Fill In the Blanks Mock Draft
The Patriots would get an A if analysts gave New England a draft grade today.
Just another example of how the Patriots play free agency at another level from the rest of the league.
So far New England acquired a receiver with back-to-back 1,100-yard seasons, a motivated defensive end (contract year) that has shown elite potential, an all-around tight end that is as much of a block as he is a receiver, and a running back that averaged 5.7 yards per carry in 2016.
Any team that came out of a draft with this kind of haul would call it very successful.
While New England spent free agency adding veteran win-now players, the draft can still yield 2017 contributors and depth. With a handful of selections spoken for, here’s how I hope the Patriots fill in the rest of their draft class:
1 (32): Traded for WR Brandin Cooks
2 (64): Traded for DE Kony Ealy
3 (72): DE Derek Rivers, Youngstown State
Just because they added Ealy doesn’t mean New England is set for pass rushers. Rivers checks the boxes for athleticism (NFL Combine top performer in four categories) and played defensive end and linebacker during his college career.
3 (96): TE Jordan Leggett, Clemson
Don’t consider Allen Rob Gronkowski insurance. Allen missed 23 games over the past four seasons. A knock on Leggett, according to Leggett, is he refers to himself as lazy. New England’s coaching staff will take care of that. What’s important is Leggett gets up for big games. He’ll get plenty of those with the Patriots.
3 (103): Traded for Cooks
4 (131): OG Sean Harlow, Oregon State
Head coach Bill Belichick, always a NFL history buff, would want to make this selection, 25 years after the Patriots selected Pat, Sean’s father, with the 11th overall selection in the 1991 draft. Not that it will be the only reason New England drafts Sean. The younger has practiced at all positions with Oregon State. While Sean projects to guard, New England will test his versatility.
4 (137): Traded for TE Dwayne Allen
5 (163): Compensation for RB Mike Gillislee
5 (183): OLB Jordan Evans, Oklahoma
A coverage linebacker. Evans works best in space when the defensive line keeps him clean and frees him to go after the ball. Evans excels in coverage, with eight pass breakups and four interceptions in 2016. In time he could earn a starting role.
6 (200): OT Brad Seaton, Villanova
Marcus Cannon is a great story, recovering from a cancer diagnosis while in college to earning a contract extension and starting at right tackle for a Super Bowl-winning team. But keeping the starting job isn’t a lock. Competition will make the team better and Seaton, initially depth, could push Cannon down the road.
7 (239): CB Ryan Lewis, Pittsburgh
Sounds like CB Malcolm Butler will be back in 2017, but that could be it as he’s an unrestricted free agent in 2018. Depth is good now, with Cyrus Jones competing with Eric Rowe for third corner. There’s room for a developmental player, though.
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