The time is finally here, it is draft week. Soon enough, the Arizona Cardinals will officially be on the clock, with a plethora of young collegiate talent bursting at the chance to cement their name in history. All 32 teams have spent the off-season racking their brains with the hope of finding their franchise’s next future superstar.
For the New England Patriots, the draft means bolstering a Super Bowl winning roster by any means necessary. The off-season has been a wild one for Bill Belichick and company, with additions such as Michael Bennett and Demaryius Thomas being offset by the losses of Trent Brown, Chris Hogan, and Trey Flowers. The sudden retirement of Rob Gronkowski did not help matters and has only strengthened the team’s need for pass-catchers for Tom Brady.
While the Patriots remain one of the best (if not the best) team in football, they do have glaring needs that can be filled with the draft arsenal the front office has assembled. New England is tied for most draft picks in the 2019 NFL Draft, a feat rarely seen by a team that just won the Super Bowl. Trading up or trading away picks always remains an option, and will likely happen. However, predicting the mind of Bill Belichick takes about as much luck as winning the lottery, making the draft an endless guessing game for fans. With that being said, and the draft is within the week, let’s take a look at our final edition of the LWOS Patriots 2019 New England Patriot mock draft.
New England Patriot Mock Draft: First Edition
Final Edition: 2019 New England Patriots Mock Draft
Round 1: Pick 32
The Pick: Noah Fant (Tight End, Iowa)
The Patriots’ need for a tight end has only grown as the off-season has progressed. While rumors of a possible Rob Gronkowski return at some point during the season float about, the team simply cannot rely on a retired player changing his mind. The team has already taken initial steps in replacing Gronkowski’s impact, signing depth pieces Matt LaCosse and Austin Seferian-Jenkins.
However, these moves do not break the tip of the iceberg in terms of replacing the debatably best tight end of all time. New England needs a new star, someone to lead the position for years to come and bridge the team into the new era of NFL football.
Enter Noah Fant, one of two star tight ends from the University of Iowa. Fant burst onto the draft landscape due to his overall play speed and versatility. Fant pairs his large frame with a rare athletic skill set, providing a swiss army knife to any offense. He is not as complete as fellow Iowa tight end T.J. Hockenson, as his blocking and route running is not yet at an elite-level, yet Fant projects as the perfect tight end for today’s spread scheme of the NFL. Inserting a mismatch such as Fant on the same team with Tom Brady will keep any defensive coordinator up at night, and would help greatly fill the void of Gronkowski.
Round 2: Pick 56
The Pick: N’Keal Harry (Wide Receiver, Arizona State)
The Patriots need a wide receiver. This may be the worst kept secret in the NFL, but that does not make it any less true. The team lost receivers Chris Hogan and Cordarrelle Patterson to free agency, dealing a significant blow to an already lackluster receiving core.
Bill Belichick and company have not sat on their hands, as they have re-signed speedy receiver Phillip Dorsett and added veteran receivers Demaryius Thomas and Bruce Ellington. While these moves are likely upgrades over the Hogan/Patterson duo, that does not mean a lot in retrospect. The team lacks a truly dominant outside receiver in the absence of Josh Gordon, and have done their due diligence on wide receiver prospects in this draft.
Wide receiver N’Keal Harry from Arizona State could be the answer to this problem. Harry’s dominant build (6’4”, 213lbs) enables him as not only a downfield weapon, but an above-average blocker on the outside. Possessing elite strength/elusiveness in the open field, Harry is a YAC monster with the ability to hurt defenses at any level.
Harry’s main concern comes from his quickness and ability to separate from press corners, concerns Harry did not put to bed as the draft process unfolded. However, if Harry can join a talented coaching staff like the Patriots, his raw potential could transform him into the best wide receiver from this class. If he remains on the board at this pick, this should be a no-brainer for the Patriots.
Round 2: Pick 64
The Pick: Deebo Samuel (Wide Receiver, South Carolina)
The Patriots should not hesitate to attack their most drastic need. The “Tom Brady isn’t getting any younger” narrative is getting worn out but becomes more important every year. After addressing their need for an outside weapon in N’Keal Harry, Bill Belichick should pivot his focus and give Tom Brady another slot target to pair with Julian Edelman.
South Carolina’s Deebo Samuel has only helped his stock as the draft process has unfolded, and he reportedly is confident he will be in New England soon. Samuel took an initial hit after an injury to his foot kept him from finishing his senior season. However, he has quickly risen to a potential high second-round pick on Draft Day. Samuel is an outstanding route runner at every level of the field and should translate well into any NFL scheme. He has a top-level release and is as dangerous as they come with the ball in his hands.
Samuel would provide Tom Brady with a gadget tool on offense, capable of winning his matchups across the board. After only two rounds of the draft, the Patriots could reinvent their offense and poise themselves to hoist yet another Lombardi.
Round 3: Pick 72
The Pick: Amani Hooker (S, Iowa)
After attacking their offensive needs early, the Patriots can turn their attention to bolstering their defensive needs. Iowa’s Amani Hooker is undoubtedly a luxury pick at this stage. However, he fills a secondary need the Patriots cannot afford to ignore. With Devin McCourty and Patrick Chung both reaching their mid-30s, finding a long-term replacement for one of them is a sensible move. With Duron Harmon already in the fold, Hooker would be able to sit behind three talented safeties until his time comes.
Hooker tested very well during the Combine and answered questions about his overall athleticism. He is efficient in both coverage and the run game, playing with sharp intelligence and aggression on every play. He can match up against opposing tight ends and running backs and has a terrific motor to the ball. Pair all of that with a solid special team player, and Hooker looks like a perfect fit for an aging Patriot secondary.
Round 3: Pick 97
The Pick: Anthony Nelson (Edge Rusher, Iowa)
The Patriots go right back to Iowa to select one of the draft’s biggest risers. Anthony Nelson’s large frame (6’7”, 271 pounds) and high motor make him a strong contender to come off the board in the second round. He is limited off the edge with stiff hips and limited bend and burst, making his draft stock somewhat of a wild card. Nelson provides the Patriots much-needed front seven depth and could step in as an immediate rotation player following the loss of Trey Flowers.
Nelson could come off the board well before New England gets a realistic chance at him, or he could be left on the board for a while longer. If he remains on the board at the end of the third round, Nelson should get a call from Bill Belichick rather quickly.
Round 3: Pick 101
The Pick: Will Grier (Quarterback, West Virginia)
Only four picks later, the Patriots manage to find a potential heir for Tom Brady at a bargain. West Virginia’s Will Grier has flashed as an aggressive, accurate quarterback that thrives in quick passing schemes. He is capable at extending plays outside of the pocket with an ability to accurately anticipate receiver’s break and senses pressure within the pocket well. His effectiveness drops when asked to progress through his reads, and lacks poise on both his footwork and delivery.
Grier looks like an ideal signal caller to sit behind Brady. He is a seasoned play-caller and thrives in the quick passing scheme employed by the Patriots. Needing to improve on reading progression and technique, Grier would learn from the best quarterback of all time and have plenty of time to learn the NFL game. He isn’t a starter yet, but look for Grier to become a solid player in the years to come.
Round 4: Pick 134
The Pick: Kaleb McGary (Offensive Tackle, Washington)
The Patriots pulled a surprising move to some last year when they pulled the trigger on former Georgia offensive lineman Isaiah Wynn with the 23rd overall selection in the draft. That move, following the loss of Nate Solder to the New York Giants, would have provided the Patriots much needed depth across their offensive line, had Wynn remained healthy.
Entering 2019, Wynn is projected to step into a starting role. That takes away a key depth piece for the Patriots, leaving them with Wynn and the aging Marcus Cannon as the team’s prominent tackles. The team should look to draft an offensive tackle to eventually replace Marcus Cannon and provide depth for now.
Washington’s Kaleb McGary has been a popular pick among beat writers as a future Patriot. McGary is a pure power tackle, with a dominant size and strength combination that seals off his blocker. He is aggressive in pass protection sets and takes great form in run blocking. He lacks true lateral quickness, which leaves him vulnerable to speed rushers off the edge.
His overall technique needs work to sustain at the NFL level, which screams Dante Scarnecchia’s name. McGary has the attributes to dominate at the next level, and the Patriots should not hesitate to take a chance on his development.
Round 6: Pick 205
The Pick: Hunter Renfrow (Wide Receiver, Clemson)
Hunter Renfrow has New England Patriot written all over him. A prototypical slot receiver, Renfrow is often compared to Patriot legends Julian Edelman and Danny Amendola for not only his stature but his reliability in the slot. Renfrow has some of the best hands of any receiver in the draft, as his drops during his time at Clemson hover around zero. He also runs precise routes and has a high motor every play, regardless of his involvement. To top it all off, Renfrow is outstanding after the catch and is seemingly always open in clutch situations.
The Patriots addressed their needs at wide receiver early and often in this mock draft, but you can never have too many talented receivers. Expect Renfrow to suit up in the navy and red come September, and quickly find his place in the offense.
Round 7: Pick 239
The Pick: Keegan Render (Guard/Center, Iowa)
Iowa’s Keegan Render may be the steal of the draft if he falls to the third day. He is a versatile swingman on the interior, capable of playing all three interior linemen positions and thrive at each. Given his success in the Iowa pro-style system, Render should transition to the NFL well. He has tremendous awareness and football IQ and is as tough as they come. He needs work overall, but Render could become a solid contributor on most NFL teams within the next three seasons.
The Patriots have the best interior offensive line in football, therefore it is not a priority. As is the case with McGary, depth can never hurt. McGary and Render are luxury picks for the future, and excellent ones at that.
Round 7: Pick 243
The Pick: Montre Hartage (Cornerback, Northwestern)
Despite constant criticism from mainstream media and fans alike, the Patriots secondary is one of the best in football. Stephon Gilmore is solidified as a top three corner in the league after a dominant 2018 season. J.C. Jackson is an up-and-coming star in New England. Veterans Jason McCourty and Jonathan Jones pair with Duke Dawson Jr. to round out an already talented group.
Nonetheless, you can never have enough options at cornerback, especially at the NFL level. Northwestern’s Montre Hartage projects as a typical Cover-2/Man cover corner, who is well above average in the run game. Hartage lacks the true wingspan and athleticism to rank among the best in this draft. He was a solid contributor at Northwestern and should be looked at as a depth corner for any team. He plays with high IQ and is physical with his matchups, yet needs to refine his technique in order to truly realize his potential. Hartage is a prototypical, late-round, Patriot pickup
Round 7: Pick 246
The Pick: Benny Snell (Running Back, Kentucky)
Kentucky’s Benny Snell is one tough running back. With a small frame (5’10”, 223 pounds), Snell has demonstrated his willingness to take on defenders on passing downs. He plays with a burst in his step but does not offer the upside of running backs ranked above him in this class. He has proven himself as a hammer between the tackles, something the Patriots could use in their running back committee.
Snell may not be many fans’ top pick, but this late in the draft, the upside is there. Watch for Snell to make an impact, regardless of where he goes.
Round 7: Pick 252
The Pick: Tre Lamar (Linebacker, Clemson)
With the Patriots holding four selections in the last round of the draft, now is the time to take fliers on overlooked players and pray they hit a gem. Luckily for New England, this has always been a strong suit throughout the Belichick era. From Tom Brady to Julian Edelman, to J.C. Jackson, Bill Belichick does his research on late round players and has turned a lottery into a team strength.
Clemson linebacker Tre Lamar is a player Belichick should at the very least keep an eye on. He still struggles as a complete linebacker and is not an every-down player. His pass coverage is nearly non-existent, and what he lacks in athleticism he struggles to account for in technique. That being said, Lamar does have credible traits, specifically his play intensity and sure-fire tackling. He has the drive to be coached and is worth a prayer from any team willing to coach him.
Last Word on the 2019 NFL Draft
Overall, the Patriots likely will not use all 12 selections they currently have. While a trade for higher picks or veterans is possible, Bill Belichick never shows his hand. Despite numerous holes to fill on offense, Belichick and company always seem to make it work. However New England decides to move forward with the draft, one thing is clear: this team is not going anywhere.
