More Mockery

I generally have problems with what the mockers do to the Patriots in their drafts. I know I should let it go. They're called mock drafts for a reason, I suppose. Most pigskin pundits and bobbleheads have to look at New England and think, who knows what Belichick will do, anyway? Still, when they mock the Pats taking a wide receiver with small hands and off-the-field issues or a defensive tackle whose curriculum vitae includes back surgery and references to an inconsistent motor and the next player off the board is an offensive lineman who was a team captain who put up 25+ reps on the bench press and a sub-7.5 second 3-Cone Drill, I can't help but scratch my head.

This recent 7-round mock on NFL.com was – in some ways – a pleasant surprise. In other ways? My head still hurts from all that scratching.

 

Let's break it down, shall we?

#32 – Landon Collins, S, Alabama

Collins did play for Belichick BFF Nick Saban and he's arguably the best safety in the 2015 draft. This is also considered a weak draft class for the position so is Collins merely a hawk among crows? More importantly, Florida State OL prospect Cameron Erving is still on the board (taken just four spots later by Jacksonville). Collins may be better than Patrick Chung and yes, aside from Devin McCourty it's hard to call the Patriots "stacked" at the position when you're talking Chung, Duron Harmon and Tavon Wilson. On the other hand, those guys did just win a Super Bowl. Safety seems an odd position for the Pats first pick and it isn't like Collins hasn't been generating comparisons to Troy Polamalu or Kam Chancellor in anything I've read.

On the other hand, the Patriots could use an inside offensive lineman and love position flexibility which makes Erving an ideal fit for New England.

If I were going to reach for a player here, I'd be tempted to take Dorial Green-Beckham (Brady needs weapons!). He's projected in this mock draft at #33 but his off-the-field issues have probably taken him off the Patriots' board. No, sparking up a doobie and allegedly pushing a co-ed isn't murder but after Aaron Hernandez, it's hard to project DGB to the Patriots, despite the comps to Calvin Johnson. If Nelson Agholor were on the board at #32 on the other hand I might have to think about it.

If Cameron Erving isn't available, I'd be more than happy to hear the Commissioner intone, "The Patriots have traded the 32nd pick to…" Maybe Tampa Bay or Tennessee likes Green-Beckham enough to make sure they get him at 32?

Other notable players available at 32 who've been linked to the Patriots in various mocks: Shaq Thompson, LB, Washington; Owamagbe Odighizuwa, DE, UCLA; T.J. Clemmings, OT, Pittsburgh; Jordan Phillips, DT, Oklahoma.

#64 – Grady Jarrett, DT, Clemson

Local pigskin pundits and bobbleheads have been all over Jarrett; some have even gone so far as to mock him to the Pats at #32. He's more of an athletic, penetrating, pass-rush DT – like last year's 1st round pick Dominique Easley – than a two-gapping space-eater like the recently departed Vince Wilfork so there's been some questions about why/whether the Pats would go in this direction.

I say, can you have too many athletic, penetrating, pass-rushing defensive tackles? Until you get to five I think not. (Especially when one of them has already had the ACL in both knees repaired.) A fully healthy Easley lining up next to Jarrett could give the Patriots a pair of defensive tackles who win with quickness, who can stop the run and get after the quarterback. If the Patriots defense is going to win with pass rush instead of pass coverage in 2015, a player like Grady Jarrett could certainly help.

Notably available with links to the Pats: Laken Tomlinson, G, Duke; Ty Sambrailo, OT, Colorado State.

Yes, offensive linemen. As noted in previous posts, I still think the best weapon Brady can be given is a great offensive line.

#96 – Ali Marpet, G, Hobart

An offensive lineman!

Marpet made himself draftable with a breakout performance at the Combine but the leap from Division III competition to the NFL is significant. I'd feel a lot better about his prospects if he'd played OT at Hobart and absolutely dominated DIII competition. Okay, even then I wouldn't feel that good about it.

Can he make it in the NFL? Based on his combine numbers it seems more than likely.

Could he start at LG for the Patriots in 2015? Now you're scaring me. I need Tom Brady to remain upright and functional for at least three more years. Some day there won't be any pictures of Brady buying an Apple Watch after skipping the trip to the White House or Bill Belichick checking out Chrissy Teigen's ass at the White House Correspondent's Dinner but not yet, please.

Not yet.

#97 – Anthony Chickillo, DE, Miami

Best 3-Cone Drill time at his position = mad Patriots love. Chickillo underachieved at The U in a 3-4 alignment but broke out with a dominant East-West Shrine Game performance as a 4-3 end. He seems to have the tools necessary to become the next Rob Ninkovich and that would be so best.

#101 – Tyler Lockett, WR, Kansas State

Does the Patriots offense need a big, tall, outside the numbers wide receiver to thrive. Well, obviously not. (See Super Bowl XLIX.) Does New England need another 5' 10" slot receiver? Not so much. I still don't understand why so many of my fellow citizens in Patriots Nation are ready to show Danny Amendola the door now that he's finally contributing on offense and special teams. I may be overly optimistic about Aaron Dobson/Brian Tyms but (with the Nelson Agholor caveat above) I wouldn't use a draft pick on a wide receiver in the 2014 draft. Given the current depth chart at WR and needs at other positions this feels like a wasted pick.

Also available at 101: Tre' Jackson, OG, Florida State (a much safer choice at #96); Mark Glowinski, OG, West Virginia; Chris Conley, WR, Georgia.

#131 – Bobby McCain, CB, Memphis

I know what you're thinking. Finally, a cornerback, and it's an undersized slot DB?

Not that I disagree but he did have a decent 3-Cone Drill time and his draft profile includes this…

"His 19 passes defensed and 11 interceptions over his last 22 starts are indicative of his athleticism and talent to play on the next level but he could be scheme dependent."

Can't help thinking: Asante Samuel.

Also available: I'm out of names I recognize at this point. In Nick Caserio we trust.

#178 – Austin Shepherd, OT, Alabama

Another Nick Saban product. A long-term project in a succession plan for Sebastian Vollmer? Can he move inside to guard? Nice to see an offensive lineman but… Too little too late? In this mock draft, the Pats have passed on Cameron Erving, T.J. Clemmings, Laken Tomlinson, Ty Sambrailo, Tre' Jackson and Mark Glowinski while taking Ali Marpet and Austin Shepherd.

What the hell?

#219 – Junior Sylvestre, LB, Toledo

Small but fast (and an okay 3-Cone Drill timing). His draft profile comps him to Jonathan Casillas (remember him?). Fast enough to play a hybrid SS/OLB position in sub packages? A special teams demon? Sylvestre looks like a small school/poor man's Shaq Thompson without the burden of being a 1st/2nd round pick.

#253 – Doniel Gambrell, OT, Notre Dame College

Hard not to root for this guy when you read his back story. Married, three kids, working a third-shift job to provide for his family while playing football, his father murdered when he was 11-years old; Gambrell has clearly dealt with and overcome more than his share of challenges in his young life. His draft profile indicates he's probably a year of work in the weight room away from contributing on the field but it sounds like he could be a long-term option at tackle or kick inside to guard. At #253, why not?