2011 NFL Mock Draft: New England Patriots Full Seven-Round Mock
It's easy to call the New England Patriots 2010 season a success and a disappointment at the same time.
First of all, a Bill Belichick team that was supposed to be in a semi-rebuilding mode managed to produce a 14-2 regular season record, led by NFL MVP Tom Brady. Being eliminated by their bitter rivals, Rex Ryan and the New York Jets, in the divisional round of the playoffs is obviously the disappointing part.
Despite the loss, last season proved that the Patriots will be a dominating force in the league still for a good number of years.
With a whopping nine picks in the upcoming draft, six in the first two days, the Patriots will have the opportunity to fill virtually every hole on their roster.
Of course, there's no way they actually keep all their picks, but if they did, this is how it would turn out:
First Round: Cameron Jordan (DE, California)
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Since trading Richard Seymour, the Patriots have failed to replace him at defensive end. Ty Warren and Vince Wilfork are very good starters, but they have nothing special at the other end spot.
Cameron Jordan would be that replacement.
Jordan dominated every opposing offensive lineman at the Senior Bowl. He had a great NFL Combine while running a 4.71 in the 40-yard dash. He also impressed at his pro day; what a surprise.
Honestly, I don't understand how J.J. Watt is the higher-rated prospect.
First Round: Derek Sherrod (OT, Mississippi State)
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Matt Light is a free agent and will be 33 in June. Even if he is re-signed, it's obvious he's past his prime.
Derek Sherrod entered the offseason as the No. 1-rated offensive tackle.
What has he done wrong to get bumped down to the fifth-rated tackle? Nothing, it's just that other tackles have done more to improve their stock.
Sherrod's still a solid left tackle prospect and will make a team and quarterback very happy at the bottom of the first round.
Second Round: Stefen Wisniewski (G, Penn State)
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Guard Stephen Neal has retired, so the Patriots will need to find a replacement early in the draft.
Wisniewski is a very smart offensive lineman who is versatile enough to play guard and center. His uncle Steve and his father Leo give him great NFL bloodlines.
He's not overly powerful like the Patriots' Logan Mankins, but he's tough and athletic enough to become a starter for a long time in the league.
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Second Round: Jabaal Sheard (OLB, Pittsburgh)
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The Patriots didn't have an outside linebacker with more than five sacks last season. That pitiful pass rush was a big reason why their defense was ranked 30th in pass defense.
Jabaal Sheard is talented enough to be selected late first, early second round, but character issues will cost him.
In 2010, he was arrested after an off-campus fight. Of course, aggression isn't a bad trait to have in an outside linebacker.
Third Round: Curtis Brown (CB, Texas)
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Sticking with that 30th-ranked secondary, Kyle Arrington could probably be demoted to nickel back fairly easily.
A cornerback trio of Devin McCourty, Curtis Brown, and Arrington wouldn't look half bad for the future.
Brown has a good frame for a cornerback at 6'0' and he plays with a physicality the Patriots like in their secondary.
He's a good athlete and recorded a 39.5-inch vertical at the combine, but his 40 time was a slight disappointment at 4.51.
Third Round: Kendall Hunter (HB, Oklahoma State)
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Now that the defense and offensive line has been taken care of, it's time to get Tom Brady a couple of new weapons.
All of the Patriots' halfbacks are free agents except for Danny Woodhead. Woodhead is a top change-of-pace and third-down back, but he's no starter.
Even if they re-sign BenJarvus Green-Ellis, they still need to bring in a back who can compete for the starting job.
Kendall Hunter is talented enough to do that. In his two healthy seasons at Oklahoma State, he rushed for over 3,000 yards and recorded 32 touchdowns.
Some may be worried about the 4.52 40 time he ran at his pro day, but his 5.7 and 6.5 average yards per carry those two years should quiet any doubts.
Fourth Round: Niles Paul (WR, Nebraska)
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The Patriots looked absolutely fine without Randy Moss during the season, but the playoffs were a different story. They must add talent at the position this offseason.
Niles Paul ran a sloth-like 4.59 40 at the combine, but got a real boost at his pro day after running a 4.42.
He has great size at 6'1", 225 pounds. He's a good athlete and will be able to contribute in the return game.
When it all comes down to it, Paul has the tools to become a starter in the NFL, but he must overcome inconsistent hands in order for that to happen.
Fifth Round: Jaiquawn Jarrett (FS, Temple)
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Back to that pass defense again, the Patriots could use some safety depth.
Jaiquawn Jarrett is one of many Temple players who will be selected in the upcoming draft.
He only ran a 4.61 in the 40-yard dash at the combine, so speed isn't his best asset. What he lacks in straight-line speed though he makes up for in his hitting ability.
Bill Belichick definitely loves safeties who can lay the wood, like Lawyer Milloy, Rodney Harrison and Brandon Meriweather.
Sixth Round: Brandon Fusco (C, Slippery Rock)
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The Patriots should add more depth in the sixth, this time at the center position.
Brandon Fusco out of Division II Slippery Rock in western Pennsylvania has drawn interest from multiple teams. He has surprising size for a D-II prospect at 6'4", 316 pounds.
Fusco was the first-ever football player from The Rock to be invited to the Senior Bowl and NFL Combine. This past season, he won the award for the top D-II center and overall offensive lineman.
David Daniels is an NFL Featured Columnist at Bleacher Report and a Syndicated Writer. Follow him on Twitter.
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