Patriots late-round 2021 NFL mock draft 2.0: Belichick selects dynamic RB

Round 7 No. 242: Whop Philyor – Wide receiver,  Indiana

The depth of this year’s draft class at the wide receiver position will have a player like Indiana’s Whop Philyor available when the New England Patriots select in the seventh round of the 2021 NFL Draft.

Philyor doesn’t have elite pass-catching skills, but his toughness and tenacity will remind Patriots fans of one Julian Edelman.

Here is what college football analyst Jim Mora had to say about Philyor’s draft stock:

"“[Teams} are going to have concerns about his weight and his ability to make contested catches.  He’s got good hands, not elite hands.  He drifts a little bit in his routes, but that can get figured out.  Look, this is a tough dude, man, he’s a gritty kid.  He’s a productive player.  He’s been a productive player.  I like the fact that he can work inside.  He can get by you deep.  He can get up the field and do some things long range.  He’s a high-octane player.”"

Sounds exactly like the kind of slot receiver the Patriots like.  And as far as size goes, the Pats have never shied away from smaller receivers so that would not be a problem.

Coming off a senior season in which he caught 54 passes for 495 yards, Philyor is a good player to take a shot at in the seventh round as they did with Edelman when he came out of Kent State.

If Belichick does not draft him here, it wouldn’t be a big surprise at all if he is signed as a undrafted free agent and makes the team that way.

In all, certainly a name to watch in the later round, especially with the first name “Whop.”  Can you imagine the fun Patriots fans will have coming up with nicknames for this receiving prospect!