The New England Patriots should be hoping there's an early run on quarterbacks early in the 2023 NFL Draft.

If four quarterbacks come off the board before the Patriots select 14th overall, then they should be able to snag a quality player in the first round of the draft. If one of those top four QBs is still there at No. 14 overall, however, would New England dare select one to create competition for Mac Jones?

They did host Kentucky's Will Levis on a visit and met with Florida's Anthony Richardson at the NFL Scouting Combine, making it slightly less outlandish of a proposition than it might look on the surface. We'll find out what the Patriots will do when the draft starts on April 27 at 8 p.m. ET. Here's our last attempt at a seven-round mock draft:

Round 1, No. 14 overall: OT Broderick Jones, Georgia

We're settling on an offensive tackle here in Round 1 even though it also seems in the realm of possibility for New England to take a running back (if Bijan Robinson is available), wide receiver, tight end, edge defender or cornerback.

Jones, who declared after his redshirt sophomore year, is inexperienced. But he also doesn't necessarily need to contribute as a starter right away with Trent Brown and Riley Reiff potentially slotted into starting roles.

Jones is 6-foot-5, 313 pounds with 34 3/4-inch arms and fantastic athleticism. He ran a 4.97-second 40-yard dash with a 1.67-second 10-yard split, 30-inch vertical leap and 9-feet broad jump. He also didn't let up a sack last season. The upside at left tackle here seems hard to pass up.

Round 2, No. 46 overall: CB Julius Brents, Kansas State

The Patriots pretty desperately need size — both height and bulk– at cornerback. Brents isn't a speed demon — he ran at 4.53-second 40-yard dash — but he otherwise tore up the NFL Scouting Combine with a 6.63-second 3-cone drill, 4.05-second short shuttle, 41.5-inch vertical leap and 11-feet, 6-inch broad jump at 6-foot-3, 198 pounds with 34-inch arms. Good luck throwing over him. He let up just a 57.7 passer rating in 2022.

Round 3, No. 76 overall: WR Jonathan Mingo, Ole Miss

Mingo wasn't overly productive at Mississippi, but he's one of the few big receivers in this draft with speed at 6-foot-2, 220 pounds and a 4.46-second 40-yard dash.

Round 4, No. 107 overall: EDGE YaYa Diaby, Louisville

Yiaby is a big edge defender at 6-foot-3, 263 pounds, and he showed off his explosiveness with a 4.51-second 40-yard dash and 37-inch vertical leap at the combine. He produced with nine sacks in 2022.

Round 4, No. 117 overall: iOL Olusegun Oluwatimi, Michigan

Oluwatimi started a lot of games at center during his four-year college career at Virginia and Michigan. It's time to find some youth and depth on the interior offensive line.

Round 4, No. 135 overall: WR Ronnie Bell, Michigan

Who would be surprised if the Patriots took back-to-back Michigan players? Bell projects as a shifty slot in the NFL.

Round 6, No. 184 overall: P Adam Korsak, Rutgers

The Patriots need a punter to compete with Corliss Waitman this summer in training camp.

Round 6, No. 187 overall: QB Aidan O'Connell, Purdue

Ex-Baltimore Ravens QB Trace McSorely currently is third string on the Patriots' depth chart. O'Connell is a pocket passer New England was able to get a close look at during East-West Shrine Game practices.

Round 6, No. 192 overall: LB Tyrus Wheat, Mississippi State

Another Shrine Game alum, Wheat is a 6-foot-3, 263-pound versatile defender with experience on the edge and at linebacker. He could go a little bit earlier on Day 3 of the draft. The Patriots like bigger linebackers who can rush the passer, drop back into coverage and defend the run. Wheat fits the mold.

North Carolina State's Isaiah Moore previously was in this spot.

Round 6, No. 210 overall: TE Blake Whiteheart, Wake Forest

Whiteheart, who's 6-foot-4, 247 pounds, didn't produce a ton in college with 44 career catches for 541 yards with six touchdowns, but he tested well at 6-foot-4, 247 pounds with a 4.70-second 40-yard dash, 35.5-inch vertical leap, 9-feet, 7-inch broad jump, 4.24-second short shuttle and lighting fast 6.77-second 3-cone drill. There's enough here for a late-round flier.

Round 7, No. 245 overall: RB Ronnie Brown, Shepherd

Brown lit up the stat sheet as a junior and senior at Shepherd, carrying the ball 219 times for  1,863 yards with 19 touchdowns and catching 56 passes for 589 yards with five more scores in 2022. He averaged 23.9 yards per reception in 2021 with 23 catches for 549 yards with six touchdowns. He also carried the ball 106 times for 956 yards with eight touchdowns as a junior.

The 5-foot-11, 192-pound skill player also contributed as a kick returner in college with 59 returns for 1,404 yards with a touchdown.

With a 4.46-second 40-yard dash, 6.89-second 3-cone drill, 4.00-second short shuttle, 37-inch vertical leap and 10-feet, 3-inch broad jump, Brown definitely put his name on NFL teams' radars at his pro day in March. 

Featured image via Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports