New England Patriots Midseason 7-Round Mock Draft

The New England Patriots have already been active in the trading of their draft picks, some six months prior to the actual 2015 NFL draft. They acquired Tim Wright, Akeem Ayers and Jonathan Casillas in exchange for Logan Mankins and some draft position.

They are currently left with seven draft picks in order to improve on what is already a loaded roster. Look for Bill Belichick to target a couple of spots to add some talent, while shoring up depth in other areas.

Here is one scenario that could play out when the Patriots are on the clock next April. 

Round 1: Dante Fowler (DE, Florida)

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Edge-rushers are a precious commodity in the NFL, and there seems to be a glut of them eligible for the 2015 NFL draft. While Randy Gregory (DE, Nebraska) and Shane Ray (DE, Missouri) may go higher, I can see Belichick preferring Florida end/linebacker Dante Fowler more. 

Belichick's affinity for former Gators may only be rivaled for his love of Rutgers players. While Jermaine Cunningham didn't work out on the edge, Fowler may be able to.

At 6'2" and 261 pounds, Fowler has the size and strength to set the edge as a 3-4 outside linebacker, while possessing the speed and change-of-direction ability to rush the passer in the NFL. He will need to improve on his play-recognition skills and add some counter moves to ensure success at the next level.

Rob Ninkovich and Chandler Jones have done the majority of the work rushing the passer the past two years. It is time to add some additional options.

Round 2: Duke Johnson (RB, Miami)

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Stevan Ridley is recovering from a torn ACL and is slated to be a free agent in 2015. Finding a younger, cheaper option with a similar skill-set should be high on the list of offseason priorities for the Patriots.

Enter Duke Johnson.

Tommy Tuberville—via Chase Goodbread of NFL.com—had some high praise for the Miami running back:

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But the Hurricanes star, already over 1,000 yards with more than a month to go, is nevertheless drawing the sort of praise that suggests he's got an awfully promising career ahead. Cincinnati coach Tommy Tuberville told Sports Illustrated's Inside Read that Johnson's style reminds him of two of the greatest backs to ever play the game -- Walter Payton and Barry Sanders.

"He kind of reminds me of Walter Payton, where he can stop and go sideways," Tuberville said. "One of those Barry Sanders-type of guys that can accelerate, hit a hole fast and change directions."

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If the Patriots get even half of the production of those two Hall of Famers, a second-round draft pick will seem like a steal.

Round 3: Ellis McCarthy (DL, UCLA)

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Simply put, Ellis McCarthy is an enormous human being. Everett Cook from the Los Angles Times has more on the UCLA defensive tackle:

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The junior is listed as 6 feet 5, 325 pounds, but that might be cutting UCLA’s heaviest player a bit short. He is, to put it frankly, humongous.

During training camp, that weight was a hindrance. He was dealing with a knee injury, which meant he wasn’t practicing as much as usual. Less practice meant more weight. More weight meant less productivity.

Now, coaches are starting to get a look at a healthy McCarthy. Against Cal, he stripped the ball and caused a fumble on a sack, and played the most snaps of his season.

“He’s finally starting to feel healthy,” defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich said on Wednesday.“ That’s the thing with Ellis. He was dealing with his knee, which was just a constant hindrance to him. It would limit his reps, and when he doesn’t have any reps, he’s a guy who is just an enormous human being. So he just gets bigger. The fact that he’s gotten healthier, he’s dropped some weight, and he’s in better shape. You’re seeing that on Saturdays now.” 

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That sounds suspiciously like Vince Wilfork. Adding players big enough to blot out the sun isn't easy to do in the third round, but McCarthy's knees—like Wilfork's—might let him fall to New England. With Wilfork aging and the rest of the defensive interior's future up in the air, addressing the position early in the draft is a necessity.

Round 4: Multiple Picks

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Having a playoff-caliber roster allows you to swing for the fences at times. In Round 4, Belichick does just that with Blake Bell (TE, Oklahoma) and Quandre Diggs (CB, Texas).

Bell is an incredible athlete who has played quarterback and fullback in the past. With time, he could develop into a credible red-zone threat who is difficult to bring down in the open field.

Diggs looks like a good fit at the "star" cornerback position. Against the slot he can hide his long speed and focus on doing what he does best—batting down passes.

If each are able to make the leap to the NFL, they could be economical options to replace the likes of Michael Hoomanawanui and Kyle Arrington.

Rounds 5-7: Multiple Picks

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Adding Brandon Bridge (QB, South Alabama) in Round 6 and Kasen Williams (WR, Washington) in Round 7 puts a ribbon on this version of New England's 2015 NFL draft.

While the Patriots drafted Jimmy Garoppolo last year, developing young, talented quarterbacks is something that every team should constantly do. Bridge has all the talent in the world and has a howitzer like Colin Kaepernick. Unfortunately, he lacks refinement in his technique and reads, which will cause him to be a late-round pick.

Williams offers a big 6'2", 220-pound frame that is adept at blocking on the edge and using his body to shield defenders. He is a possession receiver who isn't a huge threat down the field.