2011 NFL Mock Draft: New England Patriots 7-Round Mock, Version 2.0
It would be foolish of me to consider the possibility that the New England Patriots would go through the entire 2011 NFL draft without making a single trade. It's something that's only ever happened once in Belichick's tenure as head coach.
Still, I will do so simply because predicting trades on draft day is nearly impossible. I'll save that type of migraine-inducing article-writing for a later date.
For now, here's my straight-up "if the Patriots stay put at every spot, this is the guy they should take" mock draft.
Follow Erik Frenz on Twitter @erikfrenz.
Round 1, Pick 17 (17): J.J. Watt, DE Wisconsin
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Height: 6'4"
Weight: 290 pounds
What's not to love about J.J. Watt? He would make an instant impact on defense and could contribute on all three downs. His stats speak for themselves, having tallied 36 tackles for loss and 11.5 sacks last year.
Is he a perfect fit for the Patriots defense? Probably not, but he's scheme-versatile and would make more of an impact in the passing game than just about any five-technique defensive linemen to come out of the draft in years.
He's a unique prospect in many ways. His high motor and infectious passion make him just the type of guy the Patriots love to have around the locker room.
Round 1, Pick 28 (28): Danny Watkins, OG/C Baylor
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Height: 6'3"
Weight: 310 pounds
A 27-year-old first-round pick makes a lot more sense given the situation the Patriots are in on the offensive line, specifically inside.
At his age, Watkins appears one of the more NFL-ready prospects in the league. If nothing else, his maturity will allow him to make a smooth transition from college to NFL football. With the retirement of Steve Neal and the uncertain contract situation of Logan Mankins, that could be important.
Watkins' versatility makes him a great utility player on the offensive line, and his mean streak makes him a prime candidate for the interior of the Patriots' offensive line.
He has very limited experience with football, only having played for three years. Still, he exhibits sound technique and would be a prime candidate for Dante Scarnecchia to mold into a star.
Round 2, Pick 1 (33): Brooks Reed, DE/OLB Arizona
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Height: 6'3"
Weight: 263 pounds
Rarely will you find an outside linebacker that translates perfectly as a three-down player from college to pro.
While Reed may fall into the majority, what he brings as a pass rusher can't be ignored. The Patriots had a hard time getting after the quarterback yet again in 2010, tallying only 36 total sacks. Being that the Patriots were in the sub package more than their base defense last year, getting an outside linebacker prospect that would start out more as a defensive end may not be the worst idea.
The big questions are whether he can set the edge consistently in the NFL, and whether he can eventually make the transition and become a three-down outside linebacker in the 3-4 defense. Because as always, that's what Belichick is looking for.
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Round 2, Pick 28 (60): Leonard Hankerson
4 of 10
Height: 6'1"
Weight: 209 pounds
The New England Patriots rarely make a draft pick to address a need. This would be a great value pick regardless.
He's the third or fourth best wide receiver in the draft. He has both the long speed and the physical ability to get off a jam that the Patriots lacked in their playoff loss to the Jets. The weaknesses of the Patriots pass attack were exposed in that game, and adding a player like Hankerson would greatly improve the offense vertically.
What Hankerson doesn't bring, however, is the ability to make catches over the middle. He lacked concentration at times last year, and with ball control a top priority in the Patriots offense, a few drops could be his undoing. Still, the Patriots already have their specialist receivers in Deion Branch and Wes Welker as the yards-after-catch guys, and adding a deep threat could be just the icing on the cake they need.
Round 3, Pick 10 (74): Marcus Gilchrist, S Clemson
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Height: 5'10"
Weight: 195 pounds
The New England Patriots may soon be in the market for a new safety in their defensive secondary. Gilchrist is a highly underrated prospect, and is given what looks like a Belichickian vote of confidence by ESPN's Scouts Inc. "Versatile DB. Coaches speak highly of his football intelligence and work ethic."
He's versatile, in that he can play multiple spots in the secondary. From free safety to cover corner to slot corner, Gilchrist can find ways to contribute. That type of value will make him a steal for the Patriots.
One thing he doesn't bring to the secondary is that headhunting mentality of someone like Brandon Meriweather. He is very sound in his technique, though, so those tired of seeing Meriweather try to "blow people up" will find Gilchrist to be a palatable change of pace.
Round 3, Pick 28 (92): DeMarco Murray, RB Oklahoma
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Height: 6'0"
Weight: 213 pounds
Murray has to be considered one of the best bang-for-the-buck running back prospects in the draft.
A projected third-round pick, Murray adds a great deal of versatility to the backfield in his ability to contribute in the passing game. He was a favorite security blanket of Sam Bradford in his time at Oklahoma. He's a savvy route-runner, finds the soft spot in zone coverage, gets to his check-down quickly, and can create mismatches in man coverage with his quickness. What's more, he has good awareness and sound technique in pass protection.
The Patriots love that kind of versatility. Oh, did I mention he can run? He's not a power back, but the Patriots don't really need one of those. His quickness and the ability to get outside and make big plays will make him a great acquisition for the Patriots offense.
Round 4, Pick 28 (125): Casey Matthews, ILB Oregon
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Height: 6'1"
Weight: 231 pounds
This is a pick that stays the same from the previous version of this mock draft. The Patriots desperately need linebackers that can cover tight ends and running backs, as has been documented by Pats Propaganda's Mike Dussault.
Judging by his frame, he's obviously not an ideal fit for the Patriots base defense. Also, with both Brandon Spikes and Jerod Mayo in the system, the need doesn't appear to be there for an interior linebacker. What Matthews brings, though, is a great deal of athleticism and a high football IQ. He has the same motor as his brother, which would certainly make him a favorite in New England.
That football lineage will also tug at the heartstrings of Bill Belichick on draft day.
Round 5, Pick 28 (159): Chris Hairson, OT Clemson
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Height: 6'6"
Weight: 326 pounds
Hairston's physical style of play might suit him better for the interior of the offensive line. Perfect, because that happens to be where the Patriots need the most help.
He will need to see a good deal of improvement on technique in both pass protection and in run blocking, but he has the physical tools to succeed at the next level. He's only average in both areas, but that's what Dante Scarnecchia is for.
Most importantly, he has the killer instinct that's necessary at the NFL level. If he can add sound technique to the attitude he brings to the game, he'll be a great pick for the Patriots. He'd be a prime prospect for Scarnecchia to mold, and a solid value at this spot.
Round 6, Pick 28 (193): Craig Marshall, DE/OLB South Florida
9 of 10
Height: 6'4"
Weight: 265 pounds
Marshall 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.
The biggest question marks around him, as they usually are for these hybrid prospects, are whether he has the athleticism to drop into coverage and whether he has the football intelligence to grasp the Patriots complex defensive system.
Still, as mentioned earlier, the sheer fact that the Patriots played more downs in the sub package than in the base defense means Marshall will have the opportunity to put his hand in the dirt as a rookie and probably wouldn't be asked to contribute much to the base defense until later.
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.
Conclusion
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The only thing I don't like about the final outcome of this mock draft is the lack of prospects on the defensive line. Still, that case could be argued either way, with the current presence of depth in those spots. Albeit depth that has yet to come around, most of those players have potential, and at least a few of them have playing experience (Brandon Deaderick and Myron Pryor, to name just a couple).
The return of Ty Warren also makes defensive linemen less of a need.
There's a good balance of offense (four picks) vs. defense (five), and the extra pick on defense is warranted after the poor pass rush output the Patriots had last year.
Overall, these are all prospects that have solid experience contributing to their team, and though there still aren't many from the power conferences, these prospects are many of the physical type of players that the Patriots love to have on their team.
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