New England Patriots Mock Draft: 7-Round Predictions, Post-Combine
The New England Patriots are one of the most unpredictable teams in the league when it comes time for the NFL draft. They are always making trades, and they are always picking surprise prospects.
Never mind the fact that they end up selecting a player who wasn't at the scouting combine nearly every year, they are simply looking for that all-important "value" above all else.
The Patriots' draft board probably didn't change a whole lot with the scouting combine now in the books, but now seems like as good a time as any to go back and look over some of the Patriots' possibilities in the draft.
Round 1: A.J. Cann, OG, South Carolina
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Not only have the Patriots been speaking to many of the draft's top interior offensive linemen, but if you needed further proof of South Carolina guard A.J. Cann's fit and viability as a Patriots first-round pick, look no further than CBSSports.com's Dane Brugler and Rob Rang comparing Cann to New Orleans Saints guard Ben Grubbs.
"Much like Grubbs, Cann doesn't have one elite trait that he uses to dominate defenders, but he has the steady consistency across the board to be a long-term starter."
Cann was also a team captain for the Gamecocks in his final two years at South Carolina, a strong indication of his leadership qualities. That being said, he does not have the quickness to get out in front of plays as a pulling guard, and he does not have the versatility the Patriots typically look for in their offensive linemen, having played exclusively left guard in college.
If the Patriots stand pat with the 32nd overall pick, Cann would be a good fit for the interior of their line, but they would need to know that he can be developed in terms of his ability to block in space.
Round 2: Danielle Hunter, DE, LSU
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The Patriots desperately need depth on the edge, where Chandler Jones and Rob Ninkovich have played entirely too many snaps over the past few seasons.
When it comes to finding situational pass-rushers in the NFL draft, the Patriots haven't had a whole lot of success in recent years, with the likes of Jermaine Cunningham, Shawn Crable and Markell Carter making brief stops in Foxborough.
That being said, Hunter has all the physical tools to be a solid edge defender in the NFL. With long arms and freakish athleticism, he has the look of a high-ceiling defensive end.
NFL.com draft analyst Lance Zierlein put it differently, saying, "Hunter's floor is high thanks to his overwhelming physical traits and motor, but his ceiling will only go as high as the level of coaching he is able to incorporate."
With coaching from Bill Belichick and mentoring from Jones and Ninkovich, Hunter should have no problem realizing his ceiling.
Round 3: Duke Johnson, RB, Miami
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With Shane Vereen and Stevan Ridley both set to hit the open market this offseason, look for the Patriots to take a shot at the board at a running back in the NFL draft.
One of those backs could be Miami's Duke Johnson, who has a skill set similar to Vereen's in that he can serve as a "scat back" on passing downs to assist in protection and provide an outlet for catch-and-run opportunities in the open field. Johnson caught 38 passes for 421 yards and three touchdowns in 2014.
CBSSports.com's Rob Rang drew a lofty comparison between Johnson and Philadelphia Eagles running back LeSean McCoy, citing his impressive burst and jump-cut ability as similar to McCoy's. Johnson even has the ability to split out wide as a receiver and thus should be considered a great candidate to slot into Vereen's spot if the former second-round pick departs for another team in free agency.
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Round 4: Tyler Kroft, TE, Rutgers
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Insert your choice of Rutgers jokes here. Call the Patriots the New England Scarlet Knights, or the Rutgers Patriots or whatever else you may have up your sleeve.
The bottom line here: Tight end Tyler Kroft fills a need for the Patriots at tight end. He is more of an H-back/"move"/"Joker" tight end than a true in-line tight end, but he has sure hands and impressive quickness to get away from defenders in the open field and get open in short spaces. NFL.com's Lance Zierlein compared him to Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce:
"Tall, athletic tight end with the frame to add more muscle and the athleticism to get open in space. Kroft is an aggressive blocker who can help the running game win on the edges, but he also possesses the quickness to get open in space and make a play after the catch. Kroft's size, athleticism and competitiveness as a blocker make him a scheme fit for most offenses and he could be one of the top tight ends to come from this draft class.
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With tight end Tim Wright on the roster, the Patriots' need for a pass-catching tight end isn't as great, but their depth was not tested at that position this season, as Rob Gronkowski stayed fully healthy for the first time since his rookie season.
Round 4: Ty Montgomery, WR, Stanford
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The Patriots have not had a great deal of luck drafting wide receivers over the years, but they need to keep taking shots at the board.
Stanford wide receiver Ty Montgomery may not be a polished product right out of the box, but the 6'2", 220-pound pass-catcher has the kind of traits that could make him an asset to the Patriots offense. With his combination of size and speed, he could immediately provide an outside-the-numbers presence to put opposite Brandon LaFell.
NFL.com's Lance Zierlein compared Montgomery to Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Cordarrelle Patterson for his high-upside athleticism and the uncertainty of his NFL projection:
"Montgomery is a likable person with high character and an ability to leave a positive impression in draft interviews, but teams will still have to figure out how they want to use him. His hands might not be trustworthy enough to be part of a three-wide-receiver set. Montgomery can flip fields and change games with his ability in the return game and might be best-utilized in a dynamic, open-minded offensive system that gets the ball in his hands quickly and allows him to use his run after catch talents.
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Montgomery's stock may have gone up a bit with a strong showing at the combine, but he would be a good value to the Patriots in the fourth round.
Round 6: Michael Dyer, RB, Louisville
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The Patriots double-dipped on running backs in the second and third round in the 2011 NFL draft with Vereen and Ridley. With both men set to hit the open market, now seems as good a time as any to repeat the process of adding multiple running backs to the depth chart in one draft.
Dyer may not possess great straight-line speed, but he is a tough-nosed runner who will take advantage of the holes that are in front of him. Dyer's skill set, as described by NFL.com's Lance Zierlein, bears many similarities to Ridley's:
"Productive college runner who gives a good, honest effort each time out, but he's dependent upon scheme and strong blocking to help him get yardage. Dyer lacks the athleticism and speed to be an explosive NFL threat and, with very little on his resume as a pass-catcher, making a roster could be a challenge.
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If Ridley leaves the fold as a free agent, Dyer would be a great option to plug in as a between-the-tackles runner to provide some competition for Jonas Gray and LeGarrette Blount in training camp.
Round 7: Bobby McCain, CB, Memphis
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When it comes to late-round draft picks, one thing you can always count on is that the Patriots will search for players with special teams value.
That's what makes Memphis cornerback Bobby McCain an intriguing prospect in the seventh round. It's not necessarily his ability in the slot and as a versatile cornerback in man and zone coverage, but also his abilities in the return game, where he averaged 25.3 yards per return in his college career.
He may lack the ideal frame at 5'11" and 195 pounds, but NFL.com's Lance Zierlein compares him to San Diego Chargers cornerback Steve Williams and explains why McCain's skills may help him trump his size disadvantage:
"Undersized slot corner with instincts to anticipate and the twitch and ball skills to do something about it. Much more comfortable processing and attacking from an off position and loses effectiveness when forced to play with his back to the ball. His 19 passes defensed and 11 interceptions over his last 22 starts are indicative of his athleticism and talent to play on the next level but he could be scheme dependent.
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McCain will likely be a seventh-round pick or a priority free agent, but if the Patriots want to ensure he lands on their roster, they'd better be willing to use a draft pick.
Unless otherwise noted, all scouting information obtained via NFL.com and CBSSports.com.
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