New England Patriots Mock Draft: Updated Day 3 Predictions

The New England Patriots tend to throw off the NFL media expectations at least once every draft season.  From the outside, Friday's draft session was one of the most puzzling in recent memory, as Bill Belichick and Co. appeared to reach for a pair of prospects in Stanford safety Jordan Richards and Oklahoma edge-defender Geneo Grissom.

Neither Richards nor Grissom were seen as anything more than a Day 3 possibility heading into the draft, but more importantly, the two additions don't really address the Patriots' biggest positional needs.  The value may not have been there at cornerback on Friday, but it was strange to see the Pats pass up on a plethora of offensive line, running back and wide receiver talent that fell into their laps.

But the Pats will have plenty of chances to address those concerns with seven picks in the last four rounds.  New England traded away its No. 96 overall selection at the end of Round 3 plus a seventh-rounder to the Cleveland Browns for a fourth-rounder, fifth-rounder and sixth-rounder.  Now, the Pats have a whopping five picks over the first 78 selections of Day 3, leaving them in position to control the board.

There is still plenty of high-impact talent remaining, and considering that Day 3 selection Bryan Stork was last season's most important rookie, Saturday is a must-watch for Patriots fans.  As foolhardy as predicting Belichick's plans may be, here's a look at a few prospects who could be good fits over the last four rounds.

Round 4

Pick 101: Daryl Williams, OG, Oklahoma

Guard is still New England's biggest need, regardless of whether or not the team plans to re-sign Dan Connolly in free agency.  Realistically, the Patriots will probably try to trade out of this spot, given how tightly bunched together their picks are.  The second pick of Day 3 figures to have plenty of value, so if New England can cash in for more assets, it figures to do so.

For now, let's fill that pressing interior O-line need.  I've had Williams in the third round in previous mocks, as the 6'5", 327-pound guard is a true mauler with the ability to jolt defenders at the point of attack using his powerful punch. Williams played tackle in Norman but probably needs to move inside due to inferior lateral agility and footwork.

However, that shouldn't really matter, as Williams profiles as a versatile combo-blocker capable of neutralizing defensive tackles.  His massive frame should serve him well in the more confined interior areas, as defenders won't have as much space to exploit his stiff movements.  When allowed to play in a phone booth, Williams should win consistently in both run-blocking and pass protection.

Moreover, as a high-character prospect, Williams matches the Patriots' apparent desire to accumulate a troop of collegiate leaders. Williams has the potential to start immediately or be groomed as a 2016 successor while serving as the top interior backup to Connolly, Ryan Wendell or someone else his rookie season.

Pick 111: Mike Davis, RB, South Carolina

New England passed on the wave of running back prospects who came off the board on Day 2, but that's hardly a surprise.  Apart from T.J. Yeldon and maybe David Johnson, no mid-round values went higher than expected.  A Tevin Coleman or Ameer Abdullah type may have been a nice luxury, but that kind of pick didn't fit with the Patriots' priority to beef up the front seven.

If the Pats do add to their backfield, Davis is an intriguing prospect whose stock fell after he appeared slower amid apparent conditioning issues in 2014.  His average yards per carry slipped from 5.8 his sophomore year to 4.9 last season, and the film clearly showed someone who looked like more of a plodder in 2014.

But even without elite lateral agility, the South Carolina product demonstrates a strong forward lean and power-running style that could fit well if the Pats plan on running more gap-blocking power concepts.  Davis could eventually replace LeGarrette Blount, who will turn 29 in December and see his contract expire after 2015, as the early down, between-the-tackles runner.

Given New England's Scroogian reluctance to spend on free-agent backs, it's probably a good idea to refill that pipeline.  New England used one of its predraft visits on Davis, per NFL Media's Ian Rapoport, so he could be one of the team's top offensive targets in Round 4 or 5.

Pick 131: Stefon Diggs, WR, Maryland

As the MMQB's Robert Klemko relayed, Belichick was a looming presence at Maryland's pro day earlier this month—a byproduct of his friendship with Randy Edsall.  It would thus be a little surprising to see the Patriots emerge from the draft without a Terrapin in hand.  The 6'0", 195-pound Diggs is the Terps' top prospect, and despite some size concerns, his elite hands and route-running have drawn some lofty comparisons:

"

No one in this draft class is OBJ, but looking at traits alone, the closest player to it is Stefon Diggs.

— Brandon Howard (@DashDiallo1) April 7, 2015"

No, he probably won't become Odell Beckham Jr., but Diggs has the makings of a highly productive slot receiver and yards-after-contact demon in the Patriots passing system.  Despite his size, Diggs has a larger catch radius than most diminutive receivers because of his excellent body control and ability to snag off-target passes.  Indeed, simply watching a Diggs highlight tape should get Patriots fans salivating.

There are legitimate concerns about his functional strength and ability to take punishment, as he appeared reluctant at times to run crossing routes in the face of oncoming traffic.  Still, Diggs is someone who could potentially become Danny Amendola's successor in the slot, so his stature shouldn't necessarily deter the Pats from investing in the Maryland product.

Round 5

Chris O'Meara/Associated Press

Pick 147: Martin Ifedi, DE/DT, Memphis

No, the Patriots do not need another front-seven defender.  And yes, predraft projections would suggest that this spot is a little too high for Ifedi.  But when New England targets a position in the draft, it won't apologize for pursuing the top players on its board, and Ifedi could be another sleeper who makes his way to Foxborough.

Ifedi's NFL.com profile only projects him as a seventh-rounder or undrafted free agent, noting his "slow-twitch, one-speed" movements.  But while the 6'3", 275-pounder may not possess the bend everyone looks for in defensive linemen now, Pro Football Focus' Michael Mountford highlighted Ifedi as one of the top defensive interior sleepers, noting his sneaky well-rounded production:

"

On only 255 pass-rushing snaps he recorded 38 total pressures… only 12 fewer than Leonard Williams on half the snaps. Ifedi wins with a variety of moves — he can win with quickness when lined up inside and can bull rush guards to collapse the pocket.

Ifedi was also good in the run game, but it was not as consistent as his production against the pass...Ifedi does do a lot of good in the run game by using his length to stand up blockers and then is able to come off for a play on the ball-carrier. Once he gets stronger, he could develop into a three-down player who in the right system could become a valuable piece.

"

Ifedi's frame should allow him to play a variety of techniques along the line, which would make him appealing to the Patriots and their hybrid front.  Moreover, with tree branches for arms (33 7/8"), Ifedi should be able to control smaller interior offensive linemen, allowing him to use his superior instincts to regularly shed blockers and make plays on the ball. 

Competition level is a concern, and Ifedi is another name that might have Patriots fans scratching their heads.  But the Pats are always happy to take a hard-working, intelligent player, and Ifedi would certainly fit with the theme of their 2015 draft class.

Round 6

Michael Shroyer-USA TODAY Sports

Pick 147: Jarvis Harrison, OG, Texas A&M

It's 3-for-3 for Harrison as well in these mock drafts.  The Texas A&M product played both tackle and guard at College Station, but conditioning and technique issues will likely force him inside.  Nevertheless, Harrison's combination of above-average lateral agility and solid playing intelligence makes him an intriguing late-round gamble who could be at least a utility-type backup throughout his career.

Harrison's 7.51-second three-cone drill time was fourth-best among guards at the scouting combine, a surprising number for the 6'4", 330-pound prospect.  Harrison should excel in power or zone schemes, as he was often asked to pull and down-block in the Aggies' spread scheme.

But Harrison is also extremely inconsistent with his hands and often bends at the hips, possibly a byproduct of his poor conditioning.  According to Lance Zierlein of NFL.com, Harrison missed the first two games of the 2014 season while rounding into shape.  That's a significant red flag that pushes his mid-round talent into the late rounds, though he did appear well-prepared for the combine based on his numbers from Indianapolis.

Harrison might go off the board a bit earlier than this if a team buys into his commitment for the game.  One would figure that the Patriots have a plan in place for some late-round guard prospects given that they've passed on the position so far, and Harrison could be one buy-low prospect who challenges for a spot in the starting lineup next year.

 

Pick 202: Darryl Roberts, CB, Marshall

I've had Troy Hill as New England's late-round cornerback gamble the past two mocks, but on further consideration, it might not make much sense to take someone with Hill's domestic violence history in today's NFL culture.  With excellent depth at the position this year, the Pats could get a similarly talented sleeper late in the draft who comes without the off-field concerns.

Marshall's Roberts is one such player.  Though a bit lanky at 6'0" and 182 pounds, Roberts shows excellent quick-twitch agility and the ability to mirror routes, making him a potential successor to Kyle Arrington in the slot.  This spot might be unrealistic; though Roberts has largely been off the radar during the predraft process, draftniks believe he could rise into the earlier Day 3 rounds:

"

Mel Kiper thinks Marshall CB Darryl Roberts could possibly climb into 5th-6th round. 40-yard dash times stood out.

— Derek Redd (@derekredd) April 21, 2015"

The Pats did visit with Roberts before the draft, according to NEPatriotsDraft.com's Mike Loyko, so the Marshall product is a name to watch in terms of late-round defensive backs.  Regardless of whether or not New England addresses the corner spot earlier on Saturday, a double-dip with Roberts might be a smart idea to rebuild the pipeline.

Round 7

Pick 253: Joe Cardona, LS, Navy

Cardona is one player who I'll stick with in every rendition of this mock draft.  Long snapper is arguably New England's biggest need on special teams, with the possible exception of kick returner.  Pro Football Focus gave 2014 snapper Danny Aiken a putrid minus-14.5 grade, so it seems reasonable to expect the Pats to upgrade

The Navy product is likely the top candidate to succeed Aiken given Belichick's connections to Annapolis through his father, Steve, who scouted and coached there for 33 years.  However, as the  Journal Sentinel's Bob McGinn relayed from a pair of special teams coaches that Cardona's mandatory two-year service time could throw a wrench into his draftable profile:

"

Right now it doesn't look like he'd be able to play this year or next year.  He'd come to training camp while he's on leave from the Navy and do that for a couple years. Then his third year try to get reinstated to play.

Even if they give him a waiver, they can call him at any time.  They could call him right in the middle of the season and all of a sudden you lose your guy.

"

The Patriots have previously taken fliers on Midshipman Eric Kettani, but that two-year service requirement would force them to find an interim solution if they don't keep Aiken.  Still, Cardona could go on the reserve/military list and potentially return to compete for a core special teams role, making this a decent stash pick.

*All measurables and combine stats via NFL.com.