This is my "I'm bored so it's time for a mock" mock.
Assumptions
Re-sign Revis, McCourty, Vereen, Chung, Ayers, Gostkowski and maybe Branch and Casillas if they perform. Consider letting one or more of Amendola, Arrington or Vollmer go (in that order) to afford this. My preference is to keep all three however because they are all making contributions.
Consider signing Mark Ingram. That might be my preferred option at RB but for the purposes of this mock, I'm assuming that doesn't happen.
A Word on Bud Dupree.
I'm not including him in this mock but I do consider him an almost perfect fit for the Patriots, particularly if we continue with the defensive shape we showcased against the Broncos. Throw in the fact that he has Jamie Collins' athleticism whilst being bigger and having SEC experience and he just seems like to good a fit. Why isn't he in this mock? Partly to do something different, partly because I like TJ Clemmings just as much and can't realistically justify both without some trade shenanigans, and partly because Chandler Jones, Ayers, Ninkovich and Hightower doesn't leave a great deal of space for him. This does not mean that I wouldn't be thrilled to draft him in reality.
Round One
TJ Clemmings, OT, Pittsburgh.
I wonder, in my crazier moments, whether TJ Clemmings might actually end up being better than Brandon Scherff in the long run. Clemmings is a tremendous run blocker, is outstanding in space and is more than fine in pass protection. I prefer him as a Mankins type LG that can move defenders in the run game but I'd be fine with him at RT too if Vollmers potential 7.75m cap cost becomes too much to bear. Clemens and Dupree are my two favourite prospects right now.
Round Two
Tevin Coleman, RB, Indiana
A revelation this season, Tevin Coleman has showcased the ability to break tackles and the long run with equal aplomb. He's had Darren McFadden comparisons from more than one source and would make for an outstanding 1-2 punch with Vereen.
Round Three
Anthony Harris, S, Virginia
An experienced productive quarterback of the defence prospect, Anthony Harris fits the McCourty mould of safety better in coverage than against the run, although he's no slouch there. Against Denver we often had four DBs playing press coverage with McCourty as the single high guy - Harris fits such a defence. On the other hand, the big safety loitering in the middle of the field waiting for the big hit is not something we saw that often. This is why I tend to favour the coverage safety rather than the Kam Chancellor type. FWIW, ESPN have Harris ranked as a high second round pick whereas CBS rank him at 83.
Round Three
DeAndre Smelter, WR, Georgia Tech
Hopefully more Demaryius Thomas than Stephen Hill. Smelter doesn't have Hill's athleticism (4.5-4.6) but he's a big receiver at 6-3, 220 that gets up to speed quickly with good hands. He is an outstanding run blocker though. This isn't a pick I'm wedded to but I like his potential and with Dobson and Tyms not setting things alight, there could well be an opportunity here. Brandon Lafell isn't a terrible comparison for Smelter.
Round Four
Paul Dawson, MLB, TCU
I saw him compared to Jerod Mayo which prompted me too watch him and whilst he doesn't have Mayo's size nor his athleticism (probably), I could see it in his game film. He's an excellent diagnoser of plays in the run game and isn't a slouch in coverage either. With Mayo's injury issues, Dawson could be a good person to have on the roster.
Round Four
Blake Bell, TE, Oklahoma
This former QB is improving as a TE and at 6'6" and 259lbs, he certainly has the size. He probably won't match Logan Thomas' athleticism from last year but there are some similarities. Gronk needs a backup and Bell could be that in the longer term.
Round Six
Lynden Trail, DE/OLB, Norfolk State
If you haven't seen his highlight tape from last year then I strongly urge you to do so; it's a lot of fun. At 6'6" and 260lbs, Trail has the athleticism to play a 4-3 DE or 3-4 OLB, he has the length to set the edge and then throw in the fact that he has three receiving TDs as a WR (including a tremendous high pointing end zone catch in double coverage that would make Gronk jealous), a gunner in punt coverage and occasional DB. Like Armonty Bryant from two years ago and Terrence Fede from last year, Trail is likely going to be my small school binky this year.
Round Six
Zach Zenner, RB, South Dakota State
A bit of a duplication here with Tevin Coleman but I just wanted to highlight what a tremendous athlete Zach Zenner is. He's 6'1" and 220lbs and is a timed 4.5 runner, fast for that size. Jenner is excellent in getting yards after contact and like Coleman, can break the long one. If I was marketing Zenner, I'd use the tag line "runs over linemen, through linebackers and away from defensive backs".
Round Seven
Andre Monroe, DL, Maryland
Will Sutton meets Dominique Easley. At only 5'11", I'm not sure where Monroe would fit in our defence unless it's next to Easley in a Nascar package. The thing is, in such a situation, I'm not convinced that Easley gets off the snap quicker than Monroe. Watch him against the top 10 ranked Brandon Scherff. In one game, Monroe beats Scherff four times for two sacks and two QB pressures. There are only four pass rushers more productive (sacks) than Monroe at the FBS level: Joey Bosa, Randy Gregory, Shane Ray and Hauoli Kikaha.
Priority FA
Terry Williams, DT, ECU
The most Wilforkian DT I've seen. There seems to be some serious character red flags and he might not be draftable but, like Wilfork, Williams has the strength and quickness to reset the line of scrimmage, not something you often see from Nose tackles.
