2011 NFL Draft: New England Patriots' 7-Round All-Front Seven Mock Draft
Bill Belichick and the New England Patriots scouting department are hot on the scouting trail leading up to the 2011 NFL draft. One area it's clear they need help is all over the front seven, specifically on the outside at defensive end and outside linebacker.
No one in their right mind can justify taking prospects entirely from just those two positions, so just consider this an exercise in potential names to look out for at different spots in the draft.
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1. Round One, Pick 17: Cameron Jordan, DE California
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Height: 6'4"
Weight: 290 pounds
J.J. Watt has been my pick at this spot since day one, and remains so. However, to avoid redundancy, I will consider the possibility that he isn't available to the Patriots at pick No. 17.
Cameron Jordan would be a suitable addition to the Patriots front seven. He has the ability to contribute on all three downs, even though he's not an elite pass rusher. He has great gap discipline in the 3-4, and has the ability to draw double teams on a consistent basis.
He doesn't fire off the line with a great deal of explosion, but his experience in the system makes him a great fit, and his ability to contribute on all three downs makes him a great value pick for the Patriots.
2. Round One, Pick 28: Cameron Heyward, DE Ohio State
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Height: 6'5"
Weight: 294 pounds
If the Patriots don't take a defensive end at the 17th spot, Cameron Heyward would be a good value at this spot. The Patriots are still in need of a three-down starter at defensive end, and there still aren't any good value picks available at outside linebacker, as in no "sure-fire" three down defensive starter.
Cameron Heyward has drawn some comparison to Richard Seymour, and though there were some questions about his arm after Tommy John surgery, he said his arm feels fine, and it looked fine in his first workout since the surgery.
He has the ability to both collapse the pocket and penetrate the line, meaning he would even be able to contribute in that all-important sub-package defense.
3. Round Two, Pick 33: Brooks Reed, DE/OLB Arizona.
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Height: 6'3"
Weight: 263 pounds
If the Patriots were able to land Brooks Reed in the beginning of the second round, I'm sure just about every Patriots fan would rejoice. Since passing on Clay Matthews, Patriots fans have longed for a long blond-haired pass rusher who can bring solid pressure off the edge. Reed is certainly that guy, with great explosion and a violent spin move that leaves blockers grabbing at air.
With the addition of Reed, the Patriots could have that pass rusher in the sub package they lacked last year, and a guy who could potentially become a three-down starter in the Patriots defense (depending on his football IQ).
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4. Round Two, Pick 60: Allen Bailey, DE Miami
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Height: 6'4"
Weight: 285 pounds
The Patriots have met with Bailey almost a handful of times. Their interest has been piqued by him in some way, and they are doing their diligence to find out the exact nature of how he fits into their defense.
What's interesting about Bailey is that while he may not be a perfect fit for the base 3-4, he has the potential to contribute heavily in the sub package. He has lined up as a defensive end and even defensive tackle, and really has the ability to penetrate the line on passing downs and get after the quarterback.
5. Round Three, Pick 74: Jabaal Sheard, DE/OLB Pittsburgh
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Height: 6'4"
Weight: 260 pounds
Sheard's measurables have Patriots 3-4 outside linebacker written all over them. He has the ability to bring the pressure off the edge and can also set the edge in run defense. The questions are as they usually are with these hybrid prospects. Can he drop into coverage, and does he have the football IQ to make the transition to outside linebacker in a 3-4, where he will have far more responsibilities.
Regardless, the Patriots could use physical and explosive guys that can win their match-ups on the outside and get after the quarterback. If Sheard can do multiple things for them, he would make a great pick for them in a mid-round.
6. Round Three, Pick 92: Jarvis Jenkins, DT Clemson
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Height: 6'4"
Weight: 310 pounds
Even if he's not an elite pass rusher, what he brings is his ability to soak up blockers. That will open up things for the linebackers behind him, and contribute to the "team defense" mentality that Bill Belichick and the Patriots employ.
He has the physical acumen to play either end spot or even nose tackle in the base 3-4, and can also kick inside in a four-man front. What's more, he was a team captain in 2010. The Patriots drafted five of those in last year's draft.
He's not an ideal fit, but a great value as a mid-round pick.
7. Round Four, Pick 125: Mark Herzlich, OLB Boston College
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Height: 6'4"
Weight: 244 pounds
The inspiring story of Mark Herzlich alone won't earn him a pick to any NFL squad. It's hard to figure out how he'd fit into the Patriots' defense. He played outside linebacker in a 4-3 in college and seems more suited for that role, but if the Patriots think they could use him in their sub package in coverage on tight ends and running backs, he would be a worthwhile mid-round pick.
He has the potential to add weight and eventually play in a base 3-4 as well, but he doesn't have elite pass rushing skills for the position.
8. Round Five, Pick 159: Craig Marshall, DE South Florida
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Height: 6'4"
Weight: 265 pounds
Marshall is another intriguing prospect in much the same mold as Jabaal Sheard of three picks earlier. He only had four sacks in each of the past two seasons, but he's a big physical guy who looks like he could have an impact as a sub package pass rusher, and may even play some in the base 3-4 later on.
He's still a raw prospect, and would require molding into the defense, but he has the size and skill set to warrant a late-round flier.
9. Round Six, Pick 193: Corbin Bryant, DT Northwestern
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Height: 6'4"
Weight: 302 pounds
Bryant has experience as a defensive end in a 3-4 at Northwestern, and more than likely could kick inside on passing downs if need be. He's not terribly explosive, but that wouldn't be as much of a problem in a 3-4 as it would be in a 4-3.
Most importantly, though, he's a leader. WEEI.com's Christopher Price wrote, "Bryant, who didn’t start playing football until his senior year in high school, was a co-captain for the Wildcats in 2010 where he was an honorable mention All-Big 10 selection."
Conclusion
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As usual, there's plenty of help to be had all over the draft in the front seven.
That being said, don't be bummed out if the Patriots don't draft a player at a specific position early on in the draft. Chances are they have their eye on someone somewhere in the draft that can help them get after the quarterback, or at least help their sub package pass defense.
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