The 2021 NFL Draft is now little more than two short days away.
That means the long, fun (interminable?) build-up is almost over.
From a team perspective, as Bill Belichick likes to say, the hay is in the barn. All the research, meeting, debating, evaluating and assessing has essentially been done. The boards are stacked horizontally and vertically. Start the clock, it’s almost time to pick!
From an outsiders’ perspective, the information has reached overload levels. Every option has been offered, dissected and dismissed.
It’s the silly season of smoke screens, misinformation and even end-of-days scenarios.
Who’s the best pick for each team?
Who’s the best fit at each draft spot?
Which team is trading to where and for what?
Honestly, who really knows!!!!!!??????
But as the hours wind down toward the most interesting, critical Patriots draft in decades – heck in the lifetime of some young New England fans – there’s still a little bit of time to continue to overanalyze just what Belichick should do come Thursday night.
So let’s keep the ball of anticipation (analysis paralysis!) going, with one man’s look at the top options for the Patriots at each position, both near the top of the draft and if the team dips into the depth value a bit later on in the three-day selection process.
Quarterback
Near the top…Trey Lance, North Dakota State: Go big or go home, right? Lance has elite upside potential, limited experience and will take time to develop. He could learn behind Cam Newton in the Kansas City Chiefs model development and then take the NFL by storm in a year or two. As New England’s former franchise QB used to say, LFG!
Later on…Davis Mills, Stanford: As opposed to Lance, Mills is a pocket passer. He was once an elite high school recruit. He barely has a dozen games of college experience and brings a bad knee to the field. But he has the physical tools to at least fuel the idea that he might have potential as an NFL starter.
Running back
Near the top…Najee Harris, Alabama: Belichick has always liked big backs and backs who could catch the football. Harris might just be able to do both. That he comes from Nick Saban’s Tide pro-caliber program doesn’t hurt.
Later on…Demetric Felton, UCLA: Is he a running back? Wide receiver? “Athlete”? Does matter? Felton is a mid-round versatile weapon who Chip Kelly might not have to work too hard to sell on his Patriots pal.
Wide receiver
Near the top…Jaylen Waddle, Alabama: Waddle has never put up a full season of huge numbers. But there is no questioning his elite upside, playmaking ability and explosive style. The Patriots need to get more speed and game-changing explosiveness on the roster. New England needs a would-be No. 1 receiver. Waddle could be all that and more.
Later on...Simi Fehoko, Stanford: Fehoko is an experienced, big, fast playmaker from a pro-style offense who offers value and upside.
Tight end
Near the top…Kyle Pitts, Florida: If you’re gonna dream, dream big! Pitts is one of the top overall prospects in the draft and probably the easiest NFL projection as a pass catcher since Calvin Johnson. He won’t make it to within New England reach, but boy would he be fun to watch 17 times a year.
Later on…Tommy Tremble, Notre Dame: Belichick probably isn’t focused on tight end depth after taking two guys at the spot last April and adding two big-money names in free agency. But Tremble has NFL talent as both a blocker and a receiver, a guy who may be a better, more productive pro than what he showed in his time with the Irish.
Offensive line
Near the top…Rashawn Slater, Northwestern: Slater is an athletic, versatile tackle who some believe will be an NFL guard. He may not be in the truly elite class, but certainly would look the part of a Patriots option on the end of the line if the uncertain futures of Isaiah Wynn/Trent Brown fuel a year-too-early pick.
Later on…Quinn Meinerz, Wisconsin-Whitewater: This is greedy pick more than anything, wanting the social media presence/story/unique guy that Meinerz is. The Division III product proved at the Senior Bowl he has NFL talent and his personality/work ethic would seem to be a fun fit for the interior line in Foxborough.
Defensive tackle
Near the top…Christian Barmore, Alabama: There are a lot of questions around Barmore and the DT class overall, some believing it’s the worst crop of talent ever at the spot. But if Saban says the write things, Barmore clearly has the physical tools to do the job at the next level, though I wouldn’t want to see the Patriots target this position early for any player.
Latter on…Daviyon Nixon, Iowa: Nixon is basically a one-year wonder with limited experience and playmaking upside on the interior defensive line. His best days could be ahead of him and at worst he might be a rotational sub-rusher in the NFL.
Linebacker
Near the top…Micah Parsons, Penn State: Parsons has been a popular Patriots mock draft slotting throughout the pre-draft process. He’s a modern, playmaking, all-over-the-field linebacker.
Later on…Zaven Collins, Tulsa: This really wouldn’t be that much later, as Collins might be a middle-of-the-first-round pick. But he has all the versatility and tools to be a Patriots front-seven chess piece and, honestly, I’d simply love to see him in New England.
Edge
Near the top…Gregory Rousseau, Miami: The Hurricanes playmaker is 6-7, runs a 4.67 40 and has only seven college starts on his resume. He’s a boom-or-bust prospect, but sometimes you gotta swing for the fences.
Later on…Joseph Ossai, Texas: I’d be stunned if Ossai isn’t a very good NFL player. He might be around in the second round and though not a pure pass rusher on the outside, can do a lot of things to make life difficult on opposing offenses.
Cornerback
Near the top…Jaycee Horn, South Carolina: Horn has the physical tools and mental makeup to be a truly elite No. 1 cornerback. From one confident Gamecock to another, Horn could slide into Stephon Gilmore’s spot in the back end at Gillette.
Later on…Tyson Campbell, Georgia: Based on his physical tools – 6-2, 4.36 40 – Campbell should be a more well thought of prospect. He’s never been able to put it all together on the field consistently, but if/when he does the sky is the limit.
Safety
Near the top…Trevon Moehrig, TCU: New England used its top pick on safety last fall and probably doesn’t have a huge need at the spot.
But Moehrig is a back end ballhawk with a bright future.
Later on…Javon Holland, Oregon: Holland has obvious playmaking skills in the secondary after leading the Ducks in interceptions over each of his two seasons. His 4.46 speed and aggressive ball skills along with special teams versatility are at least worthy of consideration.
