There’s so much clamoring for the New England Patriots to select a wide receiver in the first round this year.
First it was TCU’s Quentin Johnson, then Ohio State’s Jaxon Smith-Njigba, now Boston College’s Zay Flowers. But we all know it’s not gonna happen because the Patriots never gave a damn what analysts think, so we know they definitely don’t give a damn what fans think.
Besides, a rational thinker knows that New England’s bigger problems lie elsewhere. Having the best receivers means little if Mac Jones doesn’t have time to throw or if the defense can’t get the offense the ball.
New England can go in multiple directions with their NFL Draft selections, starting with selection No. 14 overall. Much of the decision-making will depend on how the draft board falls.
With every pick, we will sit with fingers crossed, hoping the Patriots take the player we want. I’ll be going through the same exercise with you. But the chances are extremely slim that fans and the Patriots agree with the selection.
Patriots dream picks vs what will really happen
With that in mind, instead of producing two separate mock drafts for who I want and an actual Patriots mock, I’m combining them.
Finding the players that open my eyes is easy. Trying to get into the heads of the New England Patriots scouting department is a completely different story, but it’s possible. Just last year I correctly projected the Patriots would select a guard in the first round. I just didn’t get the right one.
And if I could get in their heads, then I should had parlayed that to get a job in the Patriots scouting department. Just part time, though. This mock only goes through the first four rounds.
New England’s biggest needs are obvious. One of them should be addressed with the 14th overall selection. And no, it’s not wide receiver.
With the No. 14 Pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, the Patriots select:
If trades before the New England Patriots selection pushes a blue chip player down the board, they absolutely should pounce.
The question is which one. There could be a run on offensive tackles, which pushes Illinois’ Devon Witherspoon right to New England’s doorstep. And if the Patriots make that call, I would be overjoyed.
Witherspoon has the traits to become a shutdown corner, and he’s an enthusiastic tackler. His current weight isn’t a problem, as he will fill out over time. But there’s a very realistic chance Witherspoon, and my 1A choice, Oregon’s Christian Gonzalez, will both be gone.
If the Patriots are committed to taking a corner first andPenn State’s Joey Porter Jr. is there for the taking, I feel New England will pass. They don’t seem to favor huge corners. The limit seems to be 6-1.
Maybe New England would consider Maryland’s Deonte Banks, but South Carolina’s Cam Smith is a better tackler, so I rank him next on the Patriots draft board.
I don’t expect the Patriots to reach for a corner and I’m not predicting trading down. But if Gonzalez and Witherspoon are off the board, then it’s possible the off-season of Mac Jones continues with some protection.
Georgia’s Broderick Jones might be off the board, leaving Ohio State’s Paris Johnson Jr. or Northwestern’s Peter Skoronski available. Either way, the New England Patriots need to fortify a shaky O-line and add a cornerstone for the next decade. Trent Brown will be a free agent after the 2023 season and the two free agent additions (Riley Reiff, Calvin Anderson) aren’t long-term solutions.
I won’t rule out Tennessee’s Darnell Wright. His stock is blowin’ up. And even though he’s a projected right tackle, anyone that can make the O-line better is a welcomed addition.
With the No. 46 pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, the Patriots select:
I can understand why the New England Patriots would zag here and add a pass rusher early. Teams can’t have enough nowadays, and there would be a couple of players that would be really appealing now, including Michigan’s Mazi Smith and USC’s Tuli Tuipulotu. In the end, after securing Witherspoon, I turn to protecting Mac Jones with Oklahoma’s Anton Harrison.
Now if it’s Syracuse’s Matthew Bergeron or Alabama’s Tyler Steen, I would still be happy. What matters is finding long-term security to make the pocket a safe space. But man, adding a pocket demolisher now would be soooo tempting.
Isaiah Foskey now isn’t completely illogical. It would be concerning that OT was demoted for a lesser need. But Foskey is such a fit for the Patriots Way that I would accept the selection, with a little bit of nervousness.
Foskey is a huge, versatile pass rusher that can play on the edge and slide inside on passing downs. He had back-to-back double-digit sack seasons and totaled 23 tackles for a loss over the past two seasons.
What would really appeal to Patriots head coach Bill Belichick is that Foskey has blocked four punts in his Fighting Irish career. Seeing a 6-5 260-pound man lay out to block a punt likely brought a tear to Belichick’s eye because it’s beautiful to him.
OT still comes first for me, though. The New England Patriots owe it to Mac after leaving him out to dry last season. D-line help will come later.
With the No. 76 pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, the Patriots select:
In 2019, the New England Patriots could had selected Ole Miss wide receiver A.J. Brown. Instead they took Arizona State’s N’Keal Harry.
That wasn’t the only miss. New England also could have had South Carolina’s Deebo Samuel, Georgia’s Mecole Hardman or Ole Miss’ D.K. Metcalf.
Four years later, I pray they right that wrong.
I don’t know where Ole Miss finds receivers, but MAN, do they find tremendous athletes. Mingo is the latest and I really hope the Patriots see what I see in him.
Besides being well built at 6-1 220 pounds, Mingo has deep speed (4.46 40-yard dash). He was often targeted for receiver screens to utilize his yards after catch ability. So even if Mingo doesn’t pick up the playbook quickly, there are still ways to get Mingo on the field to take advantage of his physical gifts.
Some analysts think Mingo is big slot. Initially, I’ll say yes, but he has the potential to develop into much more than that.
And it seems experts agree. Mingo’s stock has been rising. Originally Mingo was expected to go in the fourth round. Well Good Morning Football’s Peter Schrager just mocked Mingo in the first round. If Mingo isn’t selected in the second round, I would pull the trigger now.
But watch the Patriots skip Mingo for someone like BYU’s Puka Nacua in the sixth round. For now, New England gets around to selecting a starting corner. While many want a physical freak like Kansas State’s Julius Brents, I stay within the 6-1 and under range and go with Alex Austin.
Austin has high character off the field and is high caliber on it. He’s active in the Oregon community, including starting his own charity. He has experience playing receiver and returning kickoffs and punts. And he’s a willing tackler.
While it would be good if the Patriots draft a corner in the third, New England should select a corner sooner, like they should had last year. Marcus Jones isn’t a starting outside corner and Jack Jones’ suspension near the end of last season is concerning from an outsider’s view.
If Jack Jones’ suspension isn’t a big deal, there’s still the question of who has the potential to become a shutdown corner. The chances of finding one is much better when drafted in the first or second round.
With the No. 107 pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, the Patriots select:
Changes came to the New England Patriots tight end group as Jonnu Smith was traded and Mike Gesicki was paired with Hunter Henry. While these are welcomed changes, New England still needs an addition for the future. Luke Schoonmaker addresses that need, and more.
Gesicki signed a one-year deal and Henry’s contract expires after the 2023 season. Matt Sokol is a developmental reserve, so clearly the Patriots need to add talent to the position.
Landing on common ground for this selection isn’t a guarantee. A gut feeling believes Belichick would love to getGeorgia’s Darnell Washington, but that would require using a second round selection on the 6-7 270-pound Bulldog. Maybe Belichick does, or maybe he trades up for Washington. Trading up for a tight end is nothing new for Belichick.
I also believe that South Dakota State’s Tucker Kraft is attractive to Belichick. But again, it would require drafting Kraft sooner than the fourth round.
Don’t view Schoonmaker as a tight end consolation prize, though. He’s a very good athlete with the reputation for being a solid blocker. That skill would get Schoonmaker on the field soon, as Gisicki and Henry usually struggle as blockers.
Once Schoonmaker earns the trust of the coaches and QBs, he’s a nice, big target with his 6-5 250-pound frame. And he has good speed, so he can gain yards after the catch. But he’s not a strong runner, so don’t expect a lot of broken tackles.
Schoonmaker would be the fifth year in a row the New England Patriots select a Michigan player. He might not be the only one, with kicker Jake Moody a real possibility. But I believe the next Wolverine will be…
With the No. 117 pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, the Patriots select:
Old habits die hard. We know the New England Patriots like their outside linebackers big, strong enough to set the edge on run plays. But if the Patriots really are showing signs of being open to changing that, I suggest Louisville’s Yasir Abdullah.
Rumors say New England likes Utah’s Mohamoud Diabate. He’s alright, but Texas’ DeMarvion Overshown would be a better option because Diabate has a lot of room for growth in coverage while Overshown is a converted safety. And Overshown and Diabate are the same size (6-3 229).
Abdullah is just 6-1, but stacks 237 pounds on his frame and his arms are just as long as Overshown’s. Abdullah would have a better chance of success in the box than Diabate and Overshown.
The numbers Abdullah back that up: 9.5 sacks and 14.5 tackles for a loss. And he handles himself well in coverage. The proof is in his highlights.
If Abdullah’s height is a turn-off for the Patriots, may I suggest moving him to inside linebacker? He could be the sideline-to-sideline to Ja’Whaun Bentley’s between the tackles. No matter what position Abdullah would play, he’s too good to pass up.
Meanwhile, Michigan’s Mike Morris could be trapped in draft purgatory for being viewed as a tweener: Not athletic enough to play linebacker, but not big enough for defensive tackle.
History suggests the Patriots would think otherwise. Almost six years ago, New England selected Deatrich Wise Jr. He’s been a productive part of the Patriots D-line rotation, Belichick apparently loves Wise, and it doesn’t look like Wise is going anywhere anytime soon.
Morris is like Wise, but quicker. Morris would work as a situational pass rusher from any direction, probably from linebacker as well. He’s also a capable run defender, whether using his strength or quickness.
Adding Morris to a pass rush that includes Wise, Matthew Judon, Josh Uche and potentially Foskey would make up for not selecting a premium corner.
With the No. 135 pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, the Patriots select:
Seems like there’s no shortage of strong safeties if you’re looking for an extra defender to put in the box. But strictly free safeties to defend the deep middle of the field are a lot harder to come by. That’s what the New England Patriots need, and Cal’s Daniel Scott seems to be one of the few.
Scott is a football centerfielder. He’s at his best watching the quarterback and attacking the ball. He has excellent agility to change directions (performed well in the 3-cone drill and 20-yard shuttle run) and the speed/range to patrol the secondary.
Scott has plenty of special teams experience (which the Patriots would love) and he was a team captain. To top it all off, Scott wore 32. If New England is looking for a Devin McCourty replacement, Scott checks a lot of the boxes.
As for tackling, that box is blank. It’s disappointing a 6-0 200-pound safety doesn’t use that body physically. If the Patriots can improve this aspect of his game, Scott would be worth the selection in the long run.
Or New England could go in a different direction and double-dip at offensive tackle. It’s an idea I’m on board with. They could do the same at cornerback, but for now it’s the other bookend for the O-line.
Freeland is a towering tackle at 6-8 but weighs a hair over 300 pounds. Physically he’s not ready to handle right tackle, but a year in the Patriots training program should get Freeland strong enough to handle powerful pass rushers. Freeland is an excellent developmental prospect for the future.