he could day one.
