Pre-Super Bowl 7-round New England Patriots 2018 mock draft, with trades

With most of the focus on Super Bowl LII for New England Patriots fans, we can’t forget about the offseason and the upcoming 2018 NFL Draft.

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Round 1, Pick 32: CB Mike Hughes, Central Florida

Malcolm Butler is likely gone once the Super Bowl is over. The New England Patriots will absolutely have a need at cornerback. UCF’s Mike Hughes could be a surprise late first round pick for the Pats. Hughes is actually just about the same size as Butler, 5’11” and 190 lbs. In 13 games in 2017, Hughes finished with 49 total tackles, 11 pass breakups, and 4 interceptions. One of his INTs went for a touchdown. He earned First-Team honors in the American Conference. Hughes also returned 16 kicks with an average of 34.1 yards per return, including 2 touchdowns. He made his presence known on punt returns as well, with 13 returns for an average of 17.8 yards, and he added a touchdown.

The New England Patriots could shock everyone by addressing their need at cornerback before the pass rush, simply because Hughes looks like he has the abilities to make it in the NFL right away. He may be able to step in as the nickel corner or #2 corner if he has a strong training camp and if he grasps the workings of the Patriots defense.