In our first two mocks, we went with the basic assumption that the Patriots would keep all 12 of their draft picks. But we all know, they’re not going to do that. So we’ll go with a commonly believed scenario that they try to trade up to get a playmaker that they sorely need.
Our first Mock Draft can be seen here: Our second Mock Draft is here:
I used the outstanding Fanspeak Your On the Clock draft simulator again this year. And once again depending upon the Big Board that you use (when it comes to draft prospects)…your results will differ enormously. So Let’s Go Drafting…
Patriots Mock Draft 3.0:
**** Trade**** New England packages #32 and #73 to Seattle for Pick #21
Round 1, Pick 21 – Noah Fant, TE, Iowa: Fant was still around on the board and he may not have lasted until #32. T.J. Hockenson, the most complete tight end in the draft was taken at #12 by the Packers in this mock.
Fant is a very athletic 6’4, 249 tight end from Iowa who excels open spaces. His yards after contact and ability to stretch the seams will immediately make him a very coveted receiver in the offense.
He is a versatile player that can be moved around the formation outside, in the slot or as an H-back. Despite playing in a run-heavy Iowa offense, scored 18 touchdowns in his last two seasons. A standout basketball player, Fant has excellent jumping ability and agility (6.81 3-Cone Drill).
He needs to get bigger and stronger to become a better blocker in the running game but with Austin Seferian-Jenkins on the other side, he’ll have time to develop in that area. However, as a receiving threat, he should be an immediate impact player.
Round 2, Pick 56 – J.J. Arcega-Whiteside, WR, Stanford: Arcega-Whiteside comes from an athletic family. He was born in Spain and both of his parents were basketball players. He brings very good size, 6’2, 225 to the WR position. He’s got a quick release off the line, very good hands and a large catch radius.
He had excellent production in 2018 with 63 catches, for 1059 yards (16.8-yard average) with 14 touchdowns. He posts up like a basketball forward in the red zone and is a very good target there, (28 TDs in three seasons).
He has good but not blinding speed at 4.48 but he’s best utilized in the possession game. He can move the sticks and gets better the closer the team gets to the red zone. He’s gotten better every year and should be a very nice pro receiver who can occasionally stretch the field.
Round 2, Pick 64 – Christian Miller, Edge, Alabama: Miller was just a one-year starter but nevertheless had a very productive final season for the Tide. He made 36 tackles with 11.5 tackles for loss and 8.5 sacks. He tips the scale at 6’3, 247 and is a very athletic edge player.
He has the long arms and above-average athleticism that coaches look for in edge players. He’s versatile and has a quick step off the snap either standing or with his hand on the ground. He has above average pursuit and can drop into coverage and cover backs in the flat.
He’ll need to get stronger at the NFL level to be a three-down edge player but he should immediately see snaps as a sub-package edge rusher with the Patriots defense.
Round 3, Pick 97 – Bobby Evans, T, Oklahoma: Another surprise to still see him on the board at #97, Evans was a three-year starter for the Sooners, two at RT and then at LT in his final season. Evans plays with a bit of a mean, nasty streak and should immediately reap the benefits of playing for Dante Scarnecchia.
He’s considered a bit short at 6’4 for the position but has long arms and can solidly punch the chest of pass rushers to fend them off. While not considered overly athletic, he has the agility to get outside and pull on running plays.
He has excellent core strength and is very tough and will immediately vie for the swing tackle position with the ability to become a starter in short order.
Round 3, Pick 101 – Will Grier, QB, West Virginia: Grier is a developmental QB prospect for the Patriots offense. While he has marginal size, (6’2, 217, similar to Jimmy Garoppolo), and arm strength, he has a kind of “it factor” where he can galvanize the rest of his team. See the Oklahoma and Texas games where he led late comebacks.
Had very good numbers in 2018, 266-397 (67.0%), for 3864 yards with 37 TDs and 8 INTs in 11 games. He’s very accurate in the short-to-intermediate areas of the field. He reads defenses well and is a good leader in the huddle and the locker room.
His mechanics can improve but he has a good body of work to work off of. He’ll immediately step into the #3 position and vie for the backup job in Year 1.
****Trade**** Patriots Trade Picks #134, #205, to the Seahawks for Pick #124
Round 4, Pick 124 – Kaden Smith, TE, Stanford: Smith is a big 6’5, 255 “Y” tight end from “Tight End U” who is good as an in-line blocker, played in a pro-style offense and can serve as a safety blanket underneath.
Smith will be able to step in and contribute in the running game right away as his blocking is good but will improve over time with improved technique and a bit more core strength. He has a wide catch radius with very good hands, but won’t be a threat to attack the seams. He’s more of a short, safety valve, ball control guy with the upside to improve.
Round 7, Pick 239 – Renell Wren, DL, Arizona State: Wren is an intriguing prospect with good size, 6’5, 318. In college, they played him over the nose but he may be a better fit as a pure defensive tackle.
He possesses freaky athleticism for a big man but he’s a project and may require a lot of work with Joe Kim who helped Patriots DL work on their hand usage. Has a lot of upside but may take a year or two to blossom.
Round 7, Pick 243 – Kendall Joseph, LB, Clemson: Joseph is an undersized but productive inside linebacker who may have benefitted from playing in a loaded defensive front seven. He’s just 6’0, 233 but had 84 tackles, five TFL, and four sacks during the Tigers National Championship run.
He does have good instincts and showed good coverage, but he may have to carve out a role on STs to make the roster in 2019.
Round 7, Pick 246 – Penny Hart, WR, Georgia State: Hart is a small, very small (5’8, 180) wide receiver who had excellent production at a lower level of competition. But got an invite to the Senior Bowl and looked uncoverable. He’s a very twitchy slot receiver who can return punts and kickoffs.
Round 7, Pick 252 – Saquon Hampton, S, Rutgers: Hampton is our requisite Rutgers pick as the Patriots address the safety position late in the game. He’s a natural leader and a team captain, something the Patriots look for, with good size at 6’1, 206. Said during an interview, he tries to emulate Patriots safety Devin McCourty. Sold. Welcome to New England.
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A former US Army Special Forces NCO and Officer, Steve has been following the Patriots since their days at Fenway Park. Steve has worked in the film industry and wrote as an Military Editor at SpecialOperations.com, 1945.com as a reporter for the Millbury Daily Voice, Millbury-Sutton Chronicle, and the Grafton News. He's also a member of the Pro Football Writers of America (PFWA)
