New England Patriots' Initial 7-Round Mock Draft Post-Super Bowl

The New England Patriots are Super Bowl LI champions, beating the Atlanta Falcons 34-28 in overtime on Sunday. This marks the fifth time the franchise has won the NFL's biggest prize under the guidance of Bill Belichick and quarterback Tom Brady.

What ended up being the greatest comeback in Super Bowl history became a fitting exclamation point on the latest football dynasty.

If you know anything about the Patriots franchise, though, you know that this team isn't simply going to rest on its laurels. Free agency and the draft are right around the corner, and you can bet that New England is ready to dive right into the fray.

"As of today, and as great as today feels and as great as today is, in all honesty we're five weeks behind in the 2017 season to most teams in the league," Belichick said Monday, per NFL.com's Chase Goodbread.

The Patriots want another ring, so it's time for them to look ahead.

We're going to look ahead to the NFL draft. We'll run down New England's draft picks and make our predictions for each round based on factors like players' projected potential, team fit and team needs.

Round 1 (32nd Overall)

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Wisconsin linebacker T.J. Watt could help strengthen New England's linebacker corps.

T.J. Watt, LB, Wisconsin

When the Patriots traded away linebacker Jamie Collins during the season, they did so for a couple of reasons. They weren't interested in paying him a hefty contract after the season, but it seems they were also looking to strengthen their linebacker group by removing his tendency to freelance.

Yet moving Collins also meant a loss of athletic and playmaking talent in the middle of the defense. Sure, New England won the Super Bowl without it, but adding another athletic and versatile linebacker should be a priority.

This is where Wisconsin linebacker T.J. Watt comes in. The younger brother of J.J. Watt has the ability to play both inside and outside, rush the passer and set the edge against the run.

In 2016, Watt produced 63 total tackles, 11.5 sacks, 15.5 tackles for a loss, four passes defended and an interception. Pro Football Focus (PFF College) rated Watt sixth overall among 3-4 outside linebackers for the 2016 season.

In New England, Watt could be moved around the formation and utilized as a pass-rusher and against the run.

Round 2 (64th Overall)

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Adding a player like Temple's Dion Dawkins could help strengthen the line in front of Tom Brady.

Dion Dawkins, OT, Temple

The Patriots didn't have one of the worst offensive lines in the NFL last season, but upgrading the pass blocking for Brady should always be a goal. As a team, New England was rated ninth by Pro Football Focus in pass blocking, so there is room for improvement.

Temple offensive tackle Dion Dawkins is a guy who could provide both depth and versatility along the offensive line. The 6'5", 320-pound Dawkins is a mammoth offensive lineman who some scouts believe could also play guard at the pro level.

Pro Football Focus rated Dawkins 19th overall among offensive tackles this past season. That's nearly 500 spots higher than Alabama's Cam Robinson, a guy many believe is the top tackle in the draft.

One thing that could endear Dawkins to the Patriots is his willingness to be coached.

"If I buy into my coaching and everything that [coaches are] telling me 100 percent, then I should have the outcome that they are preaching," Dawkins said, per Bob Morrison of 247Sports.

Dawkins already sounds like a player willing to buy into the Patriots Way.

Round 3 (96th Overall)

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Oklahoma State's Vincent Taylor could help strengthen New England's defensive front.

Vincent Taylor, DT, Oklahoma State

Because he didn't play for one of the premier college programs, defensive tackle Vincent Taylor hasn't been widely praised coming into the draft. However, he is a tremendous talent at the tackle position and would fit in perfectly along New England's defensive front. 

At 6'3" and 310 pounds, Taylor has the size to be a space-eater in the middle of the line. Yet he also has enough burst and athleticism to get after ball-carriers and quarterbacks on his own. In 2016, he racked up an impressive 51 tackles, seven sacks and 13 tackles for a loss.

Pro Football Focus rated Taylor second overall among collegiate defensive tackles in 2016.

Brady dealt with interior pressure in the form of Falcons defensive tackle Grady Jarrett during Super Bowl LI. Therefore, the Patriots know what kind of advantage an athletic interior lineman like Taylor can provide.

Round 3 (Compensatory Pick from Cleveland)

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FAYETTEVILLE, AR - NOVEMBER 12: Kendell Beckwith #52 of the LSU Tigers on the field during a game against the Arkansas Razorbacks at Razorback Stadium on November 12, 2016 in Fayetteville, Arkansas. The Tigers defeated the Razorbacks 38-10. (Photo by W

Kendell Beckwith, ILB, LSU

This is the pick the Patriots received from the Cleveland Browns in exchange for Collins. If the Browns receive a third-round compensatory pick this offseason, that will be the pick the Patriots end up with. Therefore, we're counting this as a third-rounder, even though it's subject to change.

Here, we're going to look at another player who could help replace the spot left by Collins in the linebacker group—LSU inside linebacker Kendell Beckwith.

While Collins played both inside and outside in New England's scheme, Beckwith projects as primarily an inside player. At 6'3" and 247 pounds, he has adequate size for this spot with the athleticism to boot. In 10 games this past season, Beckwith produced 91 total tackles, six tackles for a loss, a sack and four passes defended. Pro Football Focus rated him 92nd overall among linebackers for the 2016 season.

Beckwith would almost certainly be a higher pick if healthy. However, he is coming off a torn ACL suffered back in November. If the Patriots are willing to be patient with him, though, they could get themselves one heck of a steal.

Round 4 (120th Overall)

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Donnel Pumphrey may be undersized, but the Patriots would likely love his athleticism.

Donnel Pumphrey, RB, San Diego State

The Patriots have a history of utilizing unconventional running backs. They also have a history of drafting athletically gifted players regardless of position and then finding roles for them later. These are both reasons why the Patriots could be enticed by undersized running back Donnel Pumphrey.

Pumphrey rushed for a whopping 2,133 yards and 17 touchdowns in 2016. He also added 27 receptions for 231 yards. Yet his size (5'8", 170 lbs) is likely to keep him from being one of the top backs selected in this year's draft.

If Pumphrey is available in the middle of the draft, though, it would make sense for the Patriots to snag him. His speed and agility make him a perfect fit for the Patriots offense in that James White/Dion Lewis mold.

Size won't matter nearly as much as Pumphrey's ability to produce.

"He just needs to keep doing what he's done," Browns head coach Hue Jackson, who coached Pumphrey in the Senior Bowl, said, per Creg Stephenson of AL.com. "He's been sensational, as you can see. He's made a lot of plays. I know a lot of people would talk about his stature, but he's tough, he knows how to play."

Round 5 (146th Overall)

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Florida State's Marquez White could add depth to the New England secondary.

Marquez White, DB, Florida State

The Patriots already have a solid secondary that's rated first in pass coverage by Pro Football Focus. However, it never hurts to add depth to the back end of a defense. Florida State defensive back Marquez White is the type of player who could provide it.

Despite coming out of a premier program like Florida State, White isn't the most highly regarded prospect. He lacks finesse in coverage, and he sometimes struggled with bigger receivers. However, he is a tall and rangy defender (6'0", 190 lbs) who could match up against taller pass-catchers and perform on special teams.

The Patriots saw plenty of tall receivers with range in Super Bowl LI, and while White might struggle with them physically, he could help defend against them in jump-ball situations.

White could likely use some coaching up at the NFL level and would probably be a depth player and special teamer to start his career. However, this is the type of defensive back teams are looking to take on Day 3.

White, who had 25 tackles, four passes defended and two interceptions in 2016, has upside. If New England feels it can develop that upside, White could be a smart pick in the fifth round.

Round 7 (210th Overall)

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Akron's Jerome Lane has the size that many current Patriots receivers lack.

Jerome Lane, WR, Akron

When teams are picking players in the seventh round, they're usually looking for developmental prospects, small-school steals or special teams contributors. Akron wideout Jerome Lane could be all three of these things for the Patriots.

At roughly 6'3" and 220 pounds, Lane has the size of a prototypical outside NFL receiver. It's the type of size that wideouts on the Patriots roster lack.

The Patriots would almost certainly like the idea that Lane is willing to embrace his role as an unheralded player.

"I love being the underdog because when you come out, your talents begin to shine," Lane recently said, per Russell Brown of NFL Mocks.

While an unheralded prospect, Lane had production at Akron, racking up 1,018 yards and six touchdowns on 62 receptions last season. However, he is raw and could use some refining at the pro level. He could do this in New England while also contributing as a special teamer in the mold of Matthew Slater.