Patriots Mock Draft #3 with Trades
(PHOTO: USA Today - USA TODAY Sports) 🕑 Read Time: 6 minutes
Posted Under: 2022 Patriots Draft
(PHOTO: USA Today - USA TODAY Sports) 🕑 Read Time: 6 minutes
New England Patriots > Patriots Blog
(PHOTO: USA Today - USA TODAY Sports) Mock Draft Tuesday – Patriots 7 Round Mock Draft #3 with Trades
This is a Post Combine Mock Draft using Pro Football Focus Mock Draft Simulator. The Mock Draft was conducted on Monday, March 7th.
1-21 When it came time for the Patriots’ selection Arizona was interested in the pick and I traded #21 for #23 and #87. My focus was to get a top-tier CB. In trading back 2 spots I would get an additional 3rd round selection giving me 4 picks in the top 100.
2-23 The NY Jets came calling. I knew Chris Olave was on the board and they craved getting him. My offer was #34 and #36 for our #23 and the #87 pick just acquired. That would give me 3 picks in the top 50. It was a risk making this trade and hoping I could get one of Roger McCreary or Kaiir Elam at #36. I didn’t like the Jets getting Olave, but I made the Jets pay to get him.
2-36 Kaiir Elam CB Florida – He is 6’1 ½ 191lbs and a battle-tested man coverage corner from the SEC. Elam ran an unofficial 4.47 which was lowered to an official 4.39 40 at the combine. He did not do any other tests but looked great in the field drills. Very quick feet that will be validated if he does the 3-cone drill on his Pro Day on March 31st. He was often left on an island by Florida covering the top opponents WR such as Jameson Williams and Trevon Burks. I think he is a plug-and-play player as a rookie.
2-38 I traded again to pick up an additional 3rd round pick. This time with the Vikings, trading 38 for 44 and 76. That’s 5 picks inside the top 100.
2-38 Skyy Moore WR Western Michigan – Moore stands 5’ 10” 195 lbs and ran a 4.41 40. His 3-cone drill, which is very important to the Patriots was 7.13. That is below what the standard is for the Patriots. His other numbers from the combine were good, not great. His field drills were outstanding. There isn’t anything he can’t do. His production at Western Michigan was off the charts. At the Senior Bowl, he couldn’t be touched. He is a plug-in at the slot and immediately upgrades the offense. He also gives them a deep threat. He may not have been available at #53.
3-53 Chad Muma LB Wyoming – Muma stands 6’2 ½” 239 lbs and ran a 4.63 40. His 27 reps at 225# were #1 amongst LB. Vertical 40” (4), Broad Jump 10’ 9” (3), 3-cone 7.06 (4), Short Shuttle 4.28 (2). He obviously tested off the charts. Both his 3-cone and Short Shuttle were faster than Skyy Moore. Muma was 2nd in the nation for solo tackles last year.
3-76 Abraham Lucas T Washington St. – Lucas is a big man at 6’6” 319 lbs. His official 40 time of 4.92 is excellent for a Tackle. His times on NFL Network coverage for both his 1st and 2nd runs came in at 5.0 … very consistent and shows that it is not just a one-off. If that wasn’t good enough, Lucas blew up the Short Shuttle with 4.40, tops amongst O-lineman. In the 3-cone drill, his 7.25 was tied for 1st amongst O-lineman. This short-area quickness showed up in his on-field drills. His long arms (34 5/8th) and his huge wingspan (81 3/8th) help keep opposing rushers from getting into his body. I think Lucas is a second-round talent but slips to the 3rd round because he is strictly a Right Tackle, starting 42 games in his career at Right Tackle for Washington St.
3-85 Troy Andersen LB Montana St – He is my second favorite player in the draft behind Skyy Moore. The sky is the limit with Andersen. He is a freakish athlete standing 6’3” ½. 243 lbs and he ran 4.42 40 tops amongst LBs. His 10’ 8’ Broad jump was tied for 5th. Andersen didn’t perform the weightlifting, 3-cone, short shuttle. The on-field drills confirmed what you saw in the testing numbers. 4.42 for an ILB is off the charts. That’s a sideline to sideline coverage of backs out of the backfield. He is also a downhill punishing run stopper.
Now hold your hat – these are Andersen’s career statistics: He has played LB for only 2 seasons. He was a QB in 2018 and an RB in 2017. He came to Montana St as an S/QB and was converted to RB.
2021 – 150 Total Tackles, 14 QB Hurries, 3 sacks, 65.2 QBR when targeted (42 targets), National FCS Defensive Player of the Year, 1st Team All-American LB (only FCS player), 1st team Big Sky Conference, 3rd-year Team Captain
2020 – Team Did Not Play- COVID 2nd-year Team Captain
2019 – 54 Total Tackles in 11 games, 11.5 Tackles for Loss, 6.5 sacks, INT, PBU, 3-3 9yards 1 TD passing, 44-336 yards 6.9 avg 7 TDs rushing 1st-year Team Captain 3rd Team All American – All Purpose
2018 – 115-208 1195 yards passing 3 TDs, 7 INT, 206-1412 yards 6.9 avg, 21 TDs 3rd Team All-American QB
2017 – 90-515 5.7 avg 5 TDs rushing
That’s 33 career TD rushing and 4 TDs passing
Can you imagine what Bill Belichick will do with this Swiss Army knife!
My selection of two LBs was done before the news of Van Noy’s release. I was anticipating Van Noy’s release and the probability that none of the three veteran linebackers (Hightower, Bentley, and Collins) would get re-signed.
4-123- Marquan McCall NT Kentucky – McCall dropped considerable weight, down from 346 lbs in season. His official combine measurements are 6’2 ½” 324 lbs. McColl participated in the medical exams and interviews but did not perform any testing or on-field work. He is recovering from a late-season ankle injury. McColl is a true Nose Tackle and I think we need someone to spell or eventually replace Godchaux. He played in the SEC so you know he went against the best week in and week out. He is raw and has a great initial step for a big man. Right now, he relies on a bull rush and will need to develop some secondary moves. He has big hands but doesn’t use them as he should.
6-198 – Decobie Durant CB South Carolina State – He is a bit short at 5’9.6” 180 lbs and ran a blazing 4.38 40 yard dash tied for 5th best amongst DBs. Durant was one of the 5 HBCU players invited to the combine. During the on-field drills, Durant showed his fluid transitions and ball-catching skills. This is strictly a selection based on potential. Durant is fast and you can’t teach speed. He has the makeup speed that is needed if you get beat or play a trail position technique.
6-209 Markquese Bell S Florida A&M – Bell is a hitter at 6’2” 212 lbs. 4.41 40. He also posted a 10’ 3” Broad Jump, and 36.5” Vertical. His 32 3/8th arm length comes in handy in knocking away passes. Florida A&M is another HBCU school and the fact that Bell is playing at a lower level of competition is the only reason he is still available in the 6th round. Compare him to Kyle Dugger in size and Bell is .08 faster. In 2021 Bell had 95 tackles from his Safety position and had 5 Forced Fumbles.
PFF has started to grade drafts again and I pull off an A-.
Morse’s Morsels
Tuesday, March 8th is the last day to assign players the transition / Franchise Tags. Next week, Monday, March 14th starts the legal Tampering period. The New league year starts on Wednesday the 16th at 4 PM and that’s when Free Agents can be signed.
Combine Oddity
The two DBs I selected in my Mock Draft followed each other in all their on-field workouts.
2022 Pro Day Schedule
Next in the draft process is the Pro Days on college campuses. Some players deferred to their Pro Days to perform the standard performance tests and for QBs the throwing.
Kyle Van Noy Released
This was no surprise to me as I have been saying for a while that Van Noy will get released. Some say it’s a salary cap move. I think it’s more than that. His playing time diminished as the season wore on and his effectiveness or lack thereof was very noticeable.
Every time I saw one of those Dan Obrien Auto Dealership ads I would say to my wife that Van Noy is going to get cut and these ads will be useless.
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Loved your trades. And, your thinking for each pick was solid.
So, I would have used your 1st two picks in a different way, but I respect your thinking.
What would you have done differently? I like to receive feedback and discuss what others would do. I can tell you that I have had discussions about Skyy Moore and the fact he didn’t run a very good 3-cone drill. Moore is now off my list because he refused to run the 3-cone drill at his Pro-Day and didn’t even try to improve.