Patriots 7 Round Mock Draft 4.0 (UPDATED)
(PHOTO: Jerry Lai - USA TODAY Sports) 🕑 Read Time: 5 minutes
Posted Under: 2021 Patriots Draft
(PHOTO: Jerry Lai - USA TODAY Sports) 🕑 Read Time: 5 minutes
New England Patriots > Patriots Blog
(PHOTO: Jerry Lai - USA TODAY Sports) This is an edited version of the Mock. The original had the draft pick numbers in a sequential order that made no sense to a reader.
This is my final Patriots Mock Draft. I am using Bacon Grundle Candy’s (BGC) NE Patriots Draft Board to guide my selections. The Mock Simulator I used was First-Pick.com. The number in the parentheses is the round BGC has the player ranked. Here we go!
#15 TRADE I didn’t trade up for a quarterback and Mac Jones was available at 15. So wasn’t TE Kyle Pitts Florida and CB Jaycee Horn South Carolina. As you can imagine I was receiving some strong trade offers. I ultimately went with the NYJ offer of 23 and 34.
#23 Jaycee Horn CB South Carolina (1) – Horn is the 2nd best corner in the draft. This allows for a trade of Stephon Gilmore (First-Pick doesn’t allow trades of personnel). A player of Horn’s caliber should be able to start right away. If nothing else it helps the team for 2022 by straightening out the CB position mess. Horn was one of only 12 players to receive 1st round grades by BGC.
#34 TRADE Another pick with high interest. This time I went for Philly’s offer of 37 and 84. I drop three spots and pick up a mid 3rd.
#37 Zaven Collins LB Tulsa (2) – 6’4.7, 259lbs, 35” Vert. Another highly thought of prospect. Some have him going in the 1st round (Patriots). With Hightower getting up there in age, securing his replacement was wise. Another look towards 2022. Reports from the Combine weigh-ins had him at 270lbs (11 more after his Pro Day weight). That’s Willie McGinest’s size.
#46 Elijah Moore WR Mississippi (2) – 5’9”, 184 lbs, 4.35 40, 36” Vert. Don’t let his small stature fool you. He is fearless going across the middle. Of 200 catchable passes thrown to him, he only dropped 10. This is the Julian Edelman replacement.
#84 Quinn Meinerz OG/OC Wisconsin – Whitewater (D III) (2) – 6’3”, 320lbs Every one of his Pro Day measurements was Top Ten all-time for the combine. If you have been following my Mock Drafts then you have read my assessment of Meinerz. He is my draft binky. I think he has a bright future in the NFL. Despite coming from a lower level of competition, then having the 2020 season canceled because of COVID, he proved himself at the Senior Bowl. He was selected OL Practice player of the week by his peers, the D lineman he crushed all week. He taught himself the shotgun snap and had never played OC before the Senior Bowl. He is an LG by trade. I would have him at LG, Owenu at RT, and Brown at LT. Wynn will not have his 5th-year option exercised, thus making him trade bait.
#96 Davis Mills QB Stanford (2) – 6’4”, 212 lbs, 4.66 40, 6.98 3-cone. Mills has only played 13 games over 2 seasons but has impressive numbers that fall in line with the Patriots Draft Standard for the QB position. According to Mike Lombardi former Patriots executive consultant, the QB must be smart (wonderlic) and Mills went to Stanford. Must meet height (6’2.5”), weight (207 lbs) requirements, and plays at a high level of competition. He must throw at a high completion percentage of at least 60% and a high TD to low INT ratio (2019 66.2%, 7/3 and 2020 65.6%, 11/5). Mills checks every box except a large sample size. He also has had four knee surgeries to his left knee, but none since 2018. He first injured his knee in the state championship HS game.
Note: First-Pick simulator did not have the Patriots with Draft picks 120 and 122. When it came time for those picks, I just made my own selections from players available.
#120 Bobby Brown III DT Texas A&M (2) – 6’3.2”, 325 lbs, 5.22 40. Brown has been described as a Brick House. He is a Nose Tackle that occupies space, exactly what they need. Davon Godchaux was signed as a Free Agent. The backup spot is up for grabs. Montavious Adams and Carl Davis are signed for one year.
#122 Dwayne Eskeridge WR Western Michigan (3) – 5’8.2”, 190 lbs, 4.38 40, 6.95 3-cone, 35” Vert Eskeridge put on a show at the Senior Bowl. His Pro Day was more the same. Eskeridge started as a CB and moved to WR. He also returns kicks and led the nation with 213 all-purpose yards per game. He has limited experience at route running, but can’t be stopped at the LOS with press coverage. He is strictly a Wide receiver. History of injuries.
#139 Divine Deablo S Virginia Tech (4) – 6’ 3.2”, 226 lbs, 4.45 40, 7.01 3-cone. Deablo is another of those Strong Safeties that plays like an LB. Given that Nickel defenses are becoming the norm rather than the exception, Deablo fits that hybrid role. His ideal role will be that of a Dime Linebacker and Special Teams player. He has three years’ experience. He was originally a Wide Receiver as a Freshman then converted to Safety.
Note: At this point in the draft BB is likely to sell off some draft picks for picks next year. I look at it a little differently. I am taking players that you might get as Un Drafted Free Agents (UDFAs). By doing this, you are getting those players you targeted s priority UDFAs, without having to compete with other teams for them.
#177 Elijah Mitchell RB Louisiana (4) – 5’ 10.2”, 201 lbs, 4.35 40, 6.94 3-cone, 37 ½ Vert. Mitchell is an accomplished runner who had 1147 yards in 2019. In 20 he shared carries which lowered his numbers, he can catch as well with 20 receptions in 2019 for 349 yards (17.5 avg) and 3 TDs. He has the moves and is very slippery. Compares nicely to James White who is signed to a one-year contract. Sony Michel will probably not have his 5th-year option exercised. Another look towards 2022.
#188 Ben Mason FB Michigan (5) – 6’ 2.6”, 246 lbs, 4.77 40, 6.89 3-cone, 371/2 vert, 29 reps @ 225 lbs. Mason obliterated players during the Senior Bowl practices. We are talking James Devlin-type blocks. Mason played some Defensive End for Don Brown at Michigan. He was originally recruited as an LB. If you compare his measurable numbers against the other ILBs, he is third behind Parsons and Collins. He will be an integral part of all 4 Special Teams. Mason is a player that has Patriots written all over him and a player I have listed on several mock drafts.
#197 Avery Williams CB Boise State (UDFA) – 5’8.3”, 4.43 40. 6.88 3-cone. Williams will be a career Special Teams player. He has 9 TDs in Kick-Off and Punt Returns. Blocking Field Goals is another specialty with 5 for his career. Williams has 30 games of experience under his belt but projects strictly as a Slot Corner. He will be a replacement for Matthew Slater as he comes to the end of his career.
#242 Cam Sample Edge Tulane (2) – 6’ 2.7”, 267 lbs, 4.79 40, 37” Vert. Sample had a great week at the Senior Bowl, capping it off with being named defensive MVP for the game. He is strong at the point of attack and would be better off as a stand-up OLB in a 3-4. He can be used as a DT is pass-rush situations. He has a great bull rush and counter moves. Something has to give here! BGC has him as a 2nd round prospect and First-Pick has him as a 7th rounder. I actually think he is a 4th round selection and shouldn’t be here for The Patriots to pick.
Draft Week Schedule
Mock Draft 4.0 – Tuesday
Draft News and Notes – Wednesday
First Round Mock Draft – Thursday
PatsFans Draft Contest
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PatsFans.com NFL News section
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