Patriots Draft Picks 2017: Results, Grades and Analysis for Each Selection

Matt Rourke/Associated Press

After months of waiting, fans finally have the 2017 NFL Draft at their doorstep. The first round is set to kick off Thursday night at 8 p.m. ET.

For the New England Patriots, this draft is about filling in the cracks of an already championship-caliber roster. The Patriots have already added several notable pieces this offseason—including wideout Brandin Cooks, cornerback Stephon Gilmore and defensive end Kony Ealy.

Of course, some of these moves reduced the capital the Patriots enter the draft with. Trades for Cooks and Ealy left New England without selections in the first or second round. Of course, this doesn't mean the Patriots won't find starters or future stars in the draft.

Finding value in the middle and late rounds is often what the Patriots do best—Tom Brady was a sixth-round pick, Julian Edelman a seventh-rounder and Malcolm Butler was an undrafted free agent. Is there another superstar talent hiding in New England's 2017 draft haul? We'll try to figure that out as the draft unfolds.

We'll be here to analyze and grade each New England draft pick in real time up to the final selection in the draft, so be sure to check back in after each round.

Round 3 (83rd Overall): Derek Rivers, DE, Youngstown State

I've had pass-rusher as one of the Patriots' top draft needs for the entire offseason. Why? Because the team managed just 34 sacks and were rated 24th in pass-rushing by Pro Football Focus last season.

New England waited until the third round to make their first pick, but they still managed to get their pass-rusher in Youngstown State's Derek Rivers. Even better, the Patriots managed to trade down with the Tennessee Titans—turning a sixth-rounder into a fourth-rounder.

New England still aces the pick.

At 6'4" and 248 pounds, Rivers is a versatile edge-rusher who can either line up opposite Trey Flowers at end or rush the quarterback from the linebacker position.

"Rivers impresses as an athlete with great strength, balance and burst coming off the line of scrimmage," Bleacher Report draft analyst Matt Miller wrote of Rivers, his No. 8 edge-rusher in the draft. "His production was impressive, and when called on at the Senior Bowl, he won against bigger competition."

Rivers racked up 29.5 sacks over the past two seasons. Bill Belichick and defensive coordinator Matt Patricia will find creative ways to get him more sacks in the immediate future.

Grade: A+

Round 3 (85th Overall): Antonio Garcia, OT, Troy

Michael Conroy/Associated Press

After trading down for their first pick in the draft, the Patriots traded up with the Detroit Lions in order to snag former Troy offensive tackle Antonio Garcia.

Grabbing Garcia makes a lot of sense because offensive tackle is a position in which New England can use depth. If Garcia develops nicely, he could compete for the starting tackle job if Nate Solder leaves next offseason.

Solder is entering the final year of his current contract.

While Garcia isn't necessarily going to wow you with his size—he measured in at 6'6" and 302 pounds at the combine but seems to play at a lighter weight—he is an athletic player who fits what the Patriots like to do along the line.

Pro Football Focus rated Garcia 82nd overall among all college tackles last season.

"Consistently playing below 300 pounds, his lanky frame is the first thing that gets noticed. But his positive attributes show up on tape more than his weaknesses," NFL Media's Lance Zierlein wrote of Garcia.

Zierlein, by the way, rated Garcia as a second-round prospect. Even with the trade up, getting him at No. 85 is brilliant. 

Grade: A

Round 4 (131st Overall): Deatrich Wise, DL, Arkansas

Gregory Payan/Associated Press

The Patriots made another trade before Day 3 of the draft even kicked off. The team gave up the 183rd overall selection to the Kansas City Chiefs in exchange for tight end James O'Shaughnessy and the 216th overall pick.

With the team's first selection on Day 3, New England added former Arkansas defensive end Deatrich Wise.

While Wise's game tape isn't likely to wow anyone, he's a solid edge-setting defensive end who can find a rotational role on the Patriots defensive line. At 6'5" and 274 pounds, he has the size to anchor the edge when the defense is in a 4-3 or a 3-4.

"It really doesn’t matter what position I play," Wise explained, per Dan Dahlke of Lombardi Ave. "I believe I can thrive in any position a team puts me in. However, I have played in a 4-3 for five years in college and a 3-4 in high school, so I feel comfortable in any system."

Wise is versatile and experienced, which gives him value for New England. This isn't a flashy pick, but it's definitely solid.

Grade: B

Round 6 (211th Overall): Conor McDermott, OT, UCLA

Michael Conroy/Associated Press

The Patriots doubled down on the tackle position by adding UCLA's Conor McDermott in the sixth round. This is purely an upside pick and a gamble. There is a lot to like about McDermott when it comes to size and athleticism, but he doesn't currently have the strength to be a quality NFL starter.

"Just not strong enough to play in our league. Unless he finds more core (strength), I can't see him being able to survive against power," one AFC scout told NFL Media's Lance Zierlein.

"Bull rushes beat him almost every time, and he'll have to learn to play with better leg bend and more power to be an asset against power rushers," Matt Miller wrote of McDermott.

McDermott definitely looks the part of an NFL tackle, though. He stands a towering 6'8" and 307 pounds. His short-area quickness is pretty impressive as well, he ran the three-cone drill in 7.52 seconds and did the short shuttle in 4.58 seconds.

The Patriots are probably drawn to McDermott's starting experience and role in an NFL-style offense. If he gets into New England's strength and conditioning program and works hard, he may be a functional depth tackle. That's probably his ceiling, though, and on the surface, this is an underwhelming pick—more so when you consider they traded up for him.

Grade: C