2010 NFL Mock Draft: New England Patriots, ver. 2.0

Since my last mock draft, the New England Patriots have had many players in town for a chat, while others have been witnessed at workouts.

Certainly, the same can be said for every team in the NFL with various other players. While some would say that the draft is beginning to take shape, I would contest that there's always the one head-scratcher pick that shakes up the rest of the draft and even has some teams changing their plans.

Before I get to the mock, here are the Patriots' five biggest needs:

OLB—This is no secret to anyone in the league. The Patriots' pass rush was a joke all last season, and they seriously need to beef it up with a big-time edge rusher in the 3-4 scheme. There are a few of these type of prospects that will be available in the first round.

DE—See above. Add to that the departure of All-Pro defensive end Richard Seymour and you have one heck of a hole to fill, possibly at both end spots.

OL—Matt Light, Dan Koppen, and Stephen Neal are serviceable but aren't getting any younger. Logan Mankins' contract situation is shaky. The face of New England's offensive line is getting ready to change, and the Patriots need to make sure they keep Tom Brady's jersey clean.

WR—With the uncertain contractual future of Randy Moss as well as the uncertain injury status of Wes Welker, the wide receiver spot seems to be...well, uncertain. The offense relies on the athletic play and sure hands of their wide receivers, and Brady can always use more targets.

RB—The only running back in New England's backfield that's not over the age of 30 is the on-again off-again Laurence Maroney. The Patriots' patience is certainly wearing thin with his penchant for big-time fumbles inside the opponent's 5 yard line. The Patriots need a young set of quick legs to follow up Kevin Faulk upon the veterans retirement.

Without further ado, here's my revised mock draft for the New England Patriots, outlining the best case and worst case scenario picks for the first four rounds, and providing a list of prospects to look out for in the later rounds.

Round 1, pick 22

Best case scenario: Sergio Kindle, OLB, Texas

He was my best case scenario the first time around, and remains so in version 2. Most mock drafts have Graham off the board at this point, taken by one of the several teams in search of an answer at outside linebacker.

But perhaps that's a blessing in disguise. Kindle has been described by Mel Kiper Jr. as "the best stack-and-shed outside linebacker in this class." Although a handful of teams that pick before New England play the 3-4 defense, most of those teams have bigger holes to fill.

He's not the ideal prospect in terms of weight, but some time in the weight room should help fix that. He has a great frame to add bulk of 10 or more pounds. In my opinion, he's one of the top three pure pass rushers in the draft. If Kindle remains on the board, I would be shocked if New England passed on him.

Worst case scenario: Maurkice Pouncey, OL, Florida

With a lot of holes to fill on defense, I might be disappointed if the Patriots don't address that side of the ball first. One person who won't disappoint me if we select him is Pouncey.

He's a big, athletic interior offensive linemen who has played at both center and guard. 2009's top college center has all the tools to succeed in the NFL. He's a powerful run blocker who can stand up well in pass protection. His toughness is a question mark, as a few injuries have kept him out of action for a few games at a time.

With Logan Mankins' shaky contract situation and the increasing age and health concerns for Stephen Neal and Dan Koppen, Pouncey could quickly find playing time in a rotation and could be a starter fresh out of the gate.

Round 2, pick 12

Best case scenario: Damian Williams, WR, USC

Look familiar, New England fans? If only slightly...

Williams has the skill set of Anquan Boldin, but obviously not the NFL polish. He fights for the extra yards, and is fearless in making catches over the middle. He isn't the "burner" type that will blow past defenders for a long strike, but he makes up for it with exceptional skills in separation, breaking away from them with double moves and head fakes.

He can contribute on kick-offs and punt returns, which will be huge if Wes Welker is unable to come back from his knee injury. Although Williams himself had surgery in 2007 and a few minor injuries beyond then, he can be counted on to give everything he has when he's on the field.

Worst case scenario: Ricky Sapp, DE/OLB, Clemson

Sapp visited New England for a workout and interview a little over a month ago, which he said went very well. He fits the prototype, at 6'4" and 250 pounds.

Many have questioned whether he'll make a good fit in New England's 3-4 scheme, as he is yet an unproven coverage man. He does, however, defend the run much better from the edge when he has more space to work with, and he did gain some experience in a 3-4 scheme that's been passed down from the "Belichick coaching tree" branch of Nick Saban.

He also has questions about durability after a knee injury kept him sidelined in 2008. He did, however, go on to record his best totals in nearly every statistical category in 2009 on a knee that was only 60%. Imagine what he can do when he's playing full-tilt.

But imagine what happens if he re-injures that knee and never amounts to anything. That's why I have a hard time putting all my eggs in the Sapp basket. If he can stay healthy, though, Sapp would be an excellent addition to the roster.

Round 2, pick 15

Best case scenario: Tyson Alualu, DT, California

The hulking defensive tackle prospect can line up at defensive end or defensive tackle, on either side. This is the type of versatility Belichick loves to see in his players.

What's more, he plays disciplined football. He gets his hands up early to bat down oncoming passes.

His frame is perfect for the 3-4 defense, at 6'3" and 295 pounds. With many teams switching to the 3-4, the Patriots can only hope he falls this far.

Worst case scenario: Perrish Cox, CB, Oklahoma State

Of course, I had Cox as a best-case scenario at the top of the second round just over a month ago. So why the slide?

I had failed to take into account his off-the-field issues, including three kids and several run-ins with the law. This will certainly lower his stock to many teams, but the Patriots may like him at this spot. He's got first-round talent, and the Patriots haven't shied from players with character flaws in the past.

He has a nose for the big play, making 10 career interceptions and returning 6 kickoffs and punts for touchdowns in his four-year college career.

Cornerback isn't one of the biggest areas of concern for the Patriots, as they have Leigh Bodden and Darius Butler who look ready to start next season, but they could certainly use the depth with the uncertain status of Terrence Wheatley after two consecutive seasons on IR.

Round 2, pick 21

Best case scenario: Vladimir Ducasse, OT, Massachusetts

Ducasse has great size, though not the best height, for an NFL offensive linemen. He played tackle through college, but he translates to guard at the next level.

His combination of youth and athleticism would be much welcome along a line that sorely lacks both. With the uncertainties across the line as mentioned earlier, it's important for New England to be forward-thinking in the progression of their line.

He hasn't played football very long, having just come over from Haiti several years ago, but he's a great developmental prospect and will have one of the best organizations in the league nurturing his growth should New England select him.

Worst case scenario: Joe McKnight, RB, USC

McKnight was tabbed as the heir apparent to Reggie Bush at USC and never lived up to the hype.

He won't have such monumental weight put on his shoulders in New England, where his role will be a sub-Kevin Faulk, utilized more frequently in passing downs. His speed in the open field will be a great tool for Brady on screen plays and checkdowns, and he's already shown the ability to create separation from linebackers and to find the soft spot in coverage.

McKnight may not be the 100-percent ideal fit for New England's offense, as he's not an ideal pass protector due to his diminutive frame, but he would be the best outside runner on New England's roster if they draft him. With two first-round draft picks in next year's draft, the Patriots may be better off making do with what they have for now, and drafting a top-flight talent like Mark Ingram in 2011.

Round 4, pick 21

Best case scenario: Dennis Pitta, TE, Brigham Young

Pitta is a great talent who will be passed up on in the earlier rounds due to his age (25). He has a lot of talent as a receiving tight end, but has unrefined blocking skills that need a little extra attention.

He'll have veteran Alge Crumpler to learn from. Crumpler has become more of a blocking tight end and will probably be utilized in that regard, so Pitta will find his spots in passing situations.

He may not be an elite blocker at the NFL level, but he has the frame to add necessary bulk without losing too much of that athleticism. He could quickly become an impact player in receiving situations, and would be a steal in the fourth round if he falls into New England's lap.

Worst case scenario: Andre Roberts, WR, Citadel

Roberts is exactly what the Patriots look for in their slot wide receivers. At 5'11", he's not the heir apparent to Randy Moss, but he makes up for what he lacks in height with a non-stop motor and an incredible ability to create yards after the catch.

He doesn't have experience against elite college talent, which could hurt him as he transitions to the pro level, but he has the tangibles to translate with a bit more development.

Roberts is a tough, competitive player who would be a nice pick in the fourth round, if the Patriots haven't yet solved their issues at wide receiver up to this point.

Rounds 6 and 7

People always say that championship teams are built in the late rounds of the draft. The Patriots don't hold a fifth round pick, but have a bevy of sixth and seventh rounders, several of which being compensatory picks.

As always, there's a lot of underrated or unfinished talent in the late rounds, and the Patriots have seven chances to come away with a steal. With that, here are seven players that the Patriots should keep an eye on in the later rounds:

Danario Alexander, WR, Missouri—mid 6

Andre Dixon, RB, Connecticut—mid to late 6

Ciron Black, OT, LSU—mid to late 6

Hall Davis, DE, Louisiana-Lafayette—mid to late 6

Austen Lane, DE, Murray State—mid to late 7

Brent Bowden, P, Virginia Tech—late 7

Chris Chancellor, CB, Clemson—late 7