New England Patriots holla Roll Tide in 2022 NFL Mock Draft 1.0

It’s that time of year again.  With the NFL Scouting Combine over, Bill Belichick and the New England Patriots will start their draft board in hopes of scoring another big draft.

With the success of Mac Jones, Christian Barmore and Rhamondre Stevenson, the Patriots coach proved he does have an eye for talent.

New England Patriots look to hit on back-to-back NFL drafts

Graded as one of the top rookie classes in 2021 by NFL.com, the Patriots hit on their first two picks by dipping into the Alabama Crimson Tide talent pool.

"“With Jones as the headliner, the Alabama-New England pipeline treated the Patriots quite well in this draft class,” NFL.com writer Gennaro Filice wrote.  “Famous friends with Nick Saban, Bill Belichick immediately doubled down on the Tuscaloosa talent pool by snatching up Barmore with the Pats’ second selection. As the first defensive tackle off the board at No. 38 overall, Barmore proved to be a Round 2 coup. That interior disruption he exhibited in Alabama’s 2020 national title run? Yeah, it translated seamlessly to the NFL, as Pro Football Focus charted Barmore with 48 QB pressures.”"

And let’s not forget about Stevenson, who rushed for over 600 yards in his rookie season looking very much like the explosive power back with breakaway speed and a stiff arm of steel.

As those three players got plenty of playing time, the Patriots have a trio of players from that rookie class who didn’t see the field in 2021.  Linebackers Ronnie Perkins, Cameron McGrone and safety Joshuah Bledsoe could make that draft class look even bigger in 2022.

Speaking of 2022, the Patriots will enter the NFL Draft with needs at some key positions.  While the players named above can help solve some of those needs, look for Belichick to dip back into that Alabama talent pool as this mock draft 1.0 has the color crimson written all over it.

With the No. 21 pick in the 2022 NFL Draft the New England Patriots select Jameson Williams, WR, Alabama

If the New England Patriots want to surround Mac Jones with elite talent next season, they will select Alabama Crimson Tide wide receiver Jameson Williams with the No. 21 selection in the 2022 NFL Draft.

There are quite a few options when it comes to wide receiver help via free agency and through trade, but if Bill Belichick wants to allocate his resources to improve the defensive side of the ball taking another shot at a wide receiver in the first round could be his best option.

Knowing how competitive the Patriots coach is, he may just be out to prove the doubters wrong about his ability to select wide receiver talent.  Now that N’Keal Harry can be officially considered a bust at the wide receiver position, Belichick can redeem himself by selecting Williams, who is the kind of playmaker they are looking for.

https://twitter.com/PFF_College/status/1497218624787988496

At 6-foot-2, 189 pounds, Williams is a top 10 talent who is expected to slide to the low to mid first round due to a torn ACL.

With 79 receptions for 1,572 yards and 15 touchdowns during his junior year at Alabama, the New England Patriots will absolutely jump on Jameson Williams if he is right there.  In fact, don’t be surprised if Belichick trades back knowing the Alabama product might be there in the late first round.

Although he never played with Mac Jones, Belichick’s connection to Alabama head coach Nick Saban will fuel this selection.  Honestly, the Patriots can’t go wrong with a quick runner with good hands and the elite ability to get separation.  Those attributes are exactly what Mac Jones and the Patriots’ offense needs.

With the No. 54 pick in the 2022 NFL Draft the New England Patriots select Christian Harris, LB, Alabama

As surprising as it would be for the New England Patriots to select a wide receiver again in the first round, it would be even more surprising if Bill Belichick doesn’t go defense in the second round where if Alabama Crimson Tide linebacker Christian Harris is there, he’s snagging him.

After an impressive showing in the 2022 NFL Combine, the athletic linebacker may have propelled himself into a top 50 pick, which means if Belichick wants him, he could have to move up a bit in the second round like he did for Christian Barmore.

In releasing veteran linebacker Kyle Van Noy and the uncertainly surrounding Dont’a Hightower, it is certain the Patriots are looking to get younger, faster, stronger at the linebacker position.  At 6-foot-0, 226 pounds and 4.44 speed, Harris fits the bill and still has room to grow.

As an inside linebacker while playing for Alabama, Harris projects more as an outside linebacker in the NFL.  In the right system he can thrive and improve some of his weaknesses like instincts on the field.  But he is a linebacker who has great athletic ability and a burst that the team needs.  A perfect project for Belichick, especially with that Nick Saban influence.

If Christian Harris comes to work, he will be another hit for Belichick and yet another player making that Alabama Crimson Tide to New England Patriots transition.

With the No. 85 pick in the 2022 NFL Draft the New England Patriots select John Metchie III, WR, Alabama

Guess what?  The New England Patriots will make it 3-for-3 in selecting Alabama Crimson Tide prospects as Belichick will draft a wide receiver with two of his top three picks.

Like Williams, John Metchie III will likely slide in the 2022 NFL Draft due to an ACL tear suffered in the SEC Championship Game.  How far he will slide or may not slide will depend on how teams feel about him in the NFL Combine, but his familiarity with Mac Jones makes him a no-brainer if he is sitting there in the third round when the Patriots are up again.

As Jones’ No. 2 receiver at Alabama behind DeVonta Smith in 2020, Metchie racked up 916 yards passing on 55 catches with six touchdowns. A proficient route runner, the 6-0, 195-pound receiver fits the mold of what the Patriots like in a receiver.

Not only does he have good route instincts, but he also works his way back to the ball which is why he had success catching the ball from Jones in 2020. With his 96 receptions for 1,142 yards and 8 touchdowns in 2021 prior to the ACL tear, he also proved he is just getting better and better.

What a special connection it would be if Jones and Metchie teamed up again for the Patriots.  The NFL prospect is certainly thinking about that possibility.

"“It’s definitely something I’ve heard, and especially seeing the trend of teams liking to unite quarterbacks and receivers, or just former teammates together.  I think Mac-10 and I would be special for sure,” Metchie said during the scouting combine, as transcribed by WEEI."

Patriots fans would love to see this connection shine in the NFL!

With the No. 124 pick in the 2022 NFL Draft the New England Patriots select Tre Williams, Edge, Arkansas

Bill Belichick has had some recent success with former Arkansas players, and he will dip back into that pool in the fourth round by selecting Tre Williams with the No. 124 pick overall in the NFL draft.

Like Tre Flowers and Deatrich Wise, Williams is a player who may not shine right away in the NFL, but in a deep draft of edge rushers, he could prove to be one of the best and a player who is considered a steal of the draft when all is said and done.

At 6-foot-5, 255 pounds, Tre Williams has great size and athleticism for the position, which obviously the New England Patriots need opposite Matt Judon.  With an ability to obviously get to the quarterback with consistency, he can also effective against the run which gives him the ability to stay on the field for all three downs.

But, in the NFL and especially with the Patriots, Williams will not be able to just rely on his physical attributes.  He will have to learn technique, discipline, and play within the defensive scheme.  As we have seen with Belichick over the years, no matter what the physical ability a player brings, if they don’t play within the scheme, they don’t see snaps or in the case of Jamie Collins, they play their way out of town.

In all, the Patriots will hope to find a gem in Williams like they found in another Tre out of Arkansas.  Although Flowers didn’t play in his first season with the Patriots, he became a key player on defense and earned himself a big contract in free agency.

With 6 sacks and 11 solo tackles during his senior year, Williams will be a solid fourth-round pick for the Patriots.

With the No. 170 pick in the 2022 NFL Draft the New England Patriots select Markquese Bell, S, Florida A&M

The New England Patriots will select a physical playmaker in the fifth round of the 2022 NFL Draft.

As a player with a lot of ups and downs on and off the field, Florida A&M’s Markquese Bell will have a lot to prove in the NFL, and as we know, Bill Belichick like those kinds of players.

As an aggressive, extremely athletic safety, Bell is expected to go well before 170, but he could be one of those players who slip a little given his lack of bulk body wise.  But as a player who ran a 4.41 at the 2022 NFL combine, Bell has that speed the Patriots are looking for at a key position where they are looking for depth and an eventual replacement for Devin McCourty.

Although his tackling can be better, Bell is an instinctive player with the speed and long strides to cover ground.  With the current depth chart of Adrian Phillips, Kyle Dugger and Joshuah Bledsoe, the hard-hitting safety could certainly fit in.  If he puts on some bulk and muscle, he is also a player who would be a steal for Belichick and the Patriots if available at this spot.

With his aggression being his weakness, if Bell finds control and plays smart, he will have a long NFL career.  Don’t be surprised if that is in New England.

With the No. 270 pick in the 2022 NFL Draft the New England Patriots select Jaylen Watson, CB, Washington State

Free agency will have a big say in what the New England Patriots do in the 2022 NFL Draft.

With top cornerback and ballhawk J.C. Jackson on the open market, the Patriots are projected to draft at the position early in the draft, but don’t be surprised if Belichick doesn’t draft a cornerback high.  In fact, he may not draft one until the sixth round where the Patriots will select Jaylen Watson of Washington State.

At 6-foot-3, 204 pounds, Watson is coming off a season in which he recorded 31 total tackles with 2 interceptions.  With 4.51 speed, he is a big, strong cornerback Belichick can develop into a quality rotational cornerback in the NFL.  Although Watson has work to do as far as footwork, and quickness in man coverage, his size and athleticism is worth taking a chance on.

Again, picking a cornerback this late will drive Patriots fans crazy, but there are some interesting names in free agency who could replace Jackson if he departs in free agency and Belichick has a history of finding some diamonds in the rough late in drafts and undrafted free agents.

Look what he did with Malcolm Butler and J.C. Jackson.  Although fans will panic if Jackson leaves, Belichick will trust himself and find players he can build into the role.  Jaylen Watson will be one of those players.