Over the month of April WEEI.com will offer up a total of 28 prospects who could be potential Patriots selections in the 2021 NFL Draft. While the top five projected overall prospects – QB Trevor Lawrence, QB Zach Wilson, WR Ja’Marr Chase, TE Kyle Pitts and OT Penei Sewell – won’t be included, all other players at all positions will be considered potential targets for Bill Belichick and his staff. Today looks at a lesser New England need with one of the draft’s top safety options.
Trevon Moehrig
Safety TCU
6-1, 202
Resume: Moehrig (pronounced: MAIR-ig) was a two-way star at Smithson Valley (Spring Branch, Texas) High School. Scored touchdowns in all three phases of the game throughout his career as a receiver, defensive back and return man, earning U.S. Army All-American honors as a senior. … Committed to TCU early in the recruiting process and stayed loyal despite a number of late offers from SEC schools. … Started two of 12 games played at TCU as a true freshman, recording one interception, while being named the team’s Special Teams MVP. … Started all 22 games he played over his final two college seasons. Led his team in passes defensed (15) and forced fumbles (2) while also recording four interceptions in an All-Big 12 season in 2019. … Was a Second Team All-American last fall and took home the Jim Thorpe Award as the top defensive back in college football with 11 passes defensed and two interceptions as a team captain. … Chose to forgo his senior season to enter the 2021 NFL Draft.
Pre-Draft Buzz: Ran a 4.5 40 at the Horned Frogs pro day. … NFL.com penciled Moehrig in to the Titans at No. 22 overall in one of its latest mock drafts. … NFL.com’s player profile declares that “Moehrig possesses the overall talent to play in a variety of coverages, including over the slot against big targets, but his talent might be best served as a high safety where his instincts and anticipation lead him to the football. He's a talented ball tracker with soft hands and does a very good job of maintaining balance and positioning to make a play.” … The Athletic’s draft guide summarizes that “Overall, Moehrig is a versatile, athletic ballhawk with the play range and anticipation to pattern-match in coverage in the mold of Jessie Bates. He projects as an immediate NFL starter (single-high or split-safety) and special-teams contributor.” … The Ringer compares Moehrig to impressive Panthers 2020 rookie Jeremy Chinn, noting the TCU safety “fits the modern NFL thanks to his versatile, athletic skill set; he boasts instincts and ball skills in coverage, is ferocious playing the run, and can line up and play multiple roles in the secondary.”
Why Moehrig fits the Patriots’ needs: You can never have too many good players in the back end of an NFL defense, especially with Devin McCourty’s best days likely behind him. A year after taking Kyle Dugger with its top pick, New England going after one of the top ballhawking safeties in this year’s draft would give Belichick a back-end tandem to build around for years to come. Moehrig brings plenty of versatility to the spot, special teams value and high-end playmaking upside. Maybe safety doesn’t look like the biggest need on paper and Moehrig isn’t the biggest name among prospects this spring, but he is an option that can’t completely be ruled out for New England.