2017 NFL Draft: New England Patriots End-of-March 7-Round Mock Draft
Early-round draft capital gone, the New England Patriots can still put together a nice 2017 NFL Draft, which they do in this seven-round mock draft.
The 2017 NFL Draft is going to be here before we know it. With NFL free agency coming to a halt, all 32 NFL teams have turned their focus to the draft. The New England Patriots are in an interesting position when it comes to the 2017 NFL Draft.
The Patriots have been extremely aggressive this offseason, making many trades to improve their roster. Adding guys like Brandin Cooks, Kony Ealy and Dwayne Allen undoubtedly help the Patriots in the short term, but they gave up a lot of 2017 NFL Draft capital in exchange for those players.
As things are set right now, the defending Super Bowl champions will sit out the first two rounds of the 2017 NFL Draft. They traded their first-round selection to the New Orleans Saints in the Cooks deal and their second round pick to the Carolina Panthers in the Ealy trade.
The Patriots will not go on the clock until the third round (72nd overall received from the Panthers in the Ealy trade). However, that does not mean that they will not be able to add impact talent to their roster.
Unless the Patriots trade away Jimmy Garoppolo or Malcolm Butler, they will not be picking early in the 2017 NFL Draft. But who does a better job at finding late-round value than Bill Belichick? Make no mistake about it, the Patriots will still be able to add valuable players to the mix. Here is a complete seven-round 2017 NFL Mock Draft for the New England Patriots.
This mock draft was completed using the FanSpeak On the Clock Mock Draft Simulator.
Oct 22, 2016; Manhattan, KS, USA; Texas Longhorns quarterback Shane Buechele (7) has the ball stripped by Kansas State Wildcats defensive end Jordan Willis (75) during a game at Bill Snyder Family Football Stadium. The Wildcats won, 24-21. Mandatory Credit: Scott Sewell-USA TODAY Sports
Jordan Willis
Defensive End, Kansas State
As we enter the 2017 NFL Draft, the defensive end position is the biggest position of need for the Patriots. They lost both Chris Long and Jabaal Sheard this offseason, and while adding Ealy to the mix will help, they still need another edge rusher or two. Trey Flowers, Rob Ninkovich and Ealy is a good start, but the Patriots clearly need help at defensive end.
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With their early third round selection, the Patriots find an impact player at the defensive end position. Jordan Willis was an extremely productive edge rusher at Kansas State, piling up 20 sacks and 31.5 tackles for loss the past two seasons. Willis is a quick and athletic rusher who shows a great burst off of the snap.
He is a high-motor player who is never going to get cheated on the field. Willis is a potential impact pass rusher at the next level but he also shows strong instincts against the run. His ability to diagnose and quickly make a play on the running back is incredibly impressive.
Willis was one of the top performers on the defensive line at the combine. He measured with adequate size at 6-4, 255 pounds and he put together an impressive overall workout. His 4.53-second 40-yard dash was the second-fastest time for a defensive lineman, barely getting edged out by Haason Reddick's 4.52.
He also had the second-best vertical leap at 31 inches and the best time (6.85 seconds) in three cone drill. Willis showed off his high-level speed, athleticism and quickness at the combine and is undoubtedly a playmaker at the next level. The Patriots snagging him in the third round would be an absolute steal.
Nov 19, 2016; Knoxville, TN, USA; Tennessee Volunteers defensive back Cameron Sutton (23) defends during the second half against the Missouri Tigers at Neyland Stadium. Tennessee won 63-37. Mandatory Credit: Randy Sartin-USA TODAY Sports
Cameron Sutton
Cornerback, Tennessee
The New England Patriots won the Super Bowl, but the third round is the only time that they pick 32nd in the 2017 NFL Draft. That just goes to show you how many trades involving draft picks this team has made.
If the Patriots end up losing Malcolm Butler, cornerback becomes a relatively important need. Stephon Gilmore is great, but if Butler is gone, the Patriots will be counting on Eric Rowe as the number two and Cyrus Jones as the primary slot cornerback. Even if Butler returns, the Patriots could use some depth at the position.
Cameron Sutton missed about half of his senior season at Tennessee with a broken ankle. He did make a return to play the last seven games of the season, but Sutton was not the same guy on the field. His ankle injury costs him a lot of money in the 2017 NFL Draft process.
It is important to not worry too much about Sutton's 2016 season. Instead, look at the guy that he was in the years prior. Sutton showed fantastic natural coverage ability in the past, showing the skills to play off-man and press at the line of scrimmage. He also shows the field awareness to play a variety of zone coverages.
Sutton does not have elite size for a cornerback (5-11, 188 pounds), but he is an extremely quick and athletic player who can play a variety of defensive roles. The former Volunteer shined at the Senior Bowl showing an impressive versatility of defensive back skills.
The Tennessee product appears to have the ability to play boundary cornerback, in the slot or even at safety. I could see Bill Belichick falling in love with that kind of versatility and making Sutton the choice.
Mar 3, 2017; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Bucknell offensive lineman Julie'n Davenport squares off in the mirror drill against San Diego State offensive lineman Daniel Brunskill during the 2017 NFL Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports
Julie'n Davenport
Offensive Tackle, Bucknell
After taking two defensive players who would be expected to make an immediate impact with their first two picks, the Patriots find a developmental offensive player here in the fourth round.
There is a lot to like about Julie'n Davenport as a 2017 NFL Draft prospect. He has ideal size for a franchise NFL left tackle, coming in at 6-7, 318 pounds. Davenport also has elite arm length (36.5 inches), which is huge for an offensive tackle to keep pass rushers at a distance. As far as his skillset goes, Davenport shows great athleticism for the position. He has quick feet and shows the ability to handle speed rushers extremely well on the edge. He is also a powerful player who can dominate at the point of attack.
That being said, Davenport is an extremely raw prospect. His footwork and technique as a whole need work. There are also obvious questions about making the jump to the NFL from Bucknell. Davenport was not exactly playing against top-tier competition in college. Will Davenport be able to adapt to the speed of the NFL game? It will not be an easy task.
The Patriots have specifically shown interest in Davenport during the 2017 NFL Draft process, even bringing him in for a private workout with legendary offensive line coach Dante Scarnecchia. He is a raw prospect, but if Scarnecchia has liked was he has seen out of Davenport, do not be surprised to see the Patriots pull the trigger on him at some point in the 2017 NFL Draft.
Left tackle Nate Solder will become a free agent following the 2017 season. I could see the Patriots bringing Davenport in as a developmental player for this season. If he shows enough promise, Davenport has the ability to take over for Solder at left tackle after next season. This would be a great forward-thinking move for the organization.
Nov 5, 2016; Manhattan, KS, USA; Kansas State Wildcats linebacker Elijah Lee (9) celebrates a fumble recovery during a game against the Oklahoma State Cowboys at Bill Snyder Family Football Stadium. The Cowboys won the game, 43-37. Mandatory Credit: Scott Sewell-USA TODAY Sports
Elijah Lee
Linebacker, Kansas State
Back to the defensive side of the ball for the Patriots, as they find the Kansas State teammate of their third round selection, Jordan Willis. Elijah Lee is commonly considered the biggest combine snub in the 2017 NFL Draft. Why he was not invited to the combine is a mystery, but Lee is an extremely talented player who can compete at the next level.
Lee is listed at 6-3, 228 pounds. He does not have ideal size for a base linebacker, but he is not afraid to mix it up on the inside. Lee will come up and make plays in the run game. He will be overpowered at times, but his high-motor playing style allows him to compete at a high-level a majority of the time.
The Kansas State product is a true three-down linebacker who shows impressive speed and range for the position. Lee will make plays from sideline-to-sideline against the run and shows strong natural man-to-man coverage skills.
The Patriots have some talent at the linebacker position, but they are still searching for a long-term running mate for Dont'a Hightower. Elandon Roberts is a strong run defender, but Lee brings a more well-rounded skillset to the table. Finding Lee in the fifth round would be a solid value pick for the Patriots, as they get a guy who can come in and make a difference right away.
Dec 28, 2015; Annapolis, MD, USA; Pittsburgh Panthers defensive lineman Ejuan Price (5) tackles Navy Midshipmen quarterback Keenan Reynolds (19) during the second quarter at Navy-Marine Corps. Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports
Ejuan Price
EDGE, Pittsburgh
As the adage goes, you can never have too many pass rusher. The Patriots have a nice mix of players on the edge but add a potentially dynamic pass rusher here with their fifth-round compensatory pick.
Ejuan Price is a quick and explosive athlete on the edge who shows fantastic natural pass rush upside. In 2016, Price piled up 13 sacks and 23 tackles for loss. The year before that, he had 11.5 sacks and 19.5 tackles for loss.
Simply put, he is a playmaker on the edge who is not afraid to take risks to make plays in the backfield. At 5-11, 241 pounds, Price does not have ideal size for the position. That being said, he is an extremely active and athletic rusher who plays with an extremely high motor. Price will get after the quarterback with consistency using a wide array of pass rush moves.
The biggest knock on Price is his history with injuries. He missed more than two full seasons at Pittsburgh due to two separate chest injuries and a major back injury. However, he has been fully healthy the past two seasons.Price did receive a medical redshirt, so he was actually
Price did receive a medical redshirt, so he was actually in college for six seasons. He is a little older than most draft prospects (24-years-old), but his age is not so advanced that it is a major problem. The Patriots find a nice pass rusher with upside to add their front seven mix here late in this mock draft.
Nov 19, 2016; Ann Arbor, MI, USA; Michigan Wolverines running back De'Veon Smith (4) stiff arms Indiana Hoosiers linebacker Tegray Scales (8) in the first half at Michigan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports
De'Veon Smith
Running Back, Michigan
The Patriots have an interesting mix of players at the running back position. Super Bowl hero James White will be back as the team's pesky receiving back. Dion Lewis will also figure into the mix as a big-time threat both on the ground and as a receiver. The Patriots also signed Rex Burkhead as a free agent this offseason, and I expect him to also play an important role in their offense.
They have bodies at the position, but they still lack a true power back to pick up the tough yardage on the inside. LeGarrette Blount has played that role in recent years, but I personally think the Patriots would be better off finding a younger power back to compliment their smaller and quicker counterparts. Here in the sixth round, Michigan running back De'Veon Smith feels like a strong fit.
Smith is listed at 5-11, 223 pounds and shows a ton of natural power in his running style. He is a decisive one-cut runner who shows great ball carrier vision and a bit of quickness with the ball in his hands. Smith is not a guy who is going to break many big runs, but he is a reliable inside rusher who can pick up the tough yardage.
Expecting a sixth round pick to replace the 18 touchdowns that Blount put up last season would be a mistake, but Smith would have a chance to be an important part of the Patriots backfield mix. He could solely be used as the power option. Burkhead, Lewis and White will all play major roles as well, helping take the pressure off of the rookie.
Sep 26, 2015; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Ohio Bobcats safety Nathan Carpenter (35) and linebacker Blair Brown (33) tackle Minnesota Golden Gophers running back Rodney Smith (24) at the line of scrimmage in the first quarter at TCF Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jesse Johnson-USA TODAY Sports
Blair Brown
Linebacker, Ohio
The 2017 NFL Draft is loaded with talent, but just like any season, the seventh round is a bit of a crap shoot. Many players chosen this late will not even make their team's active roster. However, there is always a chance to find an undervalued gem in the draft's final round.
To round out this mock draft, the Patriots add another player to their defensive front seven. Ohio linebacker Blair Brown is an extremely instinctive player who has a bit of athleticism and knows how to find the ball. He is a tough inside run defender who also shows a bit of sideline-to-sideline range.
Brown is a smart defender who also plays with a ton of aggressiveness. There is no hesitation in his game, as Brown plays with his gut and usually makes the right decision. He also shows some solid coverage skills and can handle size in man-to-man coverage.
Brown is a solid overall player who has a bit of upside at the next level. It would not hurt the Patriots to take a shot on his ability, but Brown would unlikely make much of a defensive impact right away. Instead, his fantastic natural instincts, athleticism and ability to tackle with consistency could come in handy on special teams.