Pre-College All-Star Game Mock Draft
This is my 1st published Mock Draft of the year. To get to this point I have conducted over 50 Mock Drafts from various online sources such as Pro Football Focus, NFL Draft Buzz, Fanspeak On the Clock, and NFL Mock Draft Database. I prefer the Pro Football Focus tool as I think it mimicks the actual draft boards as they are evolving. A perfect case for that was the rise of Marte Mapu, an unknown safety at Sacramento State to a Third-Round selection by the Patriots. He literally came out of nowhere, but PFF had him steadily rising, from undrafted to a middle round pick. No one saw him as a Third-Round pick.
Preface the Mock Draft with what I would do in Free Agency. According to Miguel Benzan (@patscap) the Patriots will have $67.750M to spend. I would Resign Owenu (if you can’t Franchise Tag him), Jennings, Bourne, Elliott and Henry. Try and sign Dugger but at a reasonable team friendly amount.
From the outside I would sign Jacoby Brissett to be an interim starting QB ($8-10M for 2-years). I would like to sign Colts WR Michael Pittman if he is not Franchise Tagged. The same goes for Tampa Bay FS Antonio Winfield who I also think will be franchised. That leaves New York Giants Free Safety Xavier McKinney. His coverage rating at Free Safety is 81.4 which is top-10. The 24-year-old has missed just 7.8% of his tackle attempts over his career, 11th-best among 89 safeties with at least 100 tackles over the past four seasons, making him a reliable enough last line of defense. He would cost a three contract at $8,5 per year. These signings should take about $55-60M from that total.
TRADE Pick 3 – Patriots trade this pick to the Los Angelas Chargers for picks 5, 37, 69 and 105.
QB’s Caleb Williams and Drake Maye are gone with the 1st two picks, and it makes it easier for the Pats to trade and they have found a trade partner that really wanted that 3rd pick. The Chargers take WR Marvin Harrison as another weapon for Justin Herbert. Arizona jumps in and takes TE Brock Bowers.
Pick 5 – Joe Alt OT Notre Dame – I know a lot of people are not going to like this selection, but in the long run, Alt is the best pick. As a Left Tackle, he will anchor the left side of the Offensive Line for 10 years. He is that good, at 6’8” 322 lbs. he runs an estimated 4.90 40-yard dash. His overall rating is 92 out of 100. Pass blocking, he was 99 and run blocking 97 per NFL Draft Buzz. Alt turns 21 at the end of February. During his three years as a starter at Left Tackle for Notre Dame, he has given up just 5 sacks. If the Patriots don’t address their Offensive Line, then it doesn’t matter if its Tom Brady at QB, they are not going to succeed. Get that dominating Left Tackle, protect the QB and establish a solid run game. That’s the key to winning. I am assuming the Patriots will re-sign Michael Owenu, making him one of the highest paid O-linemen in the league. If they can’t reach an agreement, then slap the Franchise Tag on him. I’m thinking 4 years @$15M per year.
TRADE for Pick 7 – NE trades 34, 38, and 67 to Tennessee for Pick 7
The one problem I see with the PFF Mock Draft Simulator is that it will make the trade if it falls within the parameters of the Jimmy Johnson Trade Chart.
Pick 7 – Jayden Daniels QB LSU – Daniels is the same size as Lamar Jackson when he came out for the draft. He is 6’4” 210 lbs and runs an estimated 4.5 40-yard dash per NFL Draft Buzz. In 2023 Daniels won the Heisman Trophy in 2023. His career stats are amazing; 12,750 yards passing, 66.3 Completion %, 89 TDs to 20 INT over 5 seasons. His 1st two seasons at Arizona St then he transferred to LSU in 2022. The 2020 season was only 4 games because of COVID. Granted he had great receivers at LSU but he still had to make the throws.
Pick 69 – Brenden Rice WR USC – Yes, he is the son of Hall of Famer Jerry Rice. The 6’3” 210 lbs. wide receiver runs an estimated 4.38 40-yard dash. NFL Draft Buzz has him rated at 84.7. Rice started in Colorado, but after two mediocre years he transferred to USC. His senior season he caught 45 balls for 791 yards, 15.7 average and 12 TDs. In all 4 years his lowest YPC was 14.2 and he had a total of 22 TDs.
Pick 103 – Zak Zinter G/C Michigan – The consensus All-American Right Guard broke his leg during the Big 10 Championship game. The 6’6”, 325 lbs. Guard was a Captain at Michigan. He was raised in North Andover, MA. and attended Buckingham, Browne, and Nichols school in Cambridge. His NFL Draft Buzz is rating is 84.1. I think Zinter would have been drafted higher if he didn’t have the uncertainty of the leg injury. I see Zinter as a replacement for David Andrews as he is getting up there in age. His pass blocking and run blocking ranks are both 80. Zinter has the requisite number of starts the Patriots like. He was a three-year starter and played in 47 games, starting 42 of them. In 2022 and 2023 he was 1st team All-Big Ten selection and 2nd team in 2021.
Do you see a trend here. Fix the Offensive line and then you can fill in the remainder.
Pick 104 – Trey Benson RB Florida State – Benson is a work horse running back at 6’1” 223 lbs. and he runs an NFL Draft Buzz estimated 4.37 40-yard dash. His overall rating is 84.7. Benson was a transfer from Oregon and played in 12 games in 2022, rushing for 969 yards, a 6.9 average, 9 TDs and no fumbles. He also had 11 catches for another 109 yards. In 13 games in 2023, he ran for 905 yards, 5.8 average, 14 TDs and no fumbles, chipping in 20 catches for 227 yards. The cupboard behind Rhamondre Stephenson is a little bare if they can’t resign Ezekiel Elliot.
Pick 139 – Jabbar Muhammad CB Washington – Muhammad could be a candidate to move to safety. He has the cornerback skills required in man coverage but is just a tad slow for CB. At 5’10”, 183 lbs. he runs and estimated 4.52 40 – yard dash and his overall rating is 76.9 rating. He needs work tracking the ball but has the footwork and backpedal to play press man.
Pick 182 – Jalen Coker WR Holy Cross – This kid has been playing in our backyard and nobody has heard of him. He is 6’1” 215 lbs. and set a new record for TD catches in a season (15), all-time leader in school history for TD receptions (31), and Yards Receiving (2,715). First Team AP FCS All-American and a finalist for the Walter Payton award. He runs an estimated 4.54 40-yard dash. Coker played in the Hula Bowl and shone brightly with a big diving one hand catch for a TD. He had 2 receptions on the day.
Pick 224 -Dylan Laube RB UNH – Think of Danny Woodhead when you see Laube. This from NFL Draft Countdown Sleepers for 2024. Laube is a stout 5’10, 207 pounds and runs a 4.46 40-yard dash, who can catch as well as any RB in this draft. He made national headlines in Week 2 when New Hampshire played up against Central Michigan. They lost 45-42, but Laube broke the FCS RB receiving yardage record with 12 receptions for 295 yards receiving. He scored on two of those receptions for 71 and 80 yards respectively (plus another rushing TD). In 2023 he had 68 receptions for 708 yards and ran for 745 yards and a 4.6 YPC. The previous year 2022, he was even better, running for 1205 yards in 12 games 9 TDs, and chipped in 49 receptions for another 474 yards. Laube received an invite to both the Senior Bowl and the East / West Shrine game. He was identified by Jim Nagy, Director of the Senior Bowl as one of the best Small School Runningbacks and he will participate in the practices and Senior Bowl Game later this month.
Hula Bowl – The Hula Bowl winner or loser didn’t matter. What did matter was these draft eligible players getting exposure to the NFL and CFL scouts in attendance. I think the talent at this year’s Hula bowl was significantly upgraded because the NFL Players Association College All-Star game has been cancelled. The talent level at this game is equivalent to 7th round picks and UnDrafted Free Agents. Here are a few players that helped themselves:
Carter Bradley QB South Alabama – To this point he has been known as just Gus Bradley’s son. Gus Bradley is the Defensive Coordinator for the Indianapolis Colts, the former Head Coach of Jacksonville Jaguars and the creator of the Seattle Seahawks Legion of Boom defense. Carter Bradley looked very good in this game leading Team Kai’s 1st TD drive. He threw a phenomenal touchdown for Team Kai’s first touchdown in the second quarter. Carter threw for 47 touchdowns with 19 interceptions in two years at South Alabama after transferring in from Toledo.
Isaiah Stalbird LB South Dakota State – He was all over the field and made three straight plays leading up a to a fumble recovery. For the game he had 7 tackles. He started his college career at Nebraska as a Safety. He stands 6’1” 200 lbs. He is a Special Teams specialist having blocked a punt as a freshman at Nebraska. He was a three starter for the Jackrabbits. For the 2023 season Stalbird had 73 tackles for the FCS Champions South Dakota State .
Eli Neal LB Marshall – Neal forced a fumble in Saturday’s game. The 5’11.5, 228 lbs linebacker is no stranger to turnovers. Neal displayed his usual high motor in Orlando, coming off a season where he had 10.5 tackles for loss.
Frank Krum OT Wyoming – The massive Crum shined in both run and pass blocking on Saturday. The 6’7″ 315-pound left tackle took on multiple defenders on a handful of plays from the left tackle spot.
Je’Quan Burton WR Florida Atlantic – Burton was a last-minute add but played well in front of his hometown crowd in Orlando. He had multiple catches in the game for Team Kai. Burton had 84 catches for 1277 yards and nine touchdowns in three seasons for the Owls.
Hake Moto’apuaka DT Utah State – The Hawaii native recovered a fumble in the second half and was an overall disruptive force throughout the day. Motu’apuaka is only 6’1″,
302 lbs. and was Honorable Mention All-Mountain West this season after one of the most consistent defensive careers in Utah State history that included 40 starts and 58 appearances.
John Rhys Plumlee QB University of Central Florida was worked out at WR all week but I don’t remember seeing him play in the game. Plumlee is an undersized QB standing just 6’ tall.
Davious Richard QB North Carolina Central – NC Central is an Historically Black College and University school and Richard needs to put on a show at a higher level of competition. Over his career, Richard has 8,991 passing yards, 73 touchdowns, and 29 interceptions. The NC Central quarterback totaled 2,177 passing yards, 21 TDs, and four INTs during his final college football campaign. However, what stands out about Richard as a 2024 NFL Draft prospect is what he can do with his legs as a true dual threat. In 2023 alone, he had 630 rushing yards and 18 TDs. touchdowns. During his four years as a starter, he produced 2,026 rushing yards and 44 rushing TDs. Richard will get another opportunity to showcase his talents at the 2024 HBCU Legacy Bowl, February 24th.
Patriots GM Search
I don’t like what I am reading about the Patriots search for someone to take on the GM/Football Operations duties that Bill Belichick held. According to ESPN’s Mike Reiss” the Krafts seem to be taking the view that there is no need to rush.” This attitude gives me concern that a.) No one is in charge, b.) The longer the team waits the more likely the team will just look internally.
Reiss goes on to say the team may not address the GM position at all, just give the top two Front Office personnel additional job duties. The team is at a critical junction with Free Agency upcoming followed by the draft. Who is negotiating with the present Patriots Free Agents? The Patriots can negotiate with their own Free Agent now, ahead of the actual start of Free Agency. According to Miguel Benzan (@patscap) the patriots have $67,750K to spend on Free Agents. Who will be speaking with the Unrestricted Free Agents? Who will be negotiating contract and Trade Offers?
In 30 years of Ownership, the team has never had a GM. Bobby Grier and Scott Pioli had the titles of Vice President of Player Personnel.
For the past few years, it appeared that Matt Groh has conducted the draft. If the Patriots wait until after the draft, they would have missed out on bringing in anyone from the outside. I believe a new look at the Patriots overall scouting process needs to be reviewed and updated. Using just in-house candidates makes me think that everything is status quo.
New Coaching Staff
Looks like new Head Coach Jerod May is not sitting back and waiting to create his coaching staff. Reports that both Steven and Brian Belichick have been offered contracts. Ian Rappaport also indicated that Carolina Panthers Linebackers Coach Tem Lukabu is interviewing for the Defensive Coordinator’s position. Lukabu is an up-and-coming Defensive Coach that was the Defensive Coordinator under BC coach Jeff Hafley when he took over in 2020. He coached with Hafley when they were both with San Francisco. Lukabu has extensive coaching resume with time at Rutgers (2006-7), Rhode Island (2008-9), Rutgers (2010-11). Tampa Bay Bucs (2012-23), Colgate (2014), Florida International (2015), San Francisco 49ers (2016-17), Mississippi State (2018), Cincinatti Bengals (2019), Boston College 2020-22), and Carolina Panthers (2023 – present). I would like to see the Patriots bring in Lukabu since I think the Belichick boys are going to join Dad wherever he ends up.
A second potential new member of the coaching staff has been identified. The Patriots have requested permission from the Atlanta Falcons to interview Special Teams coach Marquise Williams. Atlanta denied the NY Giants from interviewing Williams. For the past three years he has been the Atlanta Special Teams Coordinator. Last year Atlanta and Patriots assistant coaches were the coaches for the East/West Shrine game. That is probably the connection between Mayo and Williams. Many fans think that any change in the Special Teams coaches would be a good thing. According to longtime NFL scribe Rick Gosselin who does a 22-item category evaluation of NFL Special Teams, has the Patriots 13th and the Falcons as 26th. The big difference is the Patriots Punter.
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Merrimack Valley native and lifelong fan of the New England Patriots. My earliest memories of the Patriots were attending as a child with my dad, the off-season practice at Phillips Academy. I was at the Patriots game at Harvard Stadium in 1970 where Bob “Harpo” Gladieux was called out of the stands by the stadium announcer over the PA to play in the game. Analyzing the draft since ESPN first started to televise it in 1980 and former writer for the Lowell Sun Newspaper.
