Kyles: Patriots FINAL 7-Round NFL Mock Draft (with Trades)

It’s here. NFL Draft night is upon us. The Patriots are on the clock so to speak, set to pick at #14 when the first round of the draft commences at 8pm.

Each week leading up to the draft, I’ve been using Pro Football Focus’ mock draft simulator to pick for the New England Patriots with different rules each week.

For this final installment, I included trades for an idea of what opportunities to move up or down the board could be available to New England.

Did I put the Patriots in a position to kick off a new dynasty? Doom the franchise for eternity (or at least the next couple of seasons)? Scroll and see!

R1-14: WR Zay Flowers, Boston College (PFF Big Board: #29, D+)

Some believe the 14th overall pick is too high for Zay Flowers due to his lack of size. In my opinion, it’s a reasonable spot for the draft’s best deep threat and YAC receiver. The Patriots have also shown a lot of interest in Flowers after coaching him at the Senior Bowl and inviting him for a top-30 visit. The 5’9″ stick of dynamite also plays with an Alpha mentality that’s drawn praise from the likes of Steve Smith Sr, one of the toughest receivers in NFL history. Flowers would be an electric chess piece for Bill O’Brien with the temperament to take over for Jakobi Meyers as the offense’s top dog.

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TRADE: R2-46, R6-192 to NYG for R2-57, R3:89 (B-)

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R2-57: TE Sam LaPorta, Iowa (PFF Big Board: #43, A-)

After trading down to pick up another 3rd-rounder, the Patriots taking Sam LaPorta would be another boost to their explosiveness on offense. Iowa’s leading receiver and team captain proved to be a versatile weapon in 2022, using his rare athleticism to produce from multiple alignments. And, as is expected of Hawks tight ends, LaPorta’s a tough, versatile blocker who can contribute in-line, off the ball, or when split out. The combination of Flowers and LaPorta over the middle would help New England dominate the most important part of the field while improving the run game with a legitimate blocking tight end.

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TRADE: R3-76 to DET for R3-81, R5-152 (B-)

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R3-81: WR Nathaniel “Tank” Dell (PFF Big Board: #44, A)

The Patriots trade down again, this time to acquire a special teams pick in the 5th round, and Nate Dell falls into their lap at #81. Two undersized receivers could be too many for some folks, but people call him “Tank” for a reason. The FBS’ leading receiver last season, Dell would be another three-level threat who can score at any moment (17 rec TD, punt return TD in 2022; 12 rec TD in 2021). He’s an exceptional route runner who can threaten defenders with both quickness and speed, which also make him a very tough tackle in space. Pairing Dell with Flowers would give the offense a juiced-up Edelman-Amendola-type of combo with Flowers as the primary “Z” receiver and Dell spending most snaps in the slot. The two-time First Team All-AAC honoree and 2022 team captain is also a dynamic punt returner, averaging 16.0 yards per return and taking one 68 yards for a score last season.

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TRADE: R3-89, R6-184 to CLE for R3-98, R4-126, R7-229 (B-)

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R3-98: OT Wanya Morris, Oklahoma (PFF Big Board: #90, A)

There’s a lot of depth in the middle of this draft, so sliding back for an extra 4th-rounder seemed like the way to go. With the Patriots still in need of a tackle, and Steen off the board at this point in the draft, Wanya Morris was my favorite prospect left at the position. He’d likely need time to hone his technique before being trusted to start, but veteran signing Riley Reiff is already expected to hold it down at right tackle to start the season. Once Morris learns to maximize his exceptional length, power, and mirroring ability, he could become a plus starter for New England. His toughness in the run game would also form one of the league’s most formidable duos next to Mike Onwenu. After seeing how dominant Morris could be during Senior Bowl practice, the Patriots scooping him up on day 2 would make a lot of sense.

R4-107: CB Cory Trice, Purdue (PFF Big Board: #95, B)

The Patriots wait until day 3 to address their defense in this mock, but they get a great value with Cory Trice at the top of the 4th round. A four-year starter who led his team with 12 pass breakups last season, Trice’s blend of experience and premium athleticism could lead to early contributions in New England. He’s technically raw and would likely serve a rotational boundary role with Jack and/or Marcus Jones, but Trice has the tools to match up with the “X” receiver types that gave the defense trouble in 2022. He also played safety in high school, which shows in his work against runs or screens, so it’s not a stretch to think he could make an immediate impact on special teams.

R4-117: ED Yasir Abdullah, Louisville (PFF Big Board: #138, C+)

Yasir Abdullah is flying under the radar because he’s a tweener from a less prominent program, but he’s an athletic playmaker whose numbers speak for themselves. The First Team All-ACC honoree led Louisville in tackles for loss and sacks in each of the past two seasons, which shows in his burst off the edge and proficiency on stunts. He also led his team in forced fumbles in 2020 and 2022, reflected in his constant awareness when bringing down ball carriers. Abdullah’s flashes in coverage were also impressive, showing the ability to carry downfield and even become the receiver when in phase. He’ll need to be schemed around at the next level, but there’s no staff more equipped to maximize Abdullah’s game-changing skill set than New England. After carving out a role on special teams, he could quickly make his way onto the field in obvious pass situations as both a coverage defender and pass rusher.

R4-126: RB Deuce Vaughn, Kansas State (PFF Big Board: #122, C)

Promise this is my last might-mite pick. But I dare you to watch Deuce Vaughn and tell me you don’t want the guy on your team. A 2020 Freshman All-American, two-time First Team All-American (consensus pick in 2021), the FBS’ leader in all-purpose yards last season, and a team captain, Vaughn boasts a glowing resume to go with electric tape. He’s short (5’5″) but compact (180 lbs) and uses his size to his advantage a la Danny Woodhead, who routinely hid behind blockers and slipped tackles thanks to his low center of gravity. Vaughn also looks like a natural catching the football and he shows exemplary toughness as a blocker, run or pass. Between his character, production, and thrilling film, Vaughn could become an immediate change-of-pace option who could supplant Ty Montgomery as the go-to receiving back sooner than later.

R4-135: ED Viliami Fehoko, San Jose State (PFF Big Board: #121, B+)

The Patriots add another dynamic tweener to their shallow group of edge rushers in Second Team All-American Viliami Fehoko, who met with the team on a top-30 visit and participated in the Shrine Bowl. The disruptive four-year starter led the Mountain West Conference in tackles for loss last season, using his quickness, violent hands, and white-hot motor to make a living in offenses’ backfields. Viliami’s best trait is his refined arsenal of pass-rush moves, a rare commodity from smaller school prospects. Though he lacks great athleticism or length to be effective against some of the league’s better pass protectors, his effort and technique will ensure Viliami is productive as a rotational edge defender and sub-package rusher.

R5;152: QB Dorian Thompson-Robinson (PFF Big Board: #163, B-)

The Patriots have a good situation at quarterback with Mac Jones and Bailey Zappe, and they added a solid veteran presence in Trace McSorley. But investing in quarterbacks regularly is good business, and Dorian Thompson-Robinson checks a lot of boxes for New England while bringing a different skill set to the position room. He played under Chip Kelly at UCLA, was recruited to the school by 2020 Patriots quarterbacks coach Jedd Fisch, and was coached by the Patriots’ staff at the Shrine Bowl. Thompson-Robinson may not have the size teams want from the position, but he’s got natural feel as a passer and the athleticism to contribute in short-yardage packages early in his career, though his poor footwork and erratic accuracy are very much a work in progress. If Bill O’Brien can work his magic and get the most out of the young passer, Mac Jones could have legitimate competition toward the end end of his rookie contract.

R6-187: K Jake Moody, Michigan (PFF Big Board: #315, F)

Nick Folk has been great for the Patriots in the post-Gostkowski era, but his age shows on longer field goals and the Patriots could use a kickoff specialist with Jake Bailey in Miami. Jake Moody didn’t miss a single extra point last season, set the Michigan record for points scored in a season, and made an FBS-best 29 field goals (82.9%, 3-7 from 50+ yards). The Patriots also spent time coaching the kicker at the Senior Bowl, where he won Offensive MVP after scoring all 12 points for the West, including a pair of 51-yarders.

R6-210: IDL Jonah Tavai, San Diego State (PFF Big Board: #155, A)

The Patriots need more depth on the defensive interior with Lawrence Guy nearing the end of his career and Christian Barmore’s inability to stay on the field for a full season. Not only does Jonah Tavai already have bloodlines in New England in older brother Jahlani, but he was a high-impact player in college. Tavai’s the type of stout, powerful lineman the Patriots like, and he compliments that profile with quickness and a high motor. He may be a tweener who needs to be schemed around, but that’s one of New England’s areas of expertise. His role early on would likely be a rotational defensive tackle/defensive end in odd fronts who contributes on the field goal team.

R7-229: P Adam Korsak, Rutgers (PFF Big Board: #343, C)

A Ray Guy award winner from Rutgers who has exceptional touch and showed out at the Senior Bowl. Need I go on?