New England Patriots: The Final Full Seven Round Mock Draft

Round 3, 72nd Pick: TE Jake Butt, Michigan

The New England Patriots have brought in Dwayne Allen to play second fiddle to star TE Rob Gronkowski, but the team could look towards the future in drafting Michigan Man Jake Butt.

Butt would surely become one of Gronk’s best friends on the team with a name like that, and Jake would have the chance to learn from one of the NFL’s all-time best at the position. It wouldn’t hurt to have Tom Brad throwing passes to him as well.

He’s not quite as athletic as Gronk, so Butt won’t stretch the field quite as much but he has solid hands. Butt can be a middle of the field, first down, possession target. His blocking needs some work, but that usually comes for tight ends at the NFL level. He can learn from Gronk, the offensive line coaches, or even Bill Belichick himself.

Butt will be a solid pro, and he’d have a great chance at success under Rob Gronkowski.

Round 3, 96th Pick: DE Tanoh Kpassagnon, Villanova

The Patriots can add some defensive line depth in Villanova’s Tanoh Kpassagnon. Defensive end is the highest need on this team, and that’s shown with them selecting an end with two of their first four picks.

This year’s draft is deep at the position, which allows the Patriots to add talent deep in round three.

Kpassagnon is raw, but on the right team he can develop and become a true pro. The right team, in this case, is the New England Patriots.

The defensive end proved at the Senior Bowl that he could hang with the boys as an FCS product.

"“The big question was whether I could hang with the better competition,” said Kpassagnon. “I think (the Senior Bowl) helped me out. I showed I could.”"

Depth is key in the NFL, and Kpassagnon is the kind of player you’d want worked into the rotation.