Following a very disappointed and uncharacteristic 2020 NFL season, the New England Patriots have an extreme challenge ahead of them that partly begins with the 2021 NFL Draft.
What will the general manager in Bill Belichick do this offseason?
Well, through free agency and trades he is expected to be very aggressive in filling some of the glaring holes the team had in 2020. With the biggest hole being quarterback, the Patriots have been rumored in talks involving every possible quarterback that may become available, even some of the top NFL prospects.
New England Patriots has the highest draft pick they have had in years
Will the Patriots move up in the draft, stay at No. 15 or use that pick or other draft capital to acquire an already proven field general? Well, that will be one of the biggest questions to be answer this offseason.
Whatever they do, Belichick will be under the spotlight as he looks to rebuild and re-tool a Super Bowl contender, which makes the 2021 NFL Draft a very important draft. Baring any trades (which you know there will be some), here is a 7-round mock draft that will fill some of those needs immediately and it all starts at No. 15.
Round 1 No. 15: Gregory Rousseau – Edge, University of Miami
There are many options at the No. 15 spot for the New England Patriots including at the quarterback, tight end and wide receiver position, but the safe bet for Belichick this high up in the draft is to go defensive.
That is where defensive end Gregory Rosseau presents an intriguing option for Belichick in his quest to strengthen his defensive front.
With J.J. Watt out there in free agency, picking a young stud who can get after the quarterback at this spot suddenly upgrades the Patriots pass rush if they are able to bring in a veteran like Watt along with the return of multi-purpose linebacker Dont’a Hightower.
Like Hightower, Rousseau opted out in 2020, but recorded 15.5 sacks in 2019 and is described as an underdeveloped talent with “exciting physical skill set.”
In all, surrounding him with veteran leadership along with the guidance of Belichick could propel Rousseau into an impact player for years to come, especially with his ability to rush from the outside as well as from the interior. So, if Rousseau is available at this position and the Patriots don’t move up or back in the draft, this defensive stud is a good bet at No. 15.
Round 2 No 46 : Mac Jones – quarterback, University of Alabama
NFL drafts rarely go as projected, especially for the New England Patriots.
While the team’s glaring need at quarterback would suggest one of the top QB prospects drafted in the first round, it wouldn’t be a shock or surprise if Bill Belichick goes in another directed at No. 15 as projected by this mock draft.
But don’t rule out Alabama quarterback Mac Jones ending up in New England.
With Jones projected to go anywhere from the middle of the first round to late in the second round, if Jones is there at No. 46 or even early in the second round, the Patriots will make a move to get him.
Of course, this all depends on who the team lands at quarterback in either free agency or trade, but Jones is essentially the kind of quarterback who could flourish under Belichick and Josh McDaniels.
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Not only does he come from a winning program, but his intelligence and pocket presence are two intangibles the Patriots love in a quarterback. Actually, it has been all they have known for nearly two decades. The pocket presence component was glaringly missing in 2020 with Cam Newton under center (which is not a knock on Cam).
Then there is the Nick Saban factor.
Belichick loves Alabama players mostly because of his closeness with Saban. But Mac Jones has shown on the field in big games that he is a big-time winner. In the 2020 national title game, Jones went off throwing for 464 yards and five touchdowns.
Why would he possibly slide into the second round?
He does lack the mobility that has now become the trend in the NFL. The New England Patriots tried it and it didn’t work for them, so they will take a gamble and pass on Jones in the first round just to see that gamble work out when they select again in the second round.
Round 3 No. 96 (compensatory/Brady): Levi Onwuzurike – Defensive tackle, University of Washington
If the New England Patriots lose either Lawrence Guy or Adam Butler in free agency, University of Washington defensive tackle Levi Onwuzurike is exactly the type of player Bill Belichick should select if he is there for the taking in the third round.
While the Patriots do need some beef along their defensive line, the athleticism and quickness Onwuzurike possesses would be a nice replacement for Butler if he leaves in free agency.
At 6-foot-3, 290 pounds, Onwuzurike has showcased in college that he is a good run defender and can also be a force rushing the passer, two attributes Belichick’s defense needs to improve upon in 2021.
Can’t help but make a comparison to Trey Flowers, who ironically was selected in the third round by the Patriots.
Similar to Flowers in his first couple years with the Patriots, the Washington product won’t make an immediate impact, but his discipline, size, athleticism and emotional endurance makes him the type of player who will eventually excel under the guidance of Belichick.
Let’s keep in mind with these selections, the New England Patriots are looking to find players who can help immediately as well as stabilize future stability at some key positions. Levi Onwuzurike could help in both areas.
Round 4 No. 111: Richard LeCounte III -Safety, University of Georgia
This is where the New England Patriots may start trading picks for either veterans or later picks, but if they stand pat at No. 111, look for them to add another Georgia Bulldog to the mix in the name of safety Richard LeCounte III.
This is an area where the Patriots seem to be pretty solid heading into 2021.
With veteran safety Devin McCourty, Patrick Chung returning from an opt out, Adrian Phillips and 2020 top draft pick Kyle Dugger rounding out a pretty versatile group, Belichick will start thinking future in selecting a player in LeCounte who has the communication and leadership skills to eventually replace McCourty and/or Chung.
What may intrigue Belichick even more when it comes to the Georgia product is his ability to play in multiple schemes. Not only can he play man coverage against slot receivers, but he also has the size and versatility to play to move around in subpackages.
Above all, he can play special teams and Patriots fans know very well how much Belichick loves players who can excel in special teams while also making an impact either offensively or defensively.
Round 4 (compensatory/Jamie Collins) No. 138 : Sage Surratt – wide receiver, Wake Forest
A second-round talent who may be there in the fourth round is Wake Forest product Sage Surratt.
This is actually a good spot for the New England Patriots to select a wide receiver since the team will be hoping the third year will be the charm for N’Keal Harry. With a ton of cap space, expect the Bill Belichick to also bring in a No. 1 type receiver in free agency.
Those two factors should allow the team to select a player capable of making an impact in 2021 the way Malcolm Mitchell eventually did in his rookie season back in 2016.
Opting out in 2020, Surratt is similar to Mitchell in that he is a wide receiver with a nice combination of size and strength who does lack athleticism, but as an above average blocker and a possession type receiver, this NFL product has New England Patriots written all over him.
At 6’2” and 215 pounds, Surratt had a very productive 2019 season for Wake Forest hauling in 66 receptions for 1,001 yards and 11 touchdowns in just nine games played.
While adding another type of receiver who could do the same things Harry does sounds monotonous, this selection could propel the team to move on from their 2018 No. 1 pick.
Round 4 (Compensatory/Kyle Van Noy) No. 144: Jimmy Morrissey -Center, Univeristy of Pittsburgh
The New England Patriots won’t go the first four rounds of the NFL draft without selecting an offensive lineman.
With the strong possibility of losing Joe Thuney to free agency and the slight possibility of center David Andrews being lured away, Bill Belichick will look to add more youth and versatility along that line.
Perhaps he will strike gold like he did in the 2020 NFL Draft with Michael Onwenu by selecting Jimmy Morrissey out of Pittsburgh.
A four-year starter and three-time All-ACC selection, Morrissey would bring much of the skills that should make him successful in New England. He is tough, physical offensive lineman with great awareness and technique who has the ability to play either center or guard.
If the Patriots lose either Andrews or Thuney and possibly Marcus Cannon to retirement, this blue-collar 6-foot-3, 305-pound stud would be an ideal pick, although he may be around in the later rounds.
As we know, when it comes to players he likes, Bill Belichick will select a player anywhere in the draft if he really likes that player.