Patriots' Mock Draft - Final: Belichick Takes Mulligan On 2017 Misses; Trades Down, Loads Up

For the New England Patriots, the 2017 team building process was a disaster - by their standards, anyway.

Instead of using their top draft capital on young greyhounds, they used it on bringing in established veteran players and missed the mark on so many of them that is there any way to look at their offseason plan and not feel that it was a wasted opportunity?

Oregon's Tyrell Crosby bench presses a running back

They sent their first round pick and one of their third round picks to New Orleans for wide receiver Brandon Cooks, their second round pick went to Carolina for defensive end Kony Ealy, their fourth round selection went to Indianapolis for tight end Dwayne Allen and they relinquished a fifth round pick to Buffalo for compensation in poaching running back Mike Gillislee in restricted free agency.

As a result, the Patriots ended up making just four selections in the draft, and only one of them, fourth round defensive end Deatrich Wise, made any impact at all. Cooks is gone, as is Ealy, while Allen and Gillislee play marginal roles with the team and may not survive this year's training camp - so even though Cooks logged a 1000 yard season and was traded away for a first round pick a few weeks ago, their investments returned minimal yield.

It wasn't all bad, however, as Belichick got his value from the undrafted free agent market, picking up linebacker Harvey Langi, Defensive tackle Adam Butler and tight end Jacob Hollister - but certainly he doesn't want to have to rely on finding gems in the market after the draft.

Most likely, the New England Patriots will be drafting mostly for defense at the top of Thursday night's draft - but their base concept dictates that they select a certain type of athlete.

The Big Nickel is a defensive alignment that has been deployed in Foxborough as the Patriots' base defense going on three seasons now - and while statistically mediocre in practice, it affords the unit the ability to rotate players in and out of the front seven to keep the bigger guys fresh throughout the game, while the lithe athletes on the back end hold the fort.

The alignment calls for three safeties, two cornerbacks, three linebackers and three down linemen, but it deployed in such a way that it resembles a standard 4-3 defense.

On the front end, two tackles and a defensive end line up offset, favoring the weak side of the offensive set, which leaves a gap on the strong side for a linebacker to wreak havoc from the edge as a pass rusher and as an edge setter. This part of the formation is known as a three-plus-one subset developed in New York by - you guessed it - Bill Belichick when he was the defensive coordinator for the Giants in the 1980's...

...designed to engage the talents of a linebacker named Lawrence Taylor, who developed into an intimidating force on Bill Parcells' championship teams. In the modern day, that position was supposed to be for rookie pass rusher Derek Rivers to ease into while being mentored by veteran strong side linebacker Shea McClellan, but injuries to both in training camp and the subsequent loss of rookie Harvey Langi to an off field traffic accident left the position desperately void.

The situation was compounded when team captain Dont'a Hightower ruptured a pectoral muscle early in the season, leaving only Kyle Van Noy as the only established linebacker on the second level and prompting Belichick to initially sign Cassius Marsh away from Seattle, then poach Eric Lee off of the Buffalo Bills' practice squad and eventually pluck James Harrison off the waiver wire from Pittsburgh late in the season.

All three had their moments, but Lee is the only one still left on the roster from that group.

Rivers is expected back, as are Langi and Hightower, who will join Van Noy to form a decent, yet medically vulnerable linebacking corps, so finding trustworthy help on the second level should be top priority for the Patriots in the draft.

In all fairness, having the proper personnel to man the Big Nickle on the back end made it possible for New England to advance to their eighth Super Bowl of the Belichick era despite the avalanche of injuries, as both free safety Devin McCourty and strong safety Patrick Chung frequently reduced down onto the second level to assume slot and linebacker duties to fill the void left by injury, while elite centerfielder Duron Harmon kept the blue line clean.

Chung is a tough customer, but will turn 31 years old in training camp, while McCourty will be the same six days earlier, making them greybeards in football terms - and while Chung recently signed a team-friendly contract extension, McCourty is going to cost the team $12 million in cap space this season and $14 million in 2019. Harmon signed an extension last offseason and has an affordable cap number for the foreseeable future...

...meaning that Belichick will probably be looking for player to develop behind Chung and McCourty as well.

On the other side of the ball, The only real question is at left tackle, after Solder departed for greener pastures - and while the team did re-sign veteran swing man LaAdrian Waddle and still have yet to see 2017 draft pick Antonio Garcia on the field, the depth in the 2018 draft is decent, so expect Belichick to increase his own depth by selecting a ready-to-play tackle.


1st round (23rd/23rd overall)

Leighton Vander Esch, ILB, Boise State (6' 4", 255)

A do-it all interior linebacker, Vander Esch is as athletically gifted as any interior linebacker playing today, but with the length and instincts to become an every down force. In the running game, his core strength belies his size and length and in the passing game is a condor in the middle zone, forcing quarterbacks eyes to the perimeter.

His presence in the middle would allow for Belichick to vary his schemes from game-to-game and even play-to-play, and would also allow for Hightower to play more weak side in traditional sets and would take a lot of heat off of Van Noy, and allow him to concentrate on being the strong side force he was in college.

If Vander Esch is plucked off the board before the Patriots select, there is always Alabama's Rashaan Evans or they can dip into the late second round for Indiana's Tegray Scales - but make no mistake, Vander Esch is the complete package.

Alternate pick: Rashaan Evans, OLB, Alabama

2nd round (9th/41st overall) - from Oakland

Mike Hughes, CB, Central Florida (5' 11", 195)

In this scenario, the Patriots trade their 31st overall pick to the Oakland Raiders, who have needs for an impact linebacker, cornerback and offensive guard.

NFL ready press corner with the instincts, footwork and ball skills to play zone and off-man, with an added bonus of possessing elite kick and punt return skill.

Punks receivers off the line in press coverage, looking to completely disrupt  their routes and take them out of the play, and plays like a safety in zone coverages, keeping his man in front of him and breaking on the ball with outstanding anticipation, often able to knock the ball away upon impact. He sniffs out screens and arrives with a pop in run support despite his lack of size.

Is considered a "projection-based" prospect because of some off field issues that ruined his freshman season and forced him to transfer from North Carolina to a junior college, where he earned All American honors and an invite to Central Florida, where he played just one year before declaring for the draft - but in his time with the Knights, he earned first-team All American Athletic Conference honors as a corner, and second-team honors as a kick returner.

Alternate pick: Isaiah Oliver, CB, Colorado

2nd round (11th/43rd overall)

Luke Falk, QB, Washington State (6' 4", 225)

A Brady disciple, Falk is the prototypical Patriots' pocket passer with the size to see over the big uglies up front and excellent lateral mobility and pocket awareness to slide out of danger.

Like the recently departed Jimmy Garoppolo, Falk's eyes are tied to his feet, which is evident in film study as he goes through his entire progression, moving his feet and keeping his arm cocked and ready to fire. Though some question his arm strength, his skill set allows him to throw against man coverage outside the numbers with plenty of zip.

He does have a bit of Jacoby Brissett in him as well, as he tends to throw off his back foot to try to avoid the sack - sometimes into tight coverage, but overall he is a solid prospect, and the fact that he tries to emulate Brady in his game doesn't hurt.

Alternate Pick: Logan Woodside, QB, Toledo

2nd round (31st/63rd overall)

Tyrell Crosby, OT, Oregon (6' 6", 325)

With Antonio Garcia waiting in the wings with a health status that needs continuous monitoring, the Patriots aren't likely to spend top draft capital on a blindside tackle - and why should they when Crosby is projected to be available in the fourth round?

Elected to stay in school rather than enter the draft in 2017 since his 2016 season was a washout due to injury, and moved from right tackle to the left, where he earned the Morris Trophy for being named the Pac-12 Lineman of the Year as voted on by opposing defensive linemen, allowing just three quarterback hurries and yielding no sacks for the entire season.

There are those who still feel that Crosby should anchor the right side - and would be excellent insurance in the event Marcus Cannon doesn't respond coming off of the IR - but he is athletic enough to play either tackle position.

Alternate pick: Chukwuma Okarafor, OT, Western Michigan

3rd round (31st/95th overall)

Jaylen Samuels, RB, North Carolina State (6' 0", 235)

A "utility player" who can do it all on offense. He is listed as a tight end in your NC State programs, but he is really a running back with elite receiving skill. The Wolfpack used him out of the backfield, as an off-the-line tight end and a slot receiver.

So good is he in the pattern that he broke Jerricho Cotchery's school record for receptions and yardage and took over goal line back duties as a senior - a touchdown machine, "JaySam" scored 28 rushing touchdowns and 19 receiving touchdowns in his career, and also served as a kick returner as a senior.

Given all of that, Samuels would be a perfect replacement for the production of Dion Lewis.

Alternate pick: Royce Freeman, RB, Oregon

4th round (10th/110th overall) - from Oakland

Fred Warner, LB/SS, Brigham Young (6' 3", 235)

Warner is a tweener - a coverage linebacker in college but perhaps a big-time strong safety in the pros, and in New England's Big Nickel alignment. In Foxborough, there isn't any difference between the two. Drafting Warner would pay dividends in two ways. First, he is a big, fast sideline-to-sideline entity who is fast enough to stick with backs in the pattern and big enough to avoid being punked by tight ends...

...while at the same time developing under the tutelage of Patrick Chung, who is aging and comes out of the game with injury more than he used to, but still has some pop to his game.

Alternate pick: Marcus Allen, SS, Penn State

6th round (24th/198th overall)

Tyler Conklin, TE, Central Michigan (6' 4", 240)

Conklin had a down year in 2017, statistically, due to a fracture in his foot in camp, but at 6' 3" tall and 245 pounds and with vice-like hands, he should be in the mix as a "move" tight end despite running poorly at the combine. He caught 35 balls for 504 yards in eight games and scored five times as a senior. Central Michigan had all kinds of quarterbacking problems in the past couple of seasons, but a look at his 2016 tape shows his potential.

A decent trap blocker on the edge in the running game makes him more draftable than some of the higher rated prospects, but he needs to learn how to use his body to shield defenders from the ball as a receiver, as he will allow linebackers and safeties to get inside to get a hand on the ball - which is all coaching - but once he gets his hands on a ball, chances are very good that he will haul it in.

Because of his broken foot last season, teams will be pressed to evaluate his durability.

6th round (36th/210th overall)

Braden Smith, G, Auburn (6' 6", 305)

Built like a Mack Truck and knows how to use his frame. If selected, could push Joe Thuney for playing time coming out of camp. Nasty mauler in the running game who has spot duty potential at either tackle position, and potential as a sixth offensive lineman to knock would-be tacklers off their pegs on perimeter runs. A one-man street fight in pass pro, which makes up for some of his lack of reactive athleticism.

7th round (1st/219th overall)

Braxton Berrios, WR, Miami (5' 9", 186)

A Danny Amendola clone with requisite toughness and punt return ability makes him well worth the draft capital, and could surprise with a roster spot, usurping a veteran.

Best Quarterback Options For Patriots Likely Day Two Picks

Replacing a legend is hard enough, but replacing the best that ever played the game of football requires a certain level of naivete.

Which means rookie, which means that the New England Patriots should be looking for a quarterback in this year's draft to develop into Tom Brady's replacement, whenever the greatest quarterback to ever play the game decides to appease his wife and at the same time bow to Father Time in making a grand exit from professional football.

Toledo's Logan Woodside

When that will be is a topic of much speculation and occasional rude dissension among fans and media but one thing is for certain: he should announce his retirement at the very moment he retires, because if he announces it ahead of time like baseball players do, the fans at the homefields of teams he's dominated over the years are apt to be jeerful, at the very least.

Remember when David Ortiz announced his retirement from the Red Sox? Every town the Sox traveled to, the host ownership showered him with gifts ranging from cigars from the Astros, BBQ sauce from the Royals, peanut butter from the Twins and custom made cowboy boots from the Rangers.

So what could Brady expect from his hosts if he announced his retirement at the start of the 2018 season?

Oh, they'll shower him with gifts, alright. He could count on vibrating sex toys in Buffalo, size "D" batteries in New York and spoiled gas station sushi in Miami, all thrown from the upper deck and as close to the Greatest of all time as they can get - all in remembrance of how many times he ripped their hearts out over the years.

He'd have to leave his helmet on for sure, because outside of New England, his legacy is not one of respect, even begrudgingly. It will be a source of celebration for those fans, and celebrations like that have a way of getting out of hand.

Brady will be 41 years old when the season starts, and though he's stated more than once that he wants to play until he's 45, the smart money has him out of here a couple of years sooner than that, simply because he's got little left to prove to anyone - nothing to prove, actually - and he's said in his Tom vs. Time videos that he wanted to play in two more Super Bowls...

...but he announced that last August and has since played in a Super Bowl which, if my elementary math is correct, means that one more appearance in the big game, and Brady is lounging on a nude beach in Italy - or whatever else might float his boat.

So Patriots' general manager Bill Belichick has a monumental task in front of him, selecting a college quarterback who is closer to being an NFL starter than not, and whom they can develop quickly - it's not an ideal scenario for sure, but the future of the Patriots' dynasty rides on the decision.

But what kind of qualifications should a potentially Patriots' quarterback possess?

That particular skill set is as ambiguous as Belichick is in press conferences, for one reason: Belichick is the master at assimilating a player's skill set into his collective and adjusting his philosophy to put said player into a position to best succeed. That said, there are limitations to his square-peg-in-a-round-hole policy, as his offensive philosophy is so ingrained that he's not going to stray very far from it just to select a quarterback.

The following is a short list of traits that a quarterback who plays in a concept-based, methodical, move-the-chains offense needs to be successful :

   * has above average intelligence;
   * has experience in a pro-style offense;
   * is able to process quickly at the snap;
   * go through his progressions while keeping his eyes tied to his feet;
   * has good feel for pass rushers and doesn't get spooked by "phantom" pressure;
   * is ambulatory enough to slide out of trouble without stepping into pass rush;
   * has feel for the play action;
   * possesses quick (snap) release;
   * is able to drive balls into tight windows on short routes and on back-shoulder throws;
   * is able to put touch on balls up the seam to reach his tight ends;
   * is highly accurate

Keeping that in mind, and also that Belichick is unlikely to trade up to snag one of the "top rated" quarterbacks coming out of college, here are his options (click on player's name to watch highlight reel):

Baker Mayfield - Oklahoma - 6' 1", 215lbs
Projection: mid-to-late first round

A scheme-limited signal caller who checks many of the boxes that the Patriots require of their quarterbacks, with the exception of his college experience is tied almost strictly to the spread offense, and it is unknown how he will react under center and if he can sell the play action. That said, his accuracy is other-worldly when chased from the pocket, so opponents will likely game plan to keep him in the pocket and cut off his escape routes.

Keeping Mayfield in the pocket is not a sure avenue to success, however, unless teams can also make their pass rush big to take advantage of his lack of pocket height  He is compared to Doug Flutie among many experts, and while there is a lot of his game that feeds into that, his true comparison should be Drew Brees.

Mayfield may be over-valued in the draft due to the high number of teams seeking quarterbacks, so his basement is probably in the early teens, and Belichick would have to move up quite a bit to draft him.

Overall fit: Good

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Lamar Jackson - Louisville - 6' 2", 200lbs
Projection: Late 1st, early 2nd rounds

Most commonly compared to Michael Vick due to his scrambling ability, speed and elusiveness in the open field and wrist-snapping delivery but the comparisons end there. Despite elite arm strength, will wrist balls instead of stepping into his throws, which causes underthrows on intermediate and deep attempts. Is most comfortable running the run-pass option offense, but has a lot of experience under center and his play action fake is flawless.

He's small for the amount of punishment he is apt to take, and is quick to pull the ball down and run before getting though his progressions. Overall, Jackson is an elite athlete with the legs to run all day long, but is a couple of years away from being able to lead a pro style offense. In the pros, he finds the right fit, or he becomes a gadget player.

Overall fit: Good

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Mason Rudolph - Oklahoma State - 6' 5", 235
Projection: second round

Rudolph is a pure pocket passer with a penchant for loading up the play action and going vertical for the big play - and that's a problem if the kid wants to play in Foxborough.

Belichick favors the grind-it-out, move-the-chains, ball control horizontal game that is based on quick outs and timing patterns, picking and choosing their spots to go down the field after lulling the defense to sleep. That's not Rudolph's style, and certainly not the out routes, particularly field-side outs, as he rarely gets turned to drive the ball to the sidelines, instead floating the ball.

Rudolph checks all the boxes so far as physical attributes, lets routes develop and makes his reads, but his arm strength is in question. That said, there was a question about Brady in that respect coming out of Michigan, and that turned out ok...

Overall Fit: Good

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Luke Falk - Washington State - 6' 4", 225lbs
Projection: late second, early third

All Patriots' fans need to know about Falk is that a full three-quarters of his throws in college went for less than 10 yards which, when added to his quick release, pocket poise, route progression and strong arm, makes him ideal for the move-the-chains attack.

He has a lot of Brady to his game, which goes to figure since that is who he has tried to emulate since he started playing football as a kid. Tall with a quick set up in the pocket and a built-in alarm system that activates his slide step when the rush gets near - he will go through his reads with his eyes tied to his feet then unload with a snap of the wrist, and may throw the best back shoulder fade and sideline accuracy in the class...so why late second/early third?

Simply, that he struggles against zone coverages at times and holds onto the ball too long, resulting in the 125 sacks he took in college. That's a lot of sacks and when combined with the shits he takes while releasing, there's a lot of wear on his body. That said, the quick read offense that Belichick prefers could be his best fit, especially with all of the possession-type receivers on the Patriots' roster.

Overall Fit: Very Good

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Mike White - Western Kentucky - 6' 4", 225lbs
Projection: late third, early fourth

One of the many passers in this draft that relies on a bazooka of an arm to fit the ball into windows in college that may or may not translate to the faster NFL game.

A high school pitcher who throws smoke and was named a Louisville Slugger All-American as a junior, he brings his fast ball to the pros and really does possess the velocity to hit tight windows, as well as a change-up that he can drop in a bucket when he goes vertical. His arm talent is undeniable and would be a shoe-in for the first round if his pocket awareness was any better at all.

Brady-esque in his size and posture in the pocket, he doesn't possess the sixth sense that Brady does in feeling pressure, has heavy feet and tends to panic when holding onto the ball for more than a second or two, mainly because he does not have the sixth sense. Is that coachable? If so, White is a perfect fit for what Belichick likes to do on offense.

Overall fit: Very Good

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Logan Woodside - Toledo - 6' 2", 200lbs
Projection: late third, early fourth

Smart. The most cerebral signal caller in the class with a football acumen that has no peer among his peers. Tough, accurate, throws receiver-friendly balls that lead them away from trouble and is as determined a cat as you'll ever see.

But his arm isn't a cannon like some of the others on this list. His seam work is excellent and anything between the hashmarks is destined to be caught as he can throw his receivers open and hit them in stride for good after-the-catch yardage. His only flaw appears to be how he labors to get the ball down the field along the sidelines.

It seems to take everything he has to throw those out patterns, and they still float a bit. Other than that, he's a solid gold find in the middle rounds.

Overall Fit: Very Good

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Kyle Lauletta - Richmond - 6' 3", 210lbs
Projection: late fourth, early fifth

The passer that local and national draft experts have had pegged for the Patriots since the start of the team-building process - and why not? He runs the play action, goes through progressions and uses the savvy of a veteran to move linebackers and safeties with his eyes as well as anyone in the class - in fact he is everything one could want for a Patriots' quarterback.

The issue is with arm strength. He struggles with anything more than 15-20 yards down the field to the point that he is forced into a high trajectory to get balls vertical, which delights safeties who can run under the throws and make plays easily - which shuts down the back of the field and allows teams to deploy single high safeties and bring more help up into the box.

Usually, when a prospect has a deficiency, it can be corrected with professional coaching, but it may not be possible to even mask the lack of arm strength and the limited route tree that he can reach accurately. If it is possible, this is the guy for New England.

Overall Fit: Good

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Nic Shimonek - Texas Tech - 6' 3" 225lbs
Projection: sixth round

Is it proper to refer to quarterbacking prospect as part-time? What I mean is that part of the time, he's as good a quarterback prospect as there is in this class - but the other part of the time, he looks like he should be playing on the freshman team.

Erratic? Inconsistent? yes, but can a professional coaching staff make him more of a steady signal caller and less of a wild card?

Blessed with perhaps the best arm in the class, Shimonek can make all of the NFL throws, and his deep outs arrive with mustard on them, even when on the move. Reads coverages well and steps into throws to fit them into the tightest of windows. He can unload the ball from several different angles, which is the problem.

When he has a clean pocket or escapes to the flat, he has a squared-shoulder release that looks NFL-ready, but when he has to slide in the pocket against pressure, his mechanics go into the toilet - not the best thing to see on a resume, but I'd be curious to see him after a year or two of professional coaching.

Overall Fit: Moderate

As you can see, according to our film study, the best prospects for the Patriots in this deep draft reside on the second day, which makes them outstanding value picks - and if Belichick can cure a couple of flaws with the prospect that he chooses, there is enough talent in the class to give hope to Patriots' fans that a downturn in the fortunes of their franchise is not necessarily a given...

Patriots' Mock Draft 2.0: Belichick Looking For Value, Will Likely Trade Down To Collect Day Two Capital

The New England Patriots' offseason needs could hardly be met by a diluted free agent pool.

I mean, where were they going to find an impact, off-the-ball outside linebacker with superior coverage skills in free agency? How about a developmental quarterback who is closer to leading a team than not? How about an offensive tackle ready to take over and protect quarterback Tom Brady's old back side?

Hell, there wasn't even a young developmental cornerback to be had.

NC State's Jaylen Samuels

The truth of the matter is that after the first frenzied wave of free agency, there wasn't much to be had except for overpriced, overly-tenured veterans who offered a season or two of service, but not anything a coaching staff could hang their collective hats on.

The market was so bad this league year that the Patriots couldn't upgrade on, or even properly replace the players they lost in free agency - simply because the players they lost were listed among the best free agents at their positions, and were scooped up by teams with plenty of cap space who issued odious amounts of cash to them.

In fact, the players that are no longer on the team due to trade or free agency made serious bank with other teams. Jimmy Garoppolo, the top free agent quarterback on the market according to Rotoworld, signed a contract with San Francisco that made him the richest quarterback in the NFL, depositing an obscene $35 million into his bank accounts all at once, in the form of a $7 million signing bonus and a ridiculous $28 million roster bonus.

Running back Dion Lewis was the second rated free agent running back available, left tackle Nate Solder topped the list of the big uglies, and Malcolm Butler cashed in as the fifth-rated cornerback on the market - hell, even wide receiver Danny Amendola struck paydirt on a clearly over-the-top contract with the Dolphins, even though he was listed as the 17th best receiver in free agency.

Belichick did the best he could with the cap space he had, replacing Amendola with Jordan Matthews, Lewis with Jeremy Hill and Butler with Jason McCourty, and has 2017 draft pick Tony Garcia in line to take over for Solder, and re-signed the versatile LaAdrian Waddle just in case Garcia experiences growing pains.

But other than Matthews, potentially, none of these players are upgrades over the one's the Patriots' lost, but they are all serviceable - and bringing in nose tackle Danny Shelton to plug the gaping middle of the Patriots' defensive line, as well as Adrian Clayborn as a rotational pass rusher added quality where it was desperately needed.

That doesn't mean that those positions are settled, however, as an infusion of youth through the draft is desperately needed for a team that is aging gracefully, but aging nevertheless - a task made easier when Belichick dealt off speed merchant Brandin Cooks to the Los Angeles Rams in exchange for the number twenty-three pick in the draft...

...which opens up a whole word of possibilities that were not present just a couple of days ago. Some feel that Belichick should send both of his first round draft picks to New York to entice the Giants to unload Odell Beckham, or package a first and another pick to move up in the first round to select their quarterback of the future.

But those people are wrong.

Belichick does his best work when wheeling and dealing, that much is assured, but he tends to get the best value out of a draft when he trades down to acquire multiple mid-round picks, and in a draft class loaded in positions of need for the Patriots, trading down is just what the doctor ordered:

1st round (23rd/23rd overall)

Leighton Vander Esch, ILB, Boise State (6' 4", 255)

A do-it all interior linebacker, Vander Esch is as athletically gifted as any interior linebacker playing today, but with the length and instincts to become an every down force. In the running game, his core strength belies his size and length and in the passing game is a condor in the middle zone, forcing quarterbacks eyes to the perimeter.

His presence in the middle would allow for Belichick to vary his schemes from game-to-game and even play-to-play, and would also allow for Hightower to play more weak side in traditional sets and would take a lot of heat off of Van Noy, and allow him to concentrate on being the strong side force he was in college.

If Vander Esch is plucked off the board before the Patriots select, there is always Alabama's Rashaan Evans or they can dip into the late second round for Indiana's Tegray Scales - but make no mistake, Vander Esch is the complete package.

2nd round (9th/41st overall) - from Oakland

Isaiah Oliver, CB, Colorado (6' 0", 190)

In this scenario, the Patriots trade their 31st overall pick to the Oakland Raiders, who have needs for an impact linebacker, cornerback and offensive guard.

A developmental corner that possesses a first round grade on many experts' draft boards due to enormous potential as a bump-and-run, lockdown corner. Excellent size and elite speed matched with an Albatross-like wingspan. There are holes in his game and could use a year behind Stephon Gilmore to learn the nuances of the pro game, but the sky is the limit.

If New England does not trade down out of the end of the first round, it will be because cornerback Josh Jackson has fallen to them at #31.

2nd round (11th/43rd overall)

Luke Falk, QB, Washington State (6' 4", 225)

A Brady disciple, Falk is the prototypical Patriots' pocket passer with the size to see over the big uglies up front and excellent lateral mobility and pocket awareness to slide out of danger.

Like the recently departed Jimmy Garoppolo, Falk's eyes are tied to his feet, which is evident in film study as he goes through his entire progression, moving his feet and keeping his arm cocked and ready to fire. Though some question his arm strength, his skill set allows him to throw against man coverage outside the numbers with plenty of zip.

He does have a bit of Jacoby Brissett in him as well, as he tends to throw off his back foot to try to avoid the sack - sometimes into tight coverage, but overall he is a solid prospect, and the fact that he tries to emulate Brady in his game doesn't hurt.

2nd round (31st/63rd overall)

Fred Warner, LB/SS, Brigham Young (6' 3", 235)

Warner is a tweener - a coverage linebacker in college but perhaps a big-time strong safety in the pros, and in New England's Big Nickel alignment. In Foxborough, there isn't any difference between the two. Drafting Warner would pay dividends in two ways. First, he is a big, fast sideline-to-sideline entity who is fast enough to stick with backs in the pattern and big enough to avoid being punked by tight ends...

...while at the same time developing under the tutelage of Patrick Chung, who is aging and comes out of the game with injury more than he used to, but still has some pop to his game.

3rd round (31st/95th overall)

Jaylen Samuels, H-Back, North Carolina State (5' 11", 235)

A "utility player" who can do it all on offense. He is listed as a tight end in your NC State programs, but he is really a running back with elite receiving skill. The Wolfpack used him out of the backfield, as an off-the-line tight end and a slot receiver.

So good is he in the pattern that he broke Jerricho Cotchery's school record for receptions and yardage and took over goal line back duties as a senior - a touchdown machine, "JaySam" scored 28 rushing touchdowns and 19 receiving touchdowns in his career, and also served as a kick returner as a senior.

4th round (10th/110th overall) - from Oakland

Tyrell Crosby, OT, Oregon (6' 6", 325)

With Antonio Garcia waiting in the wings with a health status that needs continuous monitoring, the Patriots aren't likely to spend top draft capital on a blindside tackle - and why should they when Crosby is projected to be available in the fourth round?

Elected to stay in school rather than enter the draft in 2017 since his 2016 season was a washout due to injury, and moved from right tackle to the left, where he earned the Morris Trophy for being named the Pac-12 Lineman of the Year as voted on by opposing defensive linemen, allowing just three quarterback hurries and yielding no sacks for the entire season.

There are those who still feel that Crosby should anchor the right side - and would be excellent insurance in the event Marcus Cannon doesn't respond coming off of the IR - but he is athletic enough to play either tackle position.

6th round (24th/198th overall)

Tyler Conklin, TE, Central Michigan (6' 4", 240)

Conklin had a down year in 2017, statistically, due to a fracture in his foot in camp, but at 6' 3" tall and 245 pounds and with vice-like hands, he should be in the mix as a "move" tight end despite running poorly at the combine. He caught 35 balls for 504 yards in eight games and scored five times as a senior. Central Michigan had all kinds of quarterbacking problems in the past couple of seasons, but a look at his 2016 tape shows his potential.

A decent trap blocker on the edge in the running game makes him more draftable than some of the higher rated prospects, but he needs to learn how to use his body to shield defenders from the ball as a receiver, as he will allow linebackers and safeties to get inside to get a hand on the ball - which is all coaching - but once he gets his hands on a ball, chances are very good that he will haul it in.

Because of his broken foot last season, teams will be pressed to evaluate his durability.

6th round (36th/210th overall)

Braden Smith, G, Auburn (6' 6", 305)

Built like a Mack Truck and knows how to use his frame. If selected, could push Joe Thuney for playing time coming out of camp. Nasty mauler in the running game who has spot duty potential at either tackle position, and potential as a sixth offensive lineman to knock would-be tacklers off their pegs on perimeter runs. A one-man street fight in pass pro, which makes up for some of his lack of reactive athleticism.

7th round (1st/219th overall)

Braxton Berrios, WR, Miami (5' 9", 186)

A Danny Amendola clone with requisite toughness and punt return ability makes him well worth the draft capital, and could surprise with a roster spot, usurping a veteran.

Patriots Mock Draft 1.0: Defense The Priority, But Offense Could Use Infusion Of Youth

The New England Patriots' defensive difficulties in the Super Bowl were simply a microcosm of the difficulties they experienced all season long.

The biggest culprits were their inability to cover running backs curling into the flat and setting the edge in the running game - and while health coupled with free agency acquisitions would likely solve the latter, it's going to take spending some major draft capital in the 2018 selection process in late April to solve the former.

BYU's Warner is a hybrid OLB/SS, perfect for the Big Nickel

The Patriots run a three-plus-one Big Nickel defensive alignment, meaning three down linemen plus one edge rushing outside linebacker up front, two run plugging linebackers and a strong safety on the second level, plus a normal complement of defensive backs in the secondary. The alignment requires three safeties: the strong safety reduces down into the box and acts as a weak side linebacker, who deals with running backs or tight ends in the pattern...

...while the free safety also reduces down into the double slot to help out with coverages. But the key is having a combination safety that can play the back end, solo. Called the "centerfielder", he should have sideline-to-sideline speed, take excellent angles and have great ball skills.

The Patriots have perhaps the best Big Nickel trio in the game because of strong safety Patrick Chung, free safety Devin McCourty and centerfielder Duron Harmon, but this season presents a unique set of challenges to the group as Chung and McCourty have topped the thirty-year barrier and Harmon decided to try and smuggle pot into a country that one would normally try to smuggle bud out of.

So Harmon will likely start the season on suspension, which means that either New England does something perverted like line up in a standard 4-3 or try out one of their many developmental safeties that they have stashed on the practice squad - so don't expect Belichick to pull a safety out of this draft, as he will just get by until Harmon returns.

Despite popular opinion to the contrary, the cornerback positions are well accounted for with Stephon Gilmore, Jason McCourty, Eric Rowe and Jonathan Jones, but the secondary, like the rest of the defense, fell victim to the lack of experienced depth in the linebacking corps - they weren't as horrible in the Super Bowl as the media would have one believe, but with Rowe entering his contract year and McCourty on the wrong side of thirty, if an elite talent falls to the Patriots in the second round, they would do well to add youth to their depth chart.

The defensive line has received an injection of talent, trading with Cleveland to bring in huge nose tackle Danny Shelton and plucking edge-setting defensive end Adrian Clayborn off the scrap pile in free agency - combined with the fact that red-shirt freshman Derek Rivers should be fully healed from his bout with a bum knee, both of the edges should be well accounted for, and no draft capital should be required.

On the other side of the ball, the offense lost two major playmakers in wide receiver Danny Amendola and running back Dion Lewis. Lewis is a singular talent who will be impossible to replace, though the Patriots have signed former Cincinnati Bengal Jeremy Hill and re-signed the versatile Rex Burkhead to join passing back James White to give them in three players what Lewis did himself...

...while the clutch Amendola's defection to the Dolphins should be mitigated somewhat by the return of Julian Edelman to health, though replacing his punt return ability has yet to be undertaken, aside from Belichick trading to Oakland for receiver Cordarrelle Patterson, whose main purpose in life is to return kicks and run gadget plays out of the backfield.

The line is nearly set, so long as former All Pro Marcus Cannon returns to form from an injury-marred 2017. The team re-signed tackle LaAdrian Waddle to assume the left tackle spot vacated by Nate Solder's defection, and the hope is that redshirt freshman Tony Garcia has fully recovered from a bout of blood clots in his lungs and is ready to develop behind Waddle.

But the elephant in the room to be addressed is finding a nearly ready for Prime Time quarterback to develop behind future Hall of Famer Tom Brady -and while the draft is loaded down with quality signal callers,Belichick is likely looking for someone who fits the mold of Brady as well as anyone could, but Brady will be nearly an impossible act to follow, so the pick has to be someone with broad shoulders and tons of confidence.

How does all of this translate in my little world? Check it out below:

Round 1 (31st overall) 

Leighton Vander Esch, ILB, Boise State (6' 4", 255)

A do-it all interior linebacker, Vander Esch is as athletically gifted as any interior linebacker playing today, but with the length and instincts to become an every down force. In the running game, his core strength belies his size and length and in the passing game is a condor in the middle zone, forcing quarterbacks eyes to the perimeter.

His presence in the middle would allow for Belichick to vary his schemes from game-to-game and even play-to-play, and would also allow for Hightower to play more weak side in traditional sets and would take a lot of heat off of Van Noy, and allow him to concentrate on being the strong side force he was in college.

If Vander Esch is plucked off the board before the Patriots select, there is always Alabama's Rashaan Evans or they can dip into the late second round for Indiana's Tegray Scales - but make no mistake, Vander Esch is the complete package.

Round 2 (11th/43rd overall) 

Isaiah Oliver, CB, Colorado (6' 0", 190)

A developmental corner that possesses a first round grade on many experts' draft boards due to enormous potential as a bump-and-run, lockdown corner. Excellent size and elite speed matched with an Albatross-like wingspan. There are holes in his game and could use a year behind Stephon Gilmore to learn the nuances of the pro game, but the sky is the limit.

Round 2 (31st/63rd overall) 

Luke Falk, QB, Washington State (6' 4", 225)

A Brady disciple, Falk is the prototypical Patriots' pocket passer with the size to see over the big uglies up front and excellent lateral mobility and pocket awareness to slide out of danger.

Like the recently departed Jimmy Garoppolo, Falk's eyes are tied to his feet, which is evident in film study as he goes through his entire progression, moving his feet and keeping his arm cocked and ready to fire. Though some question his arm strength, his skill set allows him to throw against man coverage outside the numbers with plenty of zip.

He does have a bit Jacoby Brissett in him as well, as he tends to throw off his back foot to try to avoid the sack - sometimes into tight coverage, but overall he is a solid prospect, and the fact that he tries to emulate Brady in his game doesn't hurt.

Round 3 (31st/95th overall) 

Fred Warner, LB/SS, Brigham Young (6' 3", 235)

Warner is a tweener - a coverage linebacker in college but perhaps a big-time strong safety in the pros, and in New England's Big Nickel alignment. In Foxborough, there isn't any difference between the two. Drafting Warner would pay dividends in two ways. First, he is a big, fast sideline-to-sideline entity who is fast enough to stick with backs in the pattern and big enough to avoid being punked by tight ends...

...while at the same time developing under the tutelage of Patrick Chung, who is aging and comes out of the game with injury more than he used to, but still has some pop to his game.

Round 4 (36th/136 overall) 

Royce Freeman, RB, Oregon (5' 11", 235)

Bigger back that a team can just strap on a feedbag and send him out to do his thing. Played in Oregon's zone-heavy running attack and has intriguing feel for cutback lanes - load to bring down when he gets up a head of steam. Freeman was used sparingly in the passing game until his senior season, when he showed some promise as a screen man, but must improve in pass pro to become a true three-down back.

Round 6 (36th/210 overall) 

Braden Smith, G, Auburn (6' 6", 305)

Built like a Mack Truck and knows how to use his frame. If selected, could push Joe Thuney for playing time coming out of camp. Nasty mauler in the running game who has spot duty potential at either tackle position, and potential as a sixth offensive lineman to knock would-be tacklers off their pegs on perimeter runs. A one-man street fight in pass pro, which makes up for some of his lack of reactive athleticism.

Round 7 (1st/219 overall)

Braxton Berrios, WR, Miami (5' 9", 186)

A Danny Amendola clone with requisite toughness and punt return ability makes him well worth the draft capital, and could surprise with a roster spot, usurping a veteran.