Patriots Mock Draft: Skipping obvious needs with first-round pick
The New England Patriots have an opportunity to revitalize their roster with 11 total picks in the 2023 NFL Draft including six in the first four rounds. New England could certainly use an influx of elite talent, and they have a chance to take an impact-maker with a top-15 pick. Here's our latest stab at […]
The New England Patriots have an opportunity to revitalize their roster with 11 total picks in the 2023 NFL Draft including six in the first four rounds.
New England could certainly use an influx of elite talent, and they have a chance to take an impact-maker with a top-15 pick.
Here's our latest stab at a Patriots mock draft with the nearly impossible task of predicting who they'll draft in the first round.
Round 1, Pick 14: DE Myles Murphy, Clemson
This is a really difficult year to predict how the Patriots will use their first-round pick. The obvious needs are at cornerback and offensive tackle. Wide receiver is close behind, but it also wouldn't be entirely shocking if New England wound up taking Texas running back Bijan Robinson, right? There are people in the building who believe he'd be worth the 14th overall pick. And then the Patriots made the surprise move to host Kentucky quarterback Will Levis on a visit Wednesday, so if he starts to fall, then who knows what New England would do. Tight end is another possibility.
But I'm stuck on the fact that New England hosted the majority of the first-round edge defenders on pre-draft visits this year. Murphy would just be a super solid pick who could contribute as a pass rusher and run defender as a big, athletic edge. He just turned 21 in January, so there's upside in his game, as well. We were close to mocking Robinson, Boston College wide receiver Zay Flowers or Georgia edge defender Nolan Smith here too.
Round 2, Pick 46: CB DJ Turner, Michigan
In an ideal world, New England would probably take a bigger cornerback than Turner, who's just 5-foot-11, 178 pounds. But the Patriots love Michigan defenders, and Turner ran a blazing 4.26-second 40-yard dash at the NFL Scouting Combine.
Round 3, Pick 76: OT Tyler Steen, Alabama
Steen was good enough to start at left tackle for the Crimson Tide. New England needs some youth at the tackle positions behind Trent Brown and Riley Reiff.
Round 4, Pick 107: DT Jaquelin Roy, LSU
The Patriots also could use more youth at defensive tackle, and they spent time with Roy before his pro day. Roy showed the stamina to play an impressive amount of snaps (675) last season with the Tigers. Like Murphy, he can play on early downs to stuff the run and has enough skill as a pass rusher to stay on the field in passing situations.
Round 4, Pick 117: CB Riley Moss, Iowa
Moss is a quality cornerback with good size and athleticism. Some scouting reports hint at a potential move to safety, as well. The Patriots need a cornerback with size and speed or the ability to play some free safety.
Round 4, Pick 135: TE Luke Schoonmaker, Michigan
Schoonmaker might immediately be the best blocking tight end on New England's roster. The position is so deep in this year's draft that the Patriots should take one at some point.
Round 6, Pick 184: WR Ronnie Bell, Michigan
A third Michigan player? It wouldn't be shocking. The Patriots love their Wolverines. Bell — if he's still available at this point (he's No. 208 on the NFLMockDraftDatabase consensus big board) — would be a great slot option in New England.
Round 6, Pick 187: P Adam Korsak, Rutgers
The Patriots will probably pull the trigger on a punter earlier than the sixth round. Expect them to acquire a fifth-round pick at some point to grab punting competition for Corliss Waitman.
Round 6, Pick 197: K Chad Ryland, Maryland
It would be smart for New England to take some kicker competition for Nick Folk, as well.
Round 6, Pick 210: OL McClendon Curtis, Chattanooga
The Patriots selected an offensive lineman out of Chattanooga in the first round last year. What's stopping them from taking a massive 6-foot-6, 324-pound tackle with 35-inch arms in the sixth round?
Round 7, Pick 245: CB Steven Gilmore, Marshall
Gilmore, Stephon's brother, is undersized at 5-foot-9, 174 pounds, but he has great speed with a 4.44-second 40-yard dash, and he put together a quality senior season with the Thundering Herd in 2022.
Featured image via Winslow Townson-USA TODAY Sports