MORSE: Mock Draft Tuesday – Patriots Mock Draft #1
Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports
Mock Draft Tuesday
It’s that time of year, Mock Draft Season. With the Patriots out of the playoffs, I will be focusing on the draft, the Patriot’s needs, and giving you a little background of players that I believe are Patriots-type players.
I will be publishing Mock Drafts from some of the leading Mock Draft Simulators. These are the sites I will be using:
Pro Football Network Draft Simulator- https://www.profootballnetwork.com/mockdraft/
The Draft Network Draft Machine – https://thedraftnetwork.com/mock-draft-machine
Pro Football Focus Mock Draft Simulator – https://www.pff.com/draft/nfl-mock-draft-simulator
Fanspeak On The Clock – https://fanspeak.com/ontheclock-nfl-mock-draft-simulator/index.php
Rise-N-Draft Mock Draft Simulator – https://www.risendraft.com/simulator
Some sites may limit the ability to draft and trade unless you are a paid member. It’s important that these sites update their Prospective Players Rankings as it gets closer to the draft. For instance, Fanspeak has a new database update every Tuesday. Fanspeak has several rankings databases to choose from. I have found Pro Football Network to be the most reliable ranking, but some of the trades are not realistic.
Next week the Senior Bowl practices will be broadcast on NFL Network all week, with the game scheduled for Saturday, February, 5th at 12:30 on NFL Network. The East / West Shrine game is also being played next week on Thursday night at 8, again on NFL Network.
Here is my 1st Mock of the Year which was done on January 19th. I used Pro Football Focus Mock Draft Simulator.
PFF doesn’t grade mock drafts anymore. The Patriots start with 6 Draft picks and I turned them into 7 while keeping my focus on their biggest needs, speed on Defense. Let’s look at each prospect a little closer.
1-21 Kaiir Elam CB Florida – I doubled down on CB to start the draft. JC Jackson’s status is up in the air. At the very least you will have competition between two rookies for the starting spot opposite Jackson. Elam is 6’ 2”, 197 lbs and plays a physical and aggressive brand of football. He has the speed to recover if initially beaten off the line. He is good in press-man coverage.
2-53 Kyler Gordon CB Washington – I took a 2nd DB rather than a WR or LB here. He stands 6’ 200 lbs with 4,35 speed. He already possesses NFL-level coverage skills and would be an excellent slot corner right from the jump. He is a heady defender that works well in zone coverage with good ball awareness.
3-87 I traded back slightly (2 spots) to gain another 5th round pick. Selected Wan’Dale Robinson WR Kentucky. He had 94 catches for 1164 yards this year good for 2nd team all-SEC honors. He stands 5’11, 185lbs, and is described as electric. His 94 catches were a single-season record at Kentucky. Robinson has that quick twitch ability and that shows up in his ability to run after the catch. He is perfect for the slot receiver we have been missing.
4-123 Damone Clark ILB LSU – has the requisite size the Patriots coaches love at 6’3″ 240lbs and runs a 4.58 40. An athletically gifted player who possesses good lateral quickness and the ability to rush the passer. Can blitz from either the outside with good closing sped or as a bull rush from the inside. He had 38 GP at LSU.
5-169 Sincere McCormack RB University of Texas, San Antonio – I am always taking a running back in the draft. You can find excellent value later in the draft at runningback and McCormack is an example of this. McCormack is the best player you never heard of. At 5’9”, 205 lbs this bowling ball runningback is very elusive and shifty. He doesn’t shy away from contact either. In his three years playing for the Roadrunners, he has gained over 4,000 yards. He was second nationally just 22 yards behind Breece Hall. He is favorably compared to Aaron Jones. Although not asked to catch the ball much, he has good receiving skills, is a willing blocker, and is not just a cut blocker. He will stand up blitzing LB and plays bigger than his size.
5-174 Brad Hawkins S Michigan – He is more of a Strong Safety than Free Safety. The Patriots will need to replace Devin McCourty this year or next for sure. Hawkins will give them some flexibility to move another Safety to the Free Safety position. At 6’1″ 221. 4.63 40, he is more like an LB than safety. I don’t think he has the speed to play the single high safety position. Special teams should be his calling card initially.
6-205 Nick Sakelj OT Fordham – He is a developmental player with some good physical traits. At 6’5” 325 lbs, he was hard to miss playing in the Patriot League. He had 45 career starts (38 at LT, 7 at RT) and was a three-time 1st team All-Conference selection. He plays with a mean streak, finishing off his blocks, and played well against the better competition (Nebraska). On the flip side, he doesn’t play that way against lower competition. He was invited to the Senior Bowl, so his practices against better competition should show what he might be able to do in the NFL. He will be one I am watching during the O-lineman practices at the Senior Bowl.
Posted Under: 2022 Patriots Draft
