The New England Patriots need to get younger and more explosive and what better way to do it than through the 2020 NFL Draft.
It’s that time of year again for the New England Patriots. Now that the NFL Scouting Combine has come and gone, it is time to start speculating and reorganizing mock drafts as to which prospects Bill Belichick will select.
As usual, expect the unexpected when it comes to Belichick’s draft board. Sometimes obvious needs are bypassed by head-scratching selections. Or Belichick trades a high pick for more picks in the later rounds.
There are also times when the Patriots actually select a player that fits an immediate need. From Dont’a Hightower to Vince Wilfork, those picks usually work out good for the team.
So, who will the New England Patriots select with the No. 23 pick overall in the NFL Draft?
With obvious needs at tight end, wide receiver, the offensive line and on defense, there is no predicting what Belichick might do, but there are players he can’t pass up if they are available in the top three rounds when the Patriots are on the clock.
Here are five NFL Draft prospects of intrigue for Bill Belichick and the New England Patriots if available when they select.
Tee Higgins, WR, Clemson
Standing at 6-foot-4, 216 pounds, Clemson standout wide receiver Tee Higgins is the type of lengthy, strong, versatile target the New England Patriots have been missing for quite some time.
Yes, they drafted N’Keal Harry in the first round of the 2019 NFL draft, but why stop there? Why not have two big receivers how can do multiple things on the field.
With 59 catches for 1,167 yards in his junior year at Clemson, Higgins is a young stud that has drawn comparisons to A.J. Green. Yes, the veteran, free agent receiver the Patriots have been linked to for a few seasons now.
Tom Brady or no Tom Brady, drafting a talent like Tee Higgins if he is there and available at No. 23. Beyond the talent, what makes this Clemson product an extreme interest is what he had to say about the Patriots following his interview at the 2020 NFL Scouting Combine last week.
"“I like those guys, they’re real cool and relaxing, they make me feel comfortable,” Higgins said, via Patriotswire.com. “Some coaches can be all intimidating and get you on the books right away, but they just talked to me and got me comfortable.”"
For a guy with that talent, comfort goes a long way in translating that potential on the NFL field. If he is there when the New England Patriots select, Bill Belichick would be crazy to trade down for more picks in the later rounds.
Cole Kmet, TE, Notre Dame
When was the last time the New England Patriots drafted a tight end in the first round of the NFL draft?
If you are thinking Rob Gronkowski, you are wrong as he was a second-round pick.
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Actually, the player was on the 2019 roster in one Benjamin Watson who the team drafted back in 2004. That was two drafts after they selected Daniel Graham in the first round.
In other words, it does happen in the Bill Belichick era and if Notre Dame product Cole Kmet is available at No. 23, the Patriots would be crazy to pass him up.
The team has other needs, but the tight end position has become a desperate need for the team. Depending on the confidence Belichick has in acquiring one of the top tight end free agents or perhaps a Rob Gronkowski un-retirement, he has to draft a tight end high.
Kmet would certainly add some excitement to the position.
Standing at 6-foot-6 and 262 pounds, this NFL prospect is a big target who can do Rob Gronkowski things on the field. Not only is he a good pass-catching tight end, but he can develop into a physical blocking tight end and he is also hard to take down.
In all, Cole Kmet caught 43 passes for 515 yards in 2019, but those numbers could blossom in the right NFL system, catching the ball from the right quarterback.
You hear that Tom Brady?
Hunter Bryant, TE, University of Washington
Speaking of tight end prospects, another player who could be available for the New England Patriots is University of Washington product Hunter Bryant.
The Patriots certainly have their eyes on this 6-foot-2, 240-pound pass-catching tight end and he has his eyes on them. Here’s what he had to say about the team at the 2020 NFL Scouting Combine, via Patriots.com:
"“I like the Patriots offense a lot. And I like how they just use the players they have. The Patriots always use the players that they have, and I think that’s why they’re so elite.”"
Coming off a season in which he caught 52 passes for 825 yards and three touchdowns, Bryant is a player with first-round talent who could potentially fall to the Patriots in the third round because he is a bit undersized.
Compared to former Washington Redskins tight end Jordan Reed, Hunter Bryant has impressive ball skills and the speed to get past and around tacklers. If he gets into the New England Patriots system, expect him to be used in a similar way as they used Aaron Hernandez.
In all, probably not a player Bill Belichick takes in the first round, but they have to snag him with one of their third-round picks if he is still available.
Jalen Hurts, QB, Oklahoma
Whether Tom Brady re-signs or not, the New England Patriots must consider drafting another quarterback.
If they want to go the mobile quarterback rout, then Oklahoma product Jalen Hurts is a player they must take in the third round if some other team doesn’t draft him in the second round.
In running a 4.54 in the 40-yard-dash at the 2020 NFL Scouting Combine, Hurts had the third-fastest time among quarterbacks and impressed scouts with his overall physical ability and skill as a quarterback.
If the Patriots were interested in Lamar Jackson back in 2016, there should be a similar interest towards Hurts, who has proven himself as a leader and winner in college. Like Jackson, he will also have something to prove at the next level as his position was put into question prior to the combine.
With mobility as his best trait, the 6-foot-1, 218-pound quarterback is a player the New England Patriots can certainly groom, and watch grow. His development will shine even brighter if he is learning from a proven veteran like Tom Brady.
Xavier McKenney, S, Alabama
The New England Patriots aren’t getting any younger at the safety position and Alabama defensive back Xavier McKinney could fit the bill.
With Devin McCourty hitting free agency and Patrick Chung past his prime, Bill Belichick could suddenly find himself thin at the position with only Chung, Duron Harmon and Terrence Brooks at the position.
In need of injecting some talented youth into the team, McKinney is a player who is projected to be available when the team selects at No. 23. You better believe Belichick will have some input from his good pal Nick Saban on McKinney’s fit with the team.
At 6-0 ft and 201 pounds, Xavier McKinney has a high football IQ, which Belichick loves in a player. He also has the speed, versatility and length to excel in a New England Patriots defensive backfield that likes to do creative things with their safeties.
With his high upside and experience playing in a program like Alabama under Saban, McKinney would be an intriguing player for the New England Patriots as he could not only learn from Bill Belichick, but get to play behind and watch veterans like Patrick Chung and Devin McCourty if the team re-signs him.