Predicting the Patriots’ first-round determine seems to be like a fool’s errand because of it sometimes is.
However will that stop us from attempting? Ha.
Welcome to the highest of draft season, the place the mock drafts, participant projections and daring predictions are practically behind us. Nearly.
Within the Herald’s remaining seveb-round Patriots mock draft, the workforce gives Clemson edge rusher Myles Murphy at 14th normal. But when Invoice Belichick makes a definite alternative tonight, rely on him to work from this guidelines of the 5 totally different nearly undoubtedly Patriots first-round picks.
Georgia OT Broderick Jones
Ht/Wt: 6-5, 311
A projected top-15 determine, Jones might allow the Patriots to concurrently cope with a excessive need and select the most effective participant obtainable. What might very nicely be larger than that?
Solely 21 years outdated, Jones is arguably most likely probably the most bodily gifted cope with on this class. He’s immensely extremely efficient, explosive out of his stance and performs with a suggest streak. Scouts describe him as having the toes of a basketball participant, making him highly effective to get spherical. And no matter his inexperience, he had zero holding penalties remaining 12 months.
Jones leaves Georgia as a one-year starter at left cope with who didn’t allow one sack all through a nationwide championship advertising and marketing marketing campaign. With some refinement, he duties as a future Professional Bowler at a premium place.
Tennessee OT Darnell Wright
Ht/Wt: 6-5, 333
Wright may very well be a plug-and-play starter at correct cope with, the place the Patriots present and future stays unsettled no matter signing Riley Reiff and Calvin Anderson in free firm. He allowed the third-lowest stress cost inside the FBS remaining 12 months and bulldozes defenders as a run-blocker. And no person produced additional spectacular single-game tapes than him.
In opposition to Alabama, Wright dominated edge rusher Will Anderson, a projected top-5 determine, of their head-to-head matchup remaining season. He moreover handled LSU’s B.J. Ojulari, a borderline first-round determine, and battled Clemson’s Bryan Bresee, a top-50 prospect, to a draw. NFL Community draft analyst Daniel Jeremiah, a former scout with the Eagles and Ravens, believes Wright has a case for being the most effective offensive cope with inside the class.
Backside line: Wright checks every subject for Patriots O-lineman as a smart, highly effective and athletic ample lineman with plus tape.
Maryland CB Deonte Banks
Ht/Wt: 6-0, 197
An explosive athlete who duties as a man-to-man nook, Banks has reportedly crept up draft boards the previous couple of months. Don’t be surprised if thought-about one among them belongs to the Patriots.
Banks has 4.3 velocity and an unbelievable means to replicate opposing receivers by their routes. He allowed merely 43% of his targets to be achieved remaining season and carried out in numerous coverages. If the educating employees can clear out some kinks in his press methodology and refine his ball talents, Banks might downside for a starting job right away.
Mississippi State CB Emmanuel Forbes
Ht/Wt: 6-1, 170
If the Patriots commerce once more from 14th normal, Forbes have to be on the short guidelines of their targets inside the late youngsters or early 20s. He checks all of the foremost packing containers for potential Patriots cornerbacks: ball talents, quicks and man-coverage talents.
Forbes accomplished his faculty career with 14 interceptions, along with six he returned for touchdowns. Forbes’ recreation was forged inside the fires of the SEC, the place he confronted just a few of the nation’s biggest receivers week in and week out. At 6-foot-1, he would provide a loads wished measurement enhance for a smaller group of cornerbacks. If the doorway office isn’t concerned about how skinny he’s, they should leap on the probability in order so as to add him.
The ten NFL Draft prospects who biggest match the Patriots after the primary spherical
Notre Dame TE Michael Mayer
Ht/Wt: 6-4, 265
Searching for a sleeper determine? Begin with Mayer.
He’s a throwback participant who might push Hunter Henry for the start job this season and trade him and/or Mike Gesicki subsequent 12 months, when every veterans’ contracts shall be up. Mayer is universally considered a top-two prospect amongst tight ends, and probably the most safe determine on this class. He’s punishing as a blocker and savvy collectively together with his routes, one factor few, if any, totally different tight ends on this draft can say.
Mayer caught 67 passes for 809 yards and 9 touchdowns remaining season no matter being an obvious go-to man. The solely knock on him is his prolonged velocity, nevertheless historically the Patriots haven’t prioritized that on the place. Mayer wins the place they want him to: down the seam, on contested catches and blocking in-line.
Better of all, he’s been as compared with future Professional Soccer Corridor of Famer Jason Witten all through the draft course of.