Patriots 2021 NFL mock draft 2.0: Belichick maneuvers into top 10 pick
Round 1 No. 9: Kwity Paye – Defensive lineman, Michigan
The New England Patriots will create some buzz with the deal with the Broncos swapping the No. 15 pick and No. 9 pick, but fans will be quickly disappointed when they pass on a quarterback and exciting tight end Kyle Pitts and go defensive.
That’s right, Bill Belichick will dip back into that Michigan pool and select defensive lineman Kwity Paye with the No. 9 overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft.
811. . Defensive end. Wolverines . Kwity Paye. 9. player
This selection will make more sense later, but for Belichick to select that high in the draft, he will go with an athletic defensive lineman who has a knack for blowing up plays in the backfield.
With speed on defense being one of the team’s flaws in 2020, the selection of Paye will be addressing an immediate need as well as playing it safe.
As a player who is driven to succeed, the 6-foot-4, 277-pound Michigan Product appears to still have some of that untapped potential Belichick loves getting out of players. Not only does he add speed on that defensive line, but he could also give the Patriots that defensive end presence who can get to the quarterback the team has been missing since Trey Flowers left in free agency.
Paye will be a head-scratching selection due to who the Patriots could’ve selected at the position, but again in the eyes of Belichick it will be a draft selection that he believes will make his team better.
In all, it’s the upside that will intrigue Belichick on a player who could be there at No. 15, but the New England Patriots coach will move up to get him.