New England Patriots Mock Draft 3.0: Minimal Picks Doesn't Necessarily Mean Minimal Talent

The New England Patriots have no real needs when it comes to starting talent, so projecting their 2017 draft has become somewhat of a effort to find projects to provide decent depth in the present and with enough upside to displace incumbent depth on the 53 man roster - and with a depth chart as loaded as the Patriots' is, that is no small task.

"Draft and stash" is the the term most often used for what New England looking for, and while that process is not as sexy as Patriots' fans would like to hear, It would be a challenge for anyone to name a position on the roster that is an immediate need - as any perceived weaknesses coming into the 2017 offseason were addressed in free agency and through trades.

Utah's Isaac Asiata

Of course, that doesn't mean that General Manager Bill Belichick is just going to throw darts and hope one sticks, as his mantra has always been to find a player with a distinctive skill set that can be incorporated into the system that helps to unlock as much as the playbook as possible, given the needs from week to week.

That said, Patriots' fans shouldn't be looking for any players with immediate starting "Wow" factors, but they should be prepared to see Belichick select solid projects to task his talented staff to coach up...

3rd Round (72nd overall) - Derek Rivers, DE/OLB, Youngstown State
6' 4", 245 lbs

At 6' 4" and 245 pounds, Rivers is more suited for an off-the-line role, and there are some that even liken him to a Jamie Collins-like talent.  The precursors are all there, freakish athletic ability, able to bend the corner either from a standing position or with his hand in the dirt.

What makes Rivers unique is a rare second gear after making initial contact with the right tackle, giving him the speed-to-power ability to blow past most bookends, and has the natural body placement to make it easy for him to shed and disengage from his mirror to force an outside rush or screen to the sidelines - though not bulky enough to set a steadfast edge, he can hold the fort until help arrives.

3rd Round (96th Overall) - Isaac Asiata, G, Utah
6' 3", 325 lbs

Nasty-tempered intimidator on the interior that wants to mix it up.  Jarring puncher who finishes blocks, then lets his opponent know about it.  Absolutely filthy run blocker.

A bowling ball with legs, Asiata is more athletic than his frame would suggest and is an accomplished pass protector and wins with sheer strength and determination.  Would be perfect to man up along side center David Andrews as his wide base and experience in pass pro would free up the undersized Andrews to concentrate on his own assignment rather than in helping out on the left.

4th Round (131 Overall) - Tarell Basham, DE, Ohio
6' 4", 270 lbs

A different talent from Rivers, Basham is a straight up edge defender that loves mixing it up with tackles and tight ends in the running game.  As a pass rusher, Basham is still a work in progress - which is fine in the Patriots' rotational system where he would be an early-down edge-setter with a decided mean streak.

Has the developmental skill set to be a three-down end, his high-motor and relentlessness as a pass rusher will do exactly what Belichick likes from his rush ends, and that is to collapse the pocket and get the quarterback off his mark.

5th Round (183rd Overall) - Julie'n Davenport, OT, Bucknell
6' 7", 325 lbs

A Division II project with all of the measurables and who dominated lower levels of competition in college. Davenport has huge hands to shove into a defensive end's chest and a massive wingspan to hold speed rushers at bay.  Footwork will need some refinement, but with his size (6' 7", 325) and athleticism, he gives Dante Scarnecchia a lot more to work with than most projects.

Could contribute right away as a swing tackle, and may have the natural ability to step in if injury besets either tackle position.

6th Round (200th Overall) - Jonnu Smith, TE, Florida International
6' 3", 245 lbs

Neither solely an in-line tight end nor a move tight end, but a combination of both, which makes him a rare commodity that many teams wouldn't know what to do with.

Jumps off the line and into the pattern like a jack-in-the-box and possessing electric moves and functional speed to gain separation and to challenge the seam, Smith is a body catcher that seems unwilling to trust his massive hands, as evidenced by his penchant for double clutching balls that are challenged by safeties - needs work with hands but is already an effective zone blocker who likes mixing it up.

7th Round (239th Overall) - Howard Wilson, CB, Houston
6' 1", 190 lbs

His lack of experience and skinny frame have caused Wilson to slide down draft boards, but he has two things that just can't be gained by experience: size and speed. Of course, players can be coached to properly utilize their God-given intangibles and Wilson has tremendous upside and all reports verify his coachability.

Has a proven track record as a ball hawk, but needs a professional strength and conditioning program to add some mass before he can be reasonably expected to hold his own as a press corner against the growing trend of larger receivers in the NFL, but has all of the intangibles to become an effective starter in time.

New England Patriots' Mock Draft 2.0: Provisional Gillislee Impact Edition

The New England Patriots are loaded, just in case anyone was wondering - but it doesn't mean that they have achieved their goal of complete depth saturation.

This is particularly true along the offensive line - and even more so when considering that left tackle Nate Solder is coming up for re-enlistment, and probably at a number that the team would prefer to have on the books, given his injury history, as well as the fact that left guard Joe Thuney was one of the lowest rated guards in the NFL last season, so far as pass protection is concerned...

...and while it's too early to give up on the second-year guard, the depth behind him is inadequate with the recent release of Tre' Jackson, who landed with the Rams on a bad knee (and subsequently released with a failed physical), leaving just fellow sophomore Ted Karras and a trio of practice squad players.

Karras is ideally suited for the center position anyway, so releasing Jackson has triggered an immediate need for quality depth.

Another shift in draft needs occurred when the Patriots signed Buffalo Bills restricted free agent running back Mike Gillislee to an offer sheet - the dollar amount thought to be in excess of what the Bills should be able to match, given their cap situation and enormous needs elsewhere.  Gillislee's offer coupled with the three-year contract extension signed by Super Bowl hero James White has the potential to put to rest a glaring need for a long-term running back through the draft.

Houston's Tyus Bowser

Should the Bills not match the offer to Gillislee, the Patriots will lose a fifth-round selection but will have four quality backs on board, plus a fullback in James Develin.  If they do match the offer, there is still Rex Burkehead, White and Dion Lewis to form a quality three-headed monster, though White is the only back on the roster under a long-term deal...

...which means that Wyoming running back Brian Hill will be in play for the Patriots for one of their third-round selections, most likely at 72nd overall.

The good thing for the Patriots is that the Bills must decide by Monday afternoon whether to match their offer not, then New England can begin to answer questions of depth for the defensive side of the ball, mainly at defensive end but also with a need for some forward thinking at outside linebacker and at box safety.

That said, here is our 2.0 mock draft:

3rd Round (72nd Overall ) -  Tyus Bowser, OLB, Houston

Played in the same linebacking corps with current Patriots' inside load Elandon Roberts and is just as explosive setting the edge and rushing the passer as Roberts is going downhill to plug running lanes.

Has the ability to pattern match tight ends in the passing game or to drop into a crossing zone to impeded the progress of running backs and slot receivers in the flat, and seems natural in sniffing out screens, as he stacks and sheds to get to the ball carrier.

3rd Round (103rd Overall) - Taylor Moton, G, Western Michigan

Drafting a guard is rarely the aesthetic or sexy move that fans like to see, but this is one of the very few need picks for a New England team loaded everywhere else on offense.

At 6' 5" and 325 pounds, Moton is a steam shovel that manhandles defensive tackles in both the power running game and in pass protection.  Moton played tackle his senior season at Western Michigan and had some difficulty with speed rushers around the edge, but played guard every season before that and dominated the opposition, no matter the skill level.  He is a natural on the right side, but is also a zone scheme fit on the left.

4th Round (131st Overall)  - Josh Harvey-Clemons, SS, Louisville

It was no secret that both Jordan Richards and starting strong safety Patrick Chung declined in production last season, so the Patriots should be prioritizing box safeties.  But Harvey-Clemons is no ordinary box safety.

Of course, he checks all the boxes as a strong safety, but he is also a natural at diagnosing plays from the box, taking on tight ends and using his huge wingspan to shield them from the ball, and plays downhill with violent intent in run support.

5th Round (163rd Overall) - Tarell Basham, DE, Ohio

A three-down defensive end that is a better edge-setter than pass rusher, but his high-motor and relentlessness as a pass rusher will do exactly what Belichick likes from his rush ends, and that is to collapse the pocket and get the quarterback off his mark.

In the running game, he is a stack-and-shed edge-setter with the lateral agility to get to the sidelines, if need be - and seems to genuinely dislike tackles and tight ends, and makes sure they know it on the field.

6th Round (200th Overall) - Jylan Ware, OT, Alabama State

Huge, powerful hands and excellent placement define Ware.  Has a decent slide step to mirror speedy defensive ends but will struggle with elite ends that can convert speed to power - but then again, who doesn't?

Possesses the height that the Patriots prefer in their bookends at 6' 8", but played in college at less than 300 pounds and needs some time in the weight room under the tutelage of a professional strength coach - that said, Ware is a natural left tackle and could work his way into being a major contributor as a draft-and-stash project for Dante Scharnecchia.

7th - 239th -  Weston Steelhammer, FS, Air Force

Belichick is a sucker for military academy guys and for safeties over all, so he should love Steelhammer.

Known as a route-breaker, Steelhammer's game is cutting off receivers routes by reading the quarterback's eyes and getting to the point of the reception before the receiver.  Not particularly fast, and relatively skinny (6' 2", 200), he nevertheless is worth a seventh-round flyer, particularly because he has a four-year commitment to the Air Force, and with proper weight room instruction could become a stashed force.

New England Patriots Mock Draft 1.0 - The "Make The Third-Rounder Count" Edition

The New England Patriots are absolutely loaded - and there is no lack of folks feeling some kind of way about that.

For Patriots' haters, they sit slack-jawed on bar stools, slobbering in mugs and complaining bitterly about the world champions constantly reloading, year after year, for title runs while every other team in the NFL is just hoping to be the ones who can beat the Patriots on any given Sunday.  They go so far as to accuse Belichick of somehow cheating the system to keep bringing in impact players, when in reality he is just very patient, knows what he wants and jumps when the time is right.

Ohio's Tarell Basham (93)

Patriots' fans know this all too well, but usually would be bitching and whining about having just six draft picks, and none in the first two rounds - not this time however, as even the most casual of Patriots' fans now recognize Belichick's style, and know that he gets his best value in the middle rounds.

And that's where we start.

In reality, Belichick could somehow finagle some earlier draft picks by the time the selection process starts in late April, but at this point, he has what he has, and with all things being equal - as in spotting the other 31 NFL teams two rounds worth of draft picks - the Dark Master will make his mid-round picks count.

His needs are few, though some would argue that a lead running back would be nice, and others will say that depth along the defensive line - especially at defensive end - is lacking, and they would be right, so those things are sure to be addressed in the draft.  But in my mind, there is a need for a hybrid strong safety / coverage linebacker who can stick with tight ends...

...and also for a developmental left tackle who can plug-and-play in the event Nate Solder gets hurt or leaves in free agency after next season - and a team can never have enough cover corners.

Those things being said and ultimately true, here is our initial mock draft of the 2017 season:

3rd Round (72nd Overall ) - Brian Hill, RB, Wyoming

For the Patriots' purposes, one would be hard-pressed to find a better fit as a lead runner than Hill, especially considering their draft position.



At 6' 1" and 220 pounds, Hill is a slashing downhill runner who possesses tremendous balance and a powerful lower body to keep piles moving, yet is lithe and deft in the pass patterns and a willing blocker in pass protection.  If there is a downside, it would be that he has a tendency to bounce outside if the running lanes are clogged instead of taking what's there, but his lateral movement and explosion through the hole - not to mention a dose of subtle elusiveness - makes Hill a great fit for New England's running game.

3rd Round (96th Overall) - Bucky Hodges, TE, Virginia Tech

Belichick traded to the Indianapolis Colts for Dwayne Allen to bridge the gap left by the departure of Martellus Bennett, but his contact is guaranteed for 2017 only, though the Patriots own his rights through 2019 - and while Allen has the athleticism to contribute in the offense, Hodges could break it wide open.


4th Round (131st Overall)  - Josh Harvey-Clemons, SS, Louisville

It was no secret that both Jordan Richards and starting strong safety Patrick Chung declined in production last season, so the Patriots should be prioritizing box safeties.  But Harvey-Clemons is no ordinary box safety.

Of course, he checks all the boxes as a strong safety, but he is also a natural at diagnosing plays from the box, taking on tight ends and using his huge wingspan to shield them from the ball, and plays downhill with violent intent in run support.

5th Round (163rd Overall) - Tarell Basham, DE, Ohio

A three-down defensive end that is a better edge-setter than pass rusher, but his high-motor and relentlessness as a pass rusher will do exactly what Belichick likes from his rush ends, and that is to collapse the pocket and get the quarterback off his mark.

In the running game, he is a stack-and-shed edge-setter with the lateral agility to get to the sidelines, if need be - and seems to genuinely dislike tackles and tight ends, and makes sure they know it on the field.

5th Round (183rd Overall) - Howard Wilson, CB, Houston

A project corner who could contribute immediately and really surprise despite having only one season as a full-time college starter.  Checks the boxes on height, versatility in different techniques and in violent run support, but not in weight or experience.


At 6' 1" and only 185 pounds, Wilson plays without fear but is liable to incur injury with his reckless playing style.  A year in the system and with a strength and conditioning staff, and Wilson could force his way into a starting role.

6th Round (200th Overall) - Jylan Ware, OT, Alabama State

Huge, powerful hands and excellent placement define Ware.  Has a decent slide step to mirror speedy defensive ends but will struggle with elite ends that can convert speed to power - but then again, who doesn't?

Possesses the height that the Patriots prefer in their bookends at 6' 8", but played in college at less than 300 pounds and needs some time in the weight room under the tutelage of a professional strength coach - that said, Ware is a natural left tackle and could work his way into being a major contributor as a draft-and-stash project for Dante Scharnecchia.

7th - 239th -  Weston Steelhammer, FS, Air Force

Belichick is a sucker for military academy guys and for safeties over all, so he should love Steelhammer.

Known as a route-breaker, Steelhammer's game is cutting off receivers routes by reading the quarterback's eyes and getting to the point of the reception before the receiver.  Not particularly fast, and relatively skinny (6' 2", 200), he nevertheless is worth a seventh-round flyer, particularly because he has a four-year commitment to the Air Force, and with proper weight room instruction could become a stashed force.