New England Patriots: Final 7-round NFL mock draft wish list

BOCA RATON, FLORIDA - NOVEMBER 09: Harrison Bryant #40 of the Florida Atlantic Owls in action against the FIU Golden Panthers in the first half at FAU Stadium on November 09, 2019 in Boca Raton, Florida. (Photo by Mark Brown/Getty Images)
BOCA RATON, FLORIDA - NOVEMBER 09: Harrison Bryant #40 of the Florida Atlantic Owls in action against the FIU Golden Panthers in the first half at FAU Stadium on November 09, 2019 in Boca Raton, Florida. (Photo by Mark Brown/Getty Images) /
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2020 NFL Draft James Proche (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)
2020 NFL Draft James Proche (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images) /

Fifth round, No. 100 overall: James Proche, wide receiver, SMU

This pick is a bit of a deviation from the norm as was Bryant, but James Proche will be worth the shift. The New England Patriots last season lacked any wide receiving talent outside Julian Edelman.

No receiver other than Julian caught even 30 passes. This is a prescription for disaster, or more pertinently, elimination in the first round of the playoffs.

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Proche is a catching machine. He caught over 200 passes in the past two years at SMU. After Julian Edelman again, no one had even 30 on the patriots. Proche should be able to surpass that in 5 or 6 games.

So here’s Proche’s  2109 according to nfl.com,

"Proche helped the Mustangs achieve a 10-win season in 2019, again earning first-team all-conference accolades after starting all 13 games, tying for the national lead with 111 receptions (1,225 yards, 11.0 yards per catch), ranking in the top five with 15 scores and returning punts (17 returns for 164 yards and an average of 9.6 yards)."

The Patriots were supposedly impressed at the Senior Bowl. An article references this.  But whether this was true or another smokescreen, there is no doubting that Proche is a productive receiver and that is exactly what New England Needs. He also is a punt returner. There’s the versatility factor.

The New England Patriots need receivers who can flat out catch the ball. 200 catches in 2 years seem to indicate that is the case with James Proche. Taken in the third round.