Playing around with the PFN Mock Draft Simulator, and thought I'd kind of live blog my draft:
At #23, there were some guys I like, but in this mock, Jordan Love was still on the board. The Chargers went OL at #6, so I managed to swap #23 for #37 and #71 to allow LA to move up and grab Love.
A lot of players I'm not that interested in ended up going between #23 and #37. I think I might be able to move down again without a great deal of risk. I trade #37 and #100 to Atlanta for #47 and #78. That means I've turned #23 and #100 into #47, #71, and #78. If you go by the Draft Pick Trade Value Chart, I've traded away 860 points, and gotten back 865.
I instantly regret the second trade down as Cole Kmet goes to Carolina at #38 - WAY earlier than I anticipated. I wanted either Kmet or Trautman from this draft, but now it seems like they're both going to go in the 2nd round. I'm not comfortable taking Trautman at #47. I'm probably overthinking this. Take the best player who fits a need. There's someone I like who I'm really surprised is still available in the middle of the 2nd round. At #47, I select Zack Baun, LB, Wisconsin.
I still want Trautman. I try to work something out with teams near the bottom of the 2nd round to move up into the low 60s, but can't find a taker at a price I think is reasonable. I'm holding my breath as the 2nd round ends and Trautman is still on the board. I'm thinking my gamble is about to pay off.
It doesn't. Trautman goes four picks ahead of me to the Jets at #67 at the top of the 3rd round. I've failed in getting one of my two TE targets.
Back to basics - take the best player who fits a need. I didn't start this draft thinking I'd take a safety real high, but like Baun, there's a guy on the board who I didn't think would be there at this point in the draft - a guy that I think the Patriots could deploy in a number of roles. At pick #71, I'm taking Jeremy Chinn, S, Southern Illinois.
I'm still looking for offensive playmakers, but the board isn't falling my way. The value is still on the defensive side of the ball. I follow up the Baun and Chinn picks by taking Raekwon Davis, DT, Alabama at #78. After I make the pick, I tell myself, "Offense at #87, no matter what."
OK, so which offensive player do I go for? To be honest, I'm not sold on any of the choices as a difference-maker. If I go TE, it'd probably be Albert Okwuegbunam, who I don't love. If I go WR, I'm probably going to choose between Van Jefferson, Donovan Peoples-Jones, and Gabriel Davis. My favorite player on the board is Clyde Edwards-Hillaire, the RB from LSU. I could take him and then release Burkhead, saving almost $3.0 million against the cap. But if I take Edwards-Hillaire, it probably means either giving up on Sony Michel, or another season where Damien Harris doesn't dress. I'm not ready to give up on Michel, and I want to give Harris a chance to take Burkhead's spot in the lineup. I'm going with Van Jefferson, WR, Florida, who may not be a star, but he's dependable, and I think he'll play in the NFL for a long, long time.
Okwuegbunam is still on the board at #98. As I said - I'm not a huge fan. In fact, beyond Kmet and Trautman, I'm not a huge fan of any of the rest of the TE class. But I don't see how the Patriots can go another year without picking at least one. Pick #98 is Albert Okwuegbunam, TE, Missouri.
Another RB I like - Zack Moss from Utah - is available at #125, but I can't pull the trigger for the same reasons I didn't pull the trigger on Edwards-Hillaire. There are two players I like that I think would fit needs, and I can't really decide between them. I don't think either would be there at #172, but I think I might be able to hold out a little longer to take them. I'm looking to trade down and maybe cash in some of those late picks I've got. I trade #125, #195, and #213 to Philadelphia for #145 and #146.
This time, my gamble pays off - both my targets are still available. I haven't addressed the OL yet, and I think it's time. I'm taking a kid who I think is athletic, versatile, and underrated. Pick #145 is Hakeem Adeniji, OL, Kansas.
At #146, we're going quarterback. I realize I'm on an island here, but after Burrow, Herbert, and Tagovailoa, QB4 in this draft for me isn't Love or Eason or even Jake Fromm. It's James Morgan, QB, Florida International.
Back to defense at #172. Taking a bit of a flyer on a kid who has a good frame, is a good Special Teams player, and was a three-year team captain in the SEC - DJ Wonnum, DE, South Carolina. He just feels like a Belichick pick.
Given my screen name, this next pick friggin' pains me, but it fills a need, and he's a pretty good kicker. #204 overall is Rodrigo Blankenship, K, Georgia.
We're now well into the stage of the draft where I'm hoping to pick up guys who can provide a little depth and maybe push some other players who have some questions. I wasn't a huge fan of Ted Karras, but he does need to be replaced. Maybe Hjalte Froholdt is the guy. Maybe he isn't. Either way, it'd be nice to have some insurance. Pick #212 is Calvin Throckmorton, OL, Oregon.
Speaking of depth, the Patriots still lack linebackers. So at #230, I'm going with the best LB in all of FBS... a guy who's scouting report - at least to me - screams "Patriots" - Dante Olson, LB, Montana.
And to wrap things up at #241, I'm double dipping at TE in the hopes of pushing either LaCosse or Izzo off the roster. He likely won't be available in the 7th round two weeks from now, but in this simulation, pick #241 is Dalton Keene, TE, Virginia Tech.
