This is it! Nobody asked for it but here it is anyway. My final pigskin mockery for my beloved gridiron heroes, the New England Patriots!
It was far from perfect but then, such is life.
Assumptions (carry over from Mocks #1, #2, and #3)
The alleged needs: O-Line, Edge/Pass Rush, and Wide Receiver are the obvious priorities, and maybe in that order. Or maybe Edge, WR, O-Line? Or maybe we see who we got at #31? Oh, and Tight End, Linebacker, and Safety could also use some juice.
Might take a developmental quarterback. Maybe.
There's a lot of hate for Bryce Barringer of late but I'm not going to use a pick on a punter.
I'm using the Pro Football Network's Mock Draft simulator, with the consensus players ranking list.
NOTE: The simulator I'm using doesn't assume O-Line is a need for the Patriots but we all know the First Rule of Patriots Club is that Drake Maye must be protected at all costs!
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.
I will trade down for more picks as circumstances dictate.
Based on about a hundred simulations, trading down is not the best idea given this year's draft class isn't the deepest of pigskin oceans.
Relative Athletic Score (RAS) will be a deciding factor for me.
Drum Roll, please…
Stick and Pick Post Draftem Analysis
#31 - Zion Young, Edge
Why? It feels like something of a self-fulfilling prophecy based on the wisdom of pigskin pundits and bobbleheads.
From the PFSN site: "Young has a picture-perfect combination of linear explosive athleticism, lean mass, and proportional length, all of which aids in his power generation and hand force at contact on power rushes."
Caveat: There are worse things than a DWI but it did have me taking a hard look at T.J. Parker (Clemson) with this pick. Then again, Young's highlight package is wicked impressive.
Vibe Check: Willie McGinest
#63 - Jake Golday, LB
Why? Well, he's 6'5", 240 pounds, with a 9.85 RAS.
From PFSN: "Golday has the explosiveness and range to work sideline-to-sideline. He's an instinctive spatial navigator working through creases to make stops at the line, and he also has blitzing utility with his long-strider burst through gaps."
Vibe Check: Dont'a Hightower
#95 - Skyler Bell, WR
Why? Insane production: 101 catches, 1,278 yards, 13 touchdowns in his final collegiate season.
From PFSN: "He's explosive and energized as a mover, with a full route tree, vertical splicing, steely ball tracking, and dynamic RAC chops."
I'm not sure what "vertical splicing" is but that plus "steely ball tracking" has me thinking Skyler Bell may also be the name of a character in a steamy, gay, romance novel.
Vibe Check: Stefon Diggs
Speaking of tight ends…
#125 - Eli Raridon, TE
Why? Mars needs tight ends! Okay, he's 6'6" and 245 pounds, he clocked a 4.63 40-yard dash on his way to a 9.46 RAS.
From PFSN: "Raridon is a long and lean TE with great measurables, as well as good baseline explosiveness, foot speed, and open-field pace. He's a high-quality blocker who can work in-line, pull, or track defenders in space, and as a receiver, he melds efficient acceleration, bend, zone IQ, body control, and strong hands to function as a quality intermediate safety blanket."
Vibe Check: Sorry, not going to say his name…
#131 - DeMonte Capehart, DT
Why? I mean, defensive tackle isn't the biggest of needs but after finding this guy in earlier mocks I just could not pass on taking him here.
From PFSN: "At 6'5", 313 pounds, with near-34" arms, Capehart is a long-levered gap occupier with the strength and dislodge resistance of a tree trunk. His hyper-elite explosiveness aids his ability to fully reset the point-of-attack and pose a grave threat for offensive linemen attempting displacement. At his size, Capehart boasts a blistering 4.85 40-yard dash with a 1.71 10-yard split, as well as a logic-defying 33.5" vertical. [9.96 RAS]
"He makes his money in the run game, surging into contact with unmatched burst and force output, controlling blocks, one-gapping from as far inside as 0-tech and 1-tech, and puncturing holes in zone looks with his volcanic gap penetrating speed. And while his pass-rush arsenal is very rudimentary, his rare linear burst and raw power produce a fearsome bull-rush on passing downs."
Woof!
Vibe Check: Vince Wilfork
#171 - Diego Pounds, OT/OG
Why? Well O-Line is a need for the Pats - protect Drake Maye! - and you may have noticed I hadn't drafted any before this pick.
From PFSN: "He's smooth and balanced in his pass set, he has the matching footwork and angle IQ to stay square and mediate rushing paths, he's patient and timely with his hands, and he has great synergetic feel and anchor strength." He's a large human at 6'6" and 325 pounds and could start as a backup to Morgan Moses with a long-term possibility as a Mike Onwenu replacement.
Vibe Check: Mike Onwenu (on WeightWatchers)
#191 - Travis Burke, OT
Why? More developmental help on the offensive line. Burke is more likely the RT of the Future than Diego Pounds. He's large (6'8", 325 pounds) and athletic (9.01 RAS).
From PFSN: "Burke's size alone is menacing, but the Tigers product also takes it upon himself to menace opponents with ruthless point-of-attack physicality, finishing torque, and mauling resolve late in reps. Burke relishes the physicality of the position, and routinely buries rushers and edge-setters when they give up leverage. He's a true tone-setter and a natural obstructor, who also flashes solid pass sets for his size, as well as solid stunt and blitz awareness."
Vibe Check: Christian Vollmer
#198 - Roman Hemby, RB
Why? I think the Patriots are in pretty good shape in the RB Room but given the Antonio Gibson season-ender and Rhamondre Stevenson also missing time due to injury, it felt like a good idea to add some talent at RB, and then there's this…
From PFSN: "At 6'0", 208 pounds, Hemby pairs a sturdy, compact frame with outstanding vision and burst, and he's a quality elusive threat with his crisp footwork and smooth lateral mobility.
"With over 100 career catches and just three drops, he boasts some of the surest hands out of the backfield as a bonus."
Just three drops…
Vibe Check: Man, I really miss James White…
#202 - Logan Taylor, OG
Why? We must protect Drake Maye at all costs! Another large (6'6", 315 pounds), athletic human (9.46 RAS).
From PFSN: "Taylor passes the eye test with his mobility, point-of-attack power, and long-levered anchor strength. For his size, Taylor also has good flexibility, which aids in leverage acquisition, weight distribution, and pad level maintenance, and he's a tenacious finisher who flashes overwhelming rotational torque and leg drive."
Vibe Check: Dan Connolly
#212 - Caleb Douglas, WR
Why? He's tall and wicked fast. 6'3" and 205 pounds, with big hands and long arms, Douglas clocked a 4.39 40-yard dash and posted a 9.50 RAS. It feels like he was built in a lab for the best deep-ball thrower in the NFL. Also noted his blocking ability was called out in the scouting reports I was able to find, and Josh McDaniels loves him some wide receivers who can block. He can get some reps as a gunner/kick return man to start and hang with Mack Hollins in the WR Room.
Vibe Check: David Patten (but taller)
#247 - Lorenzo Styles, Jr., S
Why? You're sifting through the straw looking for that elusive needle at 247 and I admit that Styles wasn't taken in any of my previous mocks and wasn't on my big board. I had missed on the safeties I liked in earlier rounds (Jalon Kilgore, VJ Payne) and I saw "Ohio State" and thought, maybe there's a Vrabel connection? So I took a look at this guy. What I found was startling. Styles, Jr. fits the basic physical profile for his position (he could add some weight) but his testing is off the charts. He ran a 4.27 40-yard dash. He scored a 9.99 RAS. Another guy who could start out as a gunner and develop into a big slot/big nickel DB? Oh, you would've taken a punter here?
Vibe Check: Matthew Slater
So, the simulator says it was a B+ draft but really, nobody knows how any of this pans out. Still, I managed to check most of the boxes for need with a number of potential starters/contributors, so, I'll take the B+ and hope that by the end of the weekend I'm thinking, yeah, with that rookie class they could make it back to the Super Bowl…
Go Pats!
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