With the 2020 NFL Draft fast approaching I’ve been detailing some different approaches the Patriots might take. Here’s mock draft #4. Take a look back at 1.0 here, 2.0 here, and 3.0 here.
For Mock Draft 4.0 I used Pro Football Network’s Mock Draft simulator.
***I’m gonna cheat a little bit….***
Round 1
Trade: #23 and #98 to Tennessee | #29 and #61 to New England
This trade worked out perfectly for me. Drop down 6 in the first round to move up 37 into the second? I’ll take that every time.
Round 1, #29 Overall (via Tennessee) – Patrick Queen, LB, LSU
The Patriots lost 2/3 of their All-Star linebacking trio in Collins and Van Noy. Adding Queen helps make up for those losses and gives the Patriots their most athletic linebacker since Collins the first time around.
Strengths: Speed to the ball. Impeccable screen recognition and timing on blitzes. Flies around and makes plays. Flashed in the biggest moments. Packs a punch when taking on blocks. Classic sideline to sideline linebacker.
Weaknesses: One year starter who benefited from playing in a really good defense. Tends to overflow on run fits though that isn’t his game. Waits for the blocker to get to him instead of meeting them.
Pro Comparison: Deion Jones, Atlanta Falcons
Round 2
Round 2, #61 Overall (via Tennessee) – Kyle Dugger, S, Lenoir Rhyne
As I said in my previous blog, the Patriots need to start preparing for the future at safety. Dugger is a guy who can play both safety positions and can immediately step I and fill Duron Harmon’s third safety spot while he’s bred to be the heir apparent to either Chung or McCourty.
Strengths: Dugger absolutely belonged at a Power 5 school. He has size, speed, and athleticism. Has above average ball skills and is an elite open space tackler. Six career punt return TD’s.
Weaknesses: Played at a DII school. Reads receivers instead of QB, has choppy footwork and looked bored at times.
Pro Comparison: Justin Simmons, Denver Broncos
Round 3
Round 3, #87 Overall – Harrison Bryant, TE, Florida Atlantic
I think Bryant has a chance to be this drafts best tight end. Physically he has the tools he just needs to refine his skills and add some weight and he can be the future.
Strengths: Fluid route runner and a receiving threat on all three levels. Instinctive with good hands. Can make people miss in space. Shows good effort and technique in blocking. Played very well against Ohio State defense (#4 in the country).
Weaknesses: Average at adjusting his body. Drifts on vertical routes and focuses eyes on wrong place in his blocking. Could use improvement.
Pro Comparison: George Kittle, San Francisco 49ers
Round 3, #100 Overall – Jake Fromm, QB, Georgia
This is for all the kiddos who don’t believe in Stidham. 50% of people say QB is a major need, 50% of people say there’s no need and Stidham is the future. I think there should be an open competition between Stidham, Hoyer, and a mid round rookie. In this case that rookie is Fromm.
Strengths: Winner (35-7 in three seasons). Leader with chess match view of the game. Unrattleable, shows great poise. Accurate on short and intermediate throws. Will sell out in his runs.
Weaknesses: Arm strength and mobility is below average. Reliant upon skill position players surrounding him. Streaky player.
Pro Comparison: Colt McCoy, New York Giants
Round 4
Trade: #125 to Tampa Bay | OJ Howard to New England
Remember when I said I cheated? This feels more than fair for Howard who has under achieved in Tampa. I’ve stayed true to my hopes that New England takes two tight ends in the draft and this is an equivalent to that.
We also know favors happen all the time in the NFL. Remember getting Trent Brown for a bag of peanuts after the Jimmy G trade? Old man Arians isn’t high on Howard so I’m sure he wouldn’t mind shipping him out to New England after acquiring the greatest player in Patriots (and NFL) history.
Round 5
Round 5, #172 Overall – Anfernee Jennings, EDGE, Alabama
I’ve take Jennings in each of my past two mock drafts. He’s a guy that you fall in love with the more you watch him play. I did a full write up on him last time. Check it out here.
Round 6
Round 6, #195 Overall – Calvin Throckmorton, C, Oregon
The Patriots need a swing tackle and a swing guy on the inside. Who better to pick than the man who started at all five offensive line positions in his time at Oregon?
Strengths: Throckmorton is strong and durable. Plays smart and with intensity. Was extremely productive in college. Takes great angles while climbing to second level and absorbs contact from bigger d-lineman.
Weaknesses: Jack of all trades, master of none. Doesn’t have the “physical tools”. Strong but his base is narrow, struggles with pad level. Stiff playing style.
Pro Comparison: Ereck Flowers, Miami Dolphins
Round 6, #204 Overall – Quez Watkins, WR, Southern Miss
I love Quez Watkins to the Patriots. This guy here (extremely Jon Gruden voice) is a 6’0″ BURNER coming out of Southern Miss who has all the potential in the world to be a big play threat at the next level.
Strengths: Dude ran a 4.35 forty. Has great timing on his jumps. Finds the openings in zone defenses. Return man capabilities with the instincts to compete at both spots. Can separate fro coverage and is always a big play threat.
Weaknesses: Level of play dipped against better competition. Body catcher by nature. Needs work on comebacks and is skittish in traffic.
Pro Comparison: John Brown, Buffalo Bills
Round 6, #212 Overall – Raequan Williams, DT, Michigan State
Raequan Williams slides into this spot as a big boy who takes up space in the middle of the defense. Sometimes that’s all you need.
Strengths: Can play up and down defensive line. Has active hands that keep offensive lineman from getting inside on him. Fills space well and can get skinny when needed to.
Weaknesses: Top heavy frame with below average quickness. Struggles with double teams. Poor vision and awareness.
Pro Comparison: Miles Brown, Arizona Cardinals
Round 6, #213 Overall – Tyler Bass, K, Georgia Southern
Like Jennings, I drafted Bass in my last mock. Despite that I’m not sold on the fact that the Patriots will take Bass, or Rodrigo Blankenship for that matter. Unfortunately they’re the only two options given in the simulator I use. Keep an eye out on guys like Ricky Aguayo out of Florida St. and Jace Christmann out of Miss. State. Adam Vinatieri’s nephew Chase is also an option.
Round 7
Round 7, #230 Overall – Branden Bowen, OT, Ohio State
When he’s stayed on the field Bowen has been a more than capable Tackle/Guard for Ohio State. He falls here due to injury concerns.
Strengths: Bowen is tall (6’6″) and has a frame too put on weight if needed. He was consistent when on the field and let up the least amount of sacks in the Ohio State offensive line in 2019.
Weaknesses: Had trouble staying healthy. Only played 18 games in college.
Pro Comparison: N/A
Round 7, #241 Overall – Jared Pinkney, TE, Vanderbilt
The Patriots told Jared Pinkney he had a “losers mentality” at the NFL Combine in February and ever since then his draft stock has plummeted. Heading into this past season he was the #3 tight end on big boards behind Cole Kmet and Albert Okwuegbunam. After the season and pre combine he was top 7 or 8. Now he’d be lucky to be drafted. It would not surprise me at all if Belichick took him with their final pick as a project.
Strengths: Has size, athletic ability, hands, and blocking ability to be an every down tight end. Can do damage after the catch and finishes his blocks.
Weaknesses: Doesn’t have a second gear and apparently he has a losers mentality.
Pro Comparison: Eric Ebron, Pittsburgh Steelers
That’s it for Mock Draft 4.0 – Let me know what you guys think!
Find me on Twitter @KeaganStiefel
Here is the short version of the draft.
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