This is where I am now in terms of an ideal draft for me.
I'm using the consensus big board and not taking anyone ranked higher than their respective picks.
31. Gabe Jacas, EDGE, Illinois.
(This is still Mesidor ideally but I'm assuming he's gone).
Thanks to
@DaBruinz for getting me to take another look at him. I just think he's the ideal Vrabel prospect. Excellent character, work ethic, effort and those "violent hands" he's described as having. He was productive (12 sacks), had one of the more varied pass rush suites in terms of wins (a 40-40 split winning with power or speed). Throw in player comps of Matt Judon (Lance Zierlein) or Trey Hendrickson (Todd McShay) and I think you have a 3 down player with some scheme versatility who can give you solid sack numbers year after year with potential upside to get into the 12-15 sacks per year range.
63. Treydan Stukes, S, Arizona
Sorry to be unoriginal here but I just think he's a perfect Patriot. Great character, great athleticism, smart, excellent against the run and scheme versatile in that he can play slot corner, nickel safety (which could get him on the field year one) and free safety. He's the ideal compliment that enables Woodson to play nearer to the LoS which is his strength.
95. Sam Roush, TE, Stanford or
Oscar Delp, TE, Georgia or
Keyron Crawford, EDGE, Auburn
This is the tough one for me as I like all three equally. Double dipping Jacas and Crawford could give us our future at EDGE but this is also a good place to get the 'best of the rest' at TE and I just can't separate Roush and Delp in my mind. I would be fine with any of the three.
125. De'Zhaun Stribling, WR, Ole Miss
Stribling's versatility is what does it for me. I think he can be a Boutte or Hollins replacement and can give you reps as a big slot. At this point in the draft, I think he's the receiver that gives you the most opportunities to get a successful draft pick at WR.
131. Travis Burke, OT, Memphis
Simply my favourite of the later round tackles. Swing tackle and 6th OL year one and see if he can be developed into a starting RT beyond that.
171. Adam Randall, RB, Clemson
When the FO look at two RBs only and both happen to be 230 pound plus, that tells you something. He's developmental but there's good raw material to work with. I also think that he and Stribling could give us KR reps too, something we're sorely lacking.
191. Jimmy Rolder, LB, Michigan
Instinctive, excellent tackling, linebacker. An ideal Gibbins replacement and potential future Spillane replacement.
198. Micah Morris, RG, Georgia or
Keagen Trost, OL, Missouri
Again, I can't decide between the two. Perhaps Trost just about gets the edge but it's close. both are people movers who can back up Onwenu year one and replace him year two.
202. Skyler Gil-Howard, DT, Texas Tech
This is a position - the penetrating 3-tech - that the Patriots have taken a good look at. Kaleb Proctor and Landon Robinson are gone by this point but are two I like, particularly Proctor. However, i've liked Gil-Howard for a while and he fits the profile too.
212. Justin Jefferson, LB, Alabama
Adds some speed to the linebacker corps.
247. Haynes King, QB, Georgia Tech
Another day 3 prospect I've been high on for a while. He'd be QB3 with the potential to become QB2 but he's another very high intangibles prospect with legitimate athletic highs that, if the worst was to happen, could have an offense built around him to cover for Maye for a multi-game period.
Other day 3 prospects I really like:
J Michael Sturdivant, WR, Florida
Colbie Young, WR, Georgia.
Ceyair Wright, CB, Nebraska
Logan Taylor, OL, Boston College
Ethan Burke, DL, Texas
Trey Moore, EDGE/LB, Texas
Jordan Van Den Berg, DL, Georgia Tech
This is a great mock. Well done.
Some thoughts:
1. I like Gabe Jacas a lot. Not sure I like him at 31, and I still prefer DDS. But reasonable if you go EDGE at 31, which I know is your preference.
2. If Treydan Stukes lasts until 63 he would be a home run pick. There are other equally good picks if they last to 63 (DDS or Jacas if we go OT at 31, Jake Golday, Alex Rodriguez, Chris Bell, Ted Hurst, Caleb Banks if he really falls), but Stukes is up there, and would be hard to pass up. He is my S1.
3. Agree about your options at 95. I have Sam Roush slightly > Oscar Delp, and Crawford about equal. Other guys I would consider home runs here would be Mike Washington, Devin Moore, and Kyle Louis.
4. 125 is another home run pick for me. DeZhaun Stribling's superpower is his versatility. He is big enough, athletic enough, experienced enough, and technically adept enough to play the X, Z, or slot, giving him great value. My #1 day 3 WR option. Other equally valuable options I would consider at 125 or 131 would include any of the options listed above at 97 if they slip, S VJ Payne (if no Stukes day 2), CB CJ Demmings, and LB Kaleb Elarms-Orr.
5. Assuming no OT at 31, Travis Burke at 131 is yet another home run pick for me. My OT board is becoming Freeling > Iheanachor > Miller > Burke. That said, the dropoff in agility and athleticism is significant. Burke is more like Kadyn Proctor to me than the first 3 guys - once he latches on, he annihilates people. But while athletic, like Proctor, he is not at the same level as the first 3 guys. That said, he can be a solid swing tackle and potential starter, as you said.
6. Adam Randall is yet another home run at 171 or later. My #2 RB for the Pats after Mike Washington. I have a suspicion he will go higher, but I'd be elated with him here.
7. Trost and Morris are the 2 late round guys I am drawn most to as well. Trost so versatile, Morris so athletic.
8. Rolder and Jefferson are both steals if they last to where you have them. I would consider LB earlier if the value us there (Golday/Rodriguez, then Louis/Elarms-Orr), but if not, they are very good picks. I would also consider a CB if the value was there.
9. Haynes King a solid option at 247.
10. I like the late round DT. I have no issue with Skyler Gil-Howard, though I prefer Jordan Van Den Berg and Damonte Capehart - they are big and strong enough to play the 0 tech, but quick and athletic enough to disrupt.
11. I like your late round guys, not as high on you about Logan Jones. Guys who I am probably higher than you on include Jeff Caldwell, Ephesians Prysock, and the super-quick slot WRs.
Very well thought out. My version would include a lot of your picks:
31. Max Iheanachor. His superpower is his footwork and power.
63. DDS or Gabe Jacas. Missing out on Stukes is agony, but I stick to building around the lines.
95. Sam Roush. I value a true Y-TE as much as a tackle or DL. An offensive weapon who is also a lineman is a rare beast.
125. Stribling.
131. Kyle Louis, VJ Payne, or Kaleb-Elarms Orr. Still in pain over passing on Stukes, but those guys would add a ton of versatility to the 2nd and 3rd levels.
171. Adam Randall.
191. Ephesians Prysock. A 6' 3 1/2" CB with 4.45 speed, a 6.80 3C and a 4.15 SS.
198. Trost or Morris.
202. Jordan Van den Berg. He can eat up double teams and blow up the pocket.
212. Eli Heidenreich or Cyrus Allen. Rumor is Mike Vrabel wants a "1st down machine".
247. BPA. Haynes King would be fine, as would some of the other guys discussed. Not sure I go QB here, would see who else is available.
There's a lot of overlap between your version and mine. I tend to focus on guys with elite traits and upside. Manx tends to focus more on roles/replacements. Not sure which version is better, want both.
I'm also thinking ahead to 2027 a bit:
- Jamari Johnson + Sam Roush = best TE pair since Gronk and the Murderer
- Charlie Becker in the Alec Pierce role
- Jelani McDonald = Treydan Stukes
- Ben Edwards at LB
- Yhonzae Pierre as LB/EDGE
- Austin Siereveld/Carter Smith/Cayden Green/Kade Pieper to complete a dominant, super-athletic OL rebuild
Any combination of those would complement these drafts, and essentially complete the roster reboot.
