New England Patriots' Last-Minute 7-Round Mock Draft and Top-100 Big Board

The 2016 NFL draft is finally here, but the New England Patriots must sit in the corner on timeout as the other 31 teams have all the fun in the first round. When the time comes, though, the Patriots will be having more fun than most teams in the draft, with 11 picks total in the seven rounds of action.

With two second-round picks, two third-round picks, five sixth-round picks and two seventh-round picks, the Patriots hold a ton of draft capital to move about the board as they see fit. 

Those picks can be used any number of ways, but the Patriots' needs by now are clear: offensive tackle, cornerback, linebacker, defensive tackle and running back (in no particular order, because the order is debatable and irrelevant to the Patriots' strategy). 

It's not out of the ordinary for the Patriots to be major chip-holders during the draft. The Patriots have selected an average of nine players per year under head coach Bill Belichick and have drafted 10 or more players three times in the past seven drafts (2009-15). The Patriots also love to move around the board, with 54 draft-day trades in 16 years under Belichick compared to 24 in 16 years prior, according to Mike Reiss of ESPN.

With that in mind, it's almost futile to even attempt to guess what the Patriots might do in the draft. That said, perhaps we can project which players they'll be targeting. In the slides that follow, you'll get both a straight ranking of the players that best fit the Patriots, as well as one last crack at a mock draft, with help from FanSpeak.com and a big board provided by Bleacher Report's Matt Miller. 

Top-100 Big Board

Jeff Haynes/Associated Press

Thanks to the NFL's punishment for Deflategate, the Patriots are without a first-round pick, which adds another challenge to the already-difficult exercise of assembling a Patriots-based big board.

Why bother listing players who won't even be available when the Patriots go on the clock in the second round? What about the possibility that they could package some of their 11 picks to move up in the second round for a prospect that's just out of reach? These are both possibilities, and the Patriots certainly won't automatically write off the 59 best players in the draft.

Bearing in mind that the Patriots could move up to get a player that might be considered off their radar, here's a look at the top 100 players the Patriots should be targeting, ranked in order from 1-100 based on ability, scheme fit, position and off-field factors (criminal record, health record, etc.).

New England Patriots Big Board

Rank	Player	Position	School
1	Le'Raven Clark	OT	Texas Tech
2	Artie Burns	CB	Miami (Fla.)
3	Chris Jones	DT	Mississippi State
4	Jordan Jenkins	OLB	Georgia
5	Austin Johnson	DT	Penn State
6	Tyler Boyd	WR	Pittsburgh
7	Michael Thomas	WR	Ohio State
8	Kenneth Dixon	RB	Louisiana Tech
9	Jason Spriggs	OT	Indiana
10	Sterling Shepard	WR	Oklahoma
11	Cyrus Jones	CB	Alabama
12	Joshua Garnett	OG	Stanford
13	Alex Collins	RB	Arkansas
14	Leonte Carroo	WR	Rutgers
15	Karl Joseph	SS	West Virginia
16	Shon Coleman	OT	Auburn
17	D.J. White	CB	Georgia Tech
18	Pharoh Cooper	WR	South Carolina
19	Jordan Howard	RB	Indiana
20	Adolphus Washington	DT	Ohio State
21	Harlan Miller	CB	Southeastern Louisiana
22	Vadal Alexander	OG	LSU
23	Joshua Perry	OLB	Ohio State
24	Sean Davis	DB	Maryland
25	Sheldon Day	DT	Notre Dame
26	Devontae Booker	RB	Utah
27	Vonn Bell	SS	Ohio State
28	Willie Beavers	OT	Western Michigan
29	Hassan Ridgeway	DT	Texas
30	Kendall Fuller	CB	Virginia Tech
31	Jake McGee	TE	Florida
32	Christian Westerman	OG	Arizona State
33	Kenny Clark	DT	UCLA
34	Kenyan Drake	RB	Alabama
35	Braxton Miller	WR	Ohio State
36	Juston Burris	CB	North Carolina State
37	Landon Turner	OG	North Carolina
38	C.J. Prosise	RB	Notre Dame
39	Willie Henry	DT	Michigan
40	Nelson Spruce	WR	Colorado
41	Javon Hargrave	DT	South Carolina State
42	Maliek Collins	DT	Nebraska
43	Malcolm Mitchell	WR	Georgia
44	Charles Tapper	DE	Oklahoma
45	Carl Nassib	DE	Penn State
46	Germain Ifedi	OT	Texas A&M
47	Devon Cajuste	WR	Stanford
48	Ricardo Louis	WR	Auburn
49	Keenan Reynolds	RB	Navy
50	Justin Simmons	FS	Boston College
51	Hunter Henry	TE	Arkansas
52	Matthew Ioannidis	DT	Temple
53	Theiren Cockran	DE	Minnesota
54	Connor McGovern	OG	Missouri
55	Joel Heath	DT	Michigan State
56	Aaron Burbridge	WR	Michigan State
57	Rees Odhiambo	OG	Boise State
58	Roy Robertson-Harris	DE	Texas-El Paso
59	Jihad Ward	DE	Illinois
60	Glenn Gronkowski	FB	Kansas State
61	Blake Martinez	ILB	Stanford
62	Steve Longa	OLB	Rutgers
63	Jhurell Pressley	RB	New Mexico
64	Caleb Benenoch	OT	UCLA
65	Anthony Zettel	DT	Penn State
66	Jordan Payton	WR	UCLA
67	Austin Hooper	TE	Stanford
68	Keyarris Garrett	WR	Tulsa
69	Kyler Fackrell	OLB	Utah State
70	Jonathan Williams	RB	Arkansas
71	Travis Feeney	OLB	Washington
72	Nick Vigil	OLB	Utah State
73	Devon Johnson	RB	Marshall
74	K.J. Dillon	SS	West Virginia
75	Bronson Kaufusi	DE	Brigham Young
76	Paul Perkins	RB	UCLA
77	Ufomba Kamalu	DE	Miami (Fla.)
78	KeiVarae Russell	CB	Notre Dame
79	B.J. Goodson	LB	Clemson
80	Adam Gotsis	DT	Georgia Tech
81	Tyler Higbbee	TE	Western Kentucky
82	Jerald Hawkins	OT	LSU
83	Tavon Young	CB	Temple
84	Sebastian Tretola	OG	Arkansas
85	Brandon Wilds	RB	South Carolina
86	Will Redmond	CB	Mississippi State
87	Darrell Green	OG	San Diego State
88	Roger Lewis	WR	Bowling Green
89	DeAndre Houston-Carson	FS	William & Mary
90	Joe Haeg	OT	North Dakota State
91	Dean Lowry	DE	Northwestern
92	Zack Sanchez	CB	Oklahoma
93	Lawrence Thomas	DE	Michigan
94	David Morgan	TE	Texas-San Antonio
95	Cole Toner	OT	Harvard
96	Ben Braunecker	TE	Harvard
97	De'Vante Harris	CB	Texas A&M
98	Joe Dahl	OG	Washington State
99	Kevin Peterson	CB	Oklahoma State
100	Chris Brown	WR	Notre Dame

Round 2

Associated Press

Kenneth Dixon (28) is exactly the kind of versatile running back the Patriots love.

Round 2, Pick 60: DT Austin Johnson, Penn State

There are several talented defensive linemen who could be available to the Patriots in the second round, and with the departure of Dominique Easley, the Patriots could arguably be in search of a starter at the position.

Penn State’s Austin Johnson was part of the final recruiting class of former Belichick protégé Bill O’Brien. The 6’4”, 314-pound defensive tackle has the look of an ideal nose tackle for a 3-4 defense, and although the Patriots already signed Terrance Knighton for a similar role, they may need to groom an heir if Knighton isn’t a fit for the two-gap scheme.

As pointed out by NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein, Johnson excels at holding his ground against double-teams, and he also has enough quickness to beat blocks and get into the backfield. When it comes to his Patriots fit, he has the requisite football awareness for the job with an ability to sniff out screen passes and shotgun handoffs.

He has the right size for any spot along a 3-4 defensive line, plus either of the interior spots in a 4-3, and would be worth a pick in the second round—if only to develop for a year before taking over a starting job.

Round 2, Pick 61: RB Kenneth Dixon, Louisiana Tech

I kept one selection the same in all three mock drafts I’ve done so far: Kenneth Dixon is always a pick in the second round. And why not? The running back position is one spot where the Patriots could arguably use an infusion of starting-caliber talent, what with both LeGarrette Blount and Dion Lewis rehabbing from season-ending injuries.

Dixon finished his career as Louisiana Tech’s leading rusher (802 attempts, 4,483 rushing yards, 72 rushing touchdowns), but he also demonstrated versatility to contribute in the passing game by finishing his career as one of the top 20 receivers in school history (87 receptions, 969 yards, 15 receiving touchdowns). That’s exactly the kind of versatility the Patriots need in their backfield right now, with a group that is divided between several scatbacks and one between-the-tackles hammer. All he needs is to prove his value as a pass-blocker, where he still must show improvement.

The 5’10”, 215-pound running back has demonstrated the vision and quickness to weave through traffic but also the toughness to lower his shoulder and pick up extra yards when he’s being tackled. That said, he needs to improve on his ball security after fumbling 13 times since 2013. If the Patriots feel he can cure his fumblitis, Dixon would be a smart second-round choice for his versatility.

Round 3

Associated Press

Jason Spriggs (78) has the potential to be the right tackle of the future for the Patriots.

Round 3, Pick 91: OT Jason Spriggs, Indiana

Jason Spriggs has been projected as a first- or second-round pick by websites such as CBSSports.com and NFL.com, so it’s a little surprising to see him available this late using Matt Miller’s big board. The Patriots are in sore need of depth at tackle, though, so you’ll hear no complaints from Gillette Stadium.

The 6’6”, 301-pound Indiana product sports 34” arms, long enough to keep pass-rushers from getting inside his chest to knock him off the ball. He’s also quite the athlete and finished in the top five in the 40-yard dash (4.94 seconds), bench press (31 reps at 225 pounds), broad jump (11’7”) and 20-yard shuttle (4.44 seconds). Still, he could improve his play strength, which could be a huge detriment against much stronger defensive linemen than the ones he saw even in the Big Ten.

Given his strengths, weaknesses, and characteristics, it’s not a surprise to see CBS Sports’ Dane Brugler and Rob Rang compare him to Patriots left tackle Nate Solder. Imagine having two Solders on the outside of the offensive line. That’s what the Patriots could have in a couple of years, if they draft Spriggs to be a top backup and eventual replacement to Sebastian Vollmer on the right.  

Round 3, Pick 96: CB Cyrus Jones, Alabama

Never mind the fact that Belichick knows what he’s getting when he drafts an Alabama product. Notwithstanding the Patriots head coach’s long-standing connection with Alabama head coach Nick Saban, Cyrus Jones would be a prime prospect for consideration to the Patriots.

If Jones were suited up next to Malcolm Butler and Logan Ryan, it might be hard to tell the difference between the three cornerbacks. All three are slightly undersized, with Jones standing 5’10” and 197 pounds, but all three make up for their lack of dimensions with an even bigger fight and determination.

He has the blend of traits the Patriots value in their cornerbacks: athleticism and competitiveness to hang with receivers in man coverage, awareness and reaction quickness to be in position in zone coverage, and toughness and willingness to contribute in run support. He may need some fine-tuning in zone coverage, but with his ability to pitch in on special teams  (14 career kick returns, 327 yards; 12 punt returns, 143 yards), there’s plenty of value in Jones’ versatility.

Round 6

Marcio Jose Sanchez/Associated Press/Associated Press

Jordan Payton has the size to be a boundary receiver in the NFL.

Round 6, Pick 196: WR Jordan Payton, UCLA

Even after signing Chris Hogan and Nate Washington, the Patriots could still consider drafting another wide receiver. In the sixth round, UCLA wide receiver Jordan Payton would be worth a flier.

If the Patriots are shifting to a two-tight end offense, they need a big-bodied receiver on the boundary—not necessarily a “deep threat,” but someone who can win one-on-one matchups on the outside, make quick cuts and also block downfield. Payton isn’t quite the perfect Patriots wide receiver, but he has a lot of the tools they need.

At 6’1” and 207 pounds, Payton has enough size to line up on the outside, and he earned plaudits from Zierlein for his blocking ability. Where he gets negative reviews, however, is for his lack of long speed and quickness to shake man coverage. He’s not going to win many contested catches, but he will catch the balls he’s supposed to catch, and he has enough route-running savvy to compensate for a lack of quicks.

Round 6, Pick 204: OLB Travis Feeney, Washington

Positional versatility is one of the most valuable assets a player can possess in the eyes of the Patriots. Washington linebacker Travis Feeney has plenty of flexibility, and his future could go any number of directions, depending on how a team views him.

Feeney was once a safety, but he switched to linebacker during fall camp of his redshirt year, according to CBS Sports’ Rob Rang. He has tried to adjust his frame to his new position, but at 6’4” and 230 pounds, he may be better suited for the safety position.

Whether he lines up at linebacker or safety, the Patriots would have an impressive set of skills to mold any way they see fit. He ran a 4.5-second 40-yard dash and posted a 40-inch vertical jump and 10'10" broad jump, all among the five best for a linebacker. How those would have ranked among safeties, however, is a different story.

They can figure out whether to play him at linebacker or safety in time. Meanwhile, if they can find a role for him on special teams, he’ll have an opportunity to hone his skills and become more than just a role player.

Round 6, Pick 208: CB Tavon Young, Temple

With shaky depth at cornerback, it wouldn’t be foolish for the Patriots to take more than one cornerback to help provide more competition for roster spots. After using a second-round pick on Cyrus Jones, the Patriots would hope to have filled their need for a third cornerback. But what about a fourth and fifth cornerback in the event of an injury?

Temple cornerback Tavon Young has a chance to compete for a spot due not only to his ball skills and awareness at cornerback but also due to his speed to fly downfield and make tackles on special teams. The 5’9”, 183-pound cornerback may be short on size, but he’s big on competitiveness and will fight to knock a ball loose when it arrives.

NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein projects Young as a fourth- or fifth-round pick, and CBS Sports’ Jamie Newberg and Dane Brugler project him as a fringe fifth-/sixth-round draft pick. So if he’s still available in the sixth round, the value might be too good for the Patriots to pass up.

Round 6, Pick 214: TE David Morgan, Texas-San Antonio

As the tight end position becomes more important with the Patriots switching to a two-tight end offense, the need for depth increases as well. The Patriots have some depth at tight end to complement Rob Gronkowski between Martellus Bennett and Clay Harbor, but they’ve carried as many as four tight ends into a season in the past.

At 6’4” and 262 pounds, Texas-San Antonio’s David Morgan is closer to a true in-line tight end than an H-back/”move”/”Joker” tight end, which is perfect for an offense that appears more committed to two true tight ends rather than a tight-end-in-name-only (a la Aaron Hernandez).

Morgan has the tools in size and strength to be a good blocker, but he also understands leverage and movement in the blocking game. He isn’t the quickest tight end, but he makes up for it with great body control (as a former basketball player) to make contested catches when necessary.

Round 6, Pick 221: DE Anthony Zettel, Penn State

Originally, this pick was Shawn Oakman, until I learned of his sexual assault charge—which brings him from a fringe sixth-round prospect to an undraftable one. So I called an audible by replacing Oakman with another player on my board, who had either been selected after the Patriots’ final pick or not selected at all.

Penn State defensive lineman Anthony Zettel has interesting dimensions at 6’4” and 277 pounds, but he’s not quite as long as some teams might like with just 31.1” arms. 

It might be difficult for the Patriots to find Zettel’s perfect positional fit, but he was highly productive at college, and the Patriots might be able to move him around in ways that make use of his talents. 

Round 7

Chris Tilley/Associated Press

Devon Johnson (47) could be a solid between-the-tackles addition to the Patriots' backfield.

Round 7, Pick 243: RB Devon Johnson, Marshall

In this mock-draft scenario, the Patriots got a jack-of-all-trades running back in the second round. Now, it’s time to get a master-of-one-trade running back. LeGarrette Blount will be a free agent next year, and the Patriots might need an option on first and second down when that time comes. What's more, we've yet to see how he recovers from the season-ending hip injury that cut his 2015 campaign short.

Marshall running back Devon Johnson is a load at 6’0” and 238 pounds, with the vision, power and burst to run hard between the tackles. Johnson didn’t catch many passes out of the backfield in his four years at Marshall, with just 27 receptions; but when he did, he made big plays, totaling 423 yards and six touchdowns. He has experience at tight end, as well, and was originally recruited to play there. It’s no surprise, then, that he also showed a great willingness and ability to block.

According to CBS Sports’ Dane Brugler, Johnson could also “draw interest from teams as a possible convert to fullback or H-back.” The Patriots love players that can be moved around the offense to create different kinds of matchups, and if they see any of that potential in Johnson, he’s certainly going to be on their radar.

Round 7, Pick 250: CB De'Vante Harris, Texas A&M

As the draft gets into the later rounds, the Patriots will begin to look more and more for players who have a chance to make the roster at their position. With a shaky depth chart at cornerback, it’s entirely possible that they could double-dip in the defensive backfield on Day 3.

De’Vante Harris showed great quickness, instincts, and ball skills in his career at Texas A&M. At 5’11” and 176 pounds, Harris is a wiry cornerback who is not the ideal physical specimen for the position at the pro level. He also has short arms at just 30.5” and might be limited to a zone scheme in the NFL.

That said, he’s “smart and instinctive,” in the words of NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein. If there’s one thing the Patriots love in any draft prospect, it’s football intelligence.

A few months in an NFL strength and conditioning program could add some muscle to his frame, which might also improve his ability to tackle more consistently. In the seventh round, his intelligence and quickness are worth a flier.