Pigskins at Mock 2

Time for more pigskin mockery!

Every so often, the draft simulator goes all Godfather on me, making trade offers I simply cannot refuse. Well, okay, I could, but more is more, if that makes any sense.

Here we go with a "volume business" 7-round mock draft for the New England Patriots. 

Assumptions (with carry over from Mock #1)

• The alleged needs: O-Line, Edge/Pass Rush, and Wide Receiver are the obvious priorities, and probably in that order. Tight End, Linebacker, and Safety could also use some juice.

• The A.J. Brown trade is not happening. Or it is. Or it already has. Whatever.

• While the Patriots aren't so talented they can simply draft "best athlete available" over need, the draft sometimes makes you an offer you simply can't refuse. As was the case here.

• I'm using the Pro Football Network's Mock Draft simulator, with the consensus players list.

So, how did it go?

I wound up with a total of 16 picks, well short of my personal best of 23.

A few notes on the picks…

• O-Line: Pretty happy with these picks; Gennings Dunker sounds a little bit like Logan Mankins, Jalen Farmer is a tank, and the Pats need an insurance policy at guard given Alijah Vera-Tucker's injury history. Austin Barber is big and athletic and could eventually take over on the right side for Morgan Moses. Jude Lowry and Travis Burke may be more developmental picks but they both tested well.

• Edge: Dani Dennis-Sutton is a pick I really like here. Big, athletic, played in Big10 weather. Not as happy overall with the Edge picks as the board just didn't fall my way but George Gumbs, Jr. and Vincent Anthony, Jr. have some tools in their bags and maybe some daddy issues.

• Wide Receiver: Picked up prospects who are tall and fast with Ted Hurst, Deion Burks, Caleb Douglass and one of my favorite Day 2 WRs in Jeff Caldwell. 

• Otherwise: I've spotted Kyle Louis mentioned by local pigskin pundits and bobbleheads. Not one of my favorites but he was the best linebacker available after I'd filled in some of the priority positions. LB isn't a terribly deep position in this year's draft and I felt like I needed to pull the trigger there as it wasn't going to get better. I do like the Sam Roush pick at TE; big, fast, athletic, and smart enough to go to Stanford! Ephesians Prysock is a tall, wicked fast DB with the best name in this year's draft. DeShon Singleton… Well, I needed a safety to round out the alleged needs picks. Maybe I should've taken a developmental QB there. 

Verdict? The volume business draft is fun, but probably not wise. Will I do it again? I wouldn't bet against it.

Mockity Mock #3 coming soon to an internet link near you!

Go Pats!