Kyles: Patriots 7-Round NFL Mock Draft 3.5 (All Defense)

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

I stuck with no trades for this installment but targeted only defensive players for a better sense of which pass rushers, run stoppers, and coverage defenders could be available at New England’s current draft slots.

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: ED Nolan Smith, Georgia  (PFF Big Board: #22, B+)

With Matt Judon in his 30’s and no every-down options at outside linebacker behind him, the Patriots’ roster could use more edge talent. Enter former five-star recruit Nolan Smith, an outstanding athlete with surprising power for a tweener and leader in Georgia’s team-first defensive scheme. He also met with New England for a top-30 visit and worked with their staff at the Senior Bowl, but didn’t participate due to a pectoral injury that kept him out his final six games last season.

Smith wins with electric burst, change of direction, and closing speed, as well as powerful hands to shock, stack, and shed linemen. He’s also assignment versatile, serving as a pass rusher and zone dropper. Beyond the obvious concerns of a sub-240 linebacker playing in the trenches, Smith will need to develop a more refined pass-rush plan at the next level and be more disciplined to avoid rushing past the quarterback’s depth. But his character, energy on the field, and special teams coverage would make Smith an excellent fit in the Patriots’ defense who will be a better pro than a college player.

R2-48: CB Tyrique Stevenson, Miami (PFF Big Board: #46, B-)

The first two rounds of this draft class has a lot of big, long corners who can be day 1 contributors if not full-fledged starters. Stevenson may not be an every-down presence in New England’s secondary immediately, but he’s exactly what the undersized group needs as a physical press corner whose safety background shines through in his play style.

Stevenson has the athleticism to become a true #1 matchup corner down the road, but first, he’ll have to overcome his poor discipline at the line of scrimmage and from off coverage. His tackling could also use refinement before he’s trusted consistently on run-downs. Luckily, New England has already shown a blueprint for this career trajectory in J.C. Jackson, who rotated heavily with Jason McCourty before taking the reins in his final two seasons with the team.

R3-76: SAF Jammie Robinson, Florida State  (PFF Big Board: #75, C)

Another top-30 visiter and Senior Bowl attendee, Robinson put together quite the resume in college. He earned First Team All-ACC honors in each of the last two seasons, leading his team in tackles each time. In 2023, he was named Second Team All-American and Defensive Team MVP for Florida State. These accolades may surprise given Robinson’s lack of size and wingspan (smallest among his peers), but the tape shows a Football player who uses his god-given talent to make life miserable for offenses.

Primarily a split-field safety for the Seminoles, Robinson also played slot corner in obvious passing situations. He wins with intelligence, range, and an angry play style. He’s a human missile who embraces contact and thrives coming downhill to blitz or chase down ball carriers. With the Patriots seeming to opt for athleticism and toughness in their secondary over prototypical size, Robinson would be a perfect fit who wouldn’t have to take on a big workload immediately.

R4-107: ED Isaiah McGuire, Missouri  (PFF Big Board: #74, A+)

McGuire is one of my favorite Patriots fits in the draft. Not only was he a team captain, despite being young for his class, and a Senior Bowl attendee, but he’s also the type of long, powerful, high-effort prospect New England loves on the edge. While not an explosive athlete, McGuire is formidable against the run, knocks linemen back with his strong hands, and has just enough bend to turn the corner as a pass rusher.

Like many of his peers, McGuire is a relatively raw prospect with fundamental issues that must be addressed, like an undeveloped pass-rush plan and high pad level. That said, his ability to defend the run on early downs and collapse the pocket should lead to plenty of early reps. He projects as a top, do-it-all-type backup on the edge who will start whenever the opportunity arises in a crowded group.

R4-117: LB Dorian Williams, Tulane (PFF Big Board: #94, B)

The Patriots have a lot of bodies at inside linebacker behind Ja’Whaun Bentley, but not many who offer consistency or consistent playmaking besides Jahlani Tavai.  Their heavy use of three-safety packages also illustrates a willingness to sacrifice size for explosiveness in the box. Enter First Team All-AAC and Cotton Bowl Defensive MVP, Dorian Williams.

Williams has incredible range and length to go with violent hitting power. His college resume shows he can be a productive player, as he led his team in tackles twice, registering 4.5+ sacks in each of those seasons. He was also a core special teamer for Tulane. That said, Williams is only 21 years old and understandably raw.  He can’t be trusted consistently on running downs, needs to improve his awareness in zones, and could stand to put on more weight at the next level. At the very least, he’d be a ball of clay for the Patriots to mold while serving as a key special teamer and role player on defense.

R4-135:  CB Cory Trice, Purdue (PFF Big Board: #95, B+)

Trice had a fairly modest collegiate career before exploding for 12 breakups and 2 interceptions in his fifth season, earning him an All-Big Ten honorable mention. Gifted with prototypical size and athleticism for a boundary corner, Trice is a scheme-versatile corner with the burst and length to be a disruptive coverage player.

Trice also played safety in high school, which translates into effective and high-effort run defense. He’s a technically raw prospect who lacks great ball skills to be a consistent turnover threat and has battled lower-body injuries the past couple of seasons, including a high ankle sprain and torn left ACL in 2021 and a groin injury in early 2022. These red flags will drop his stock despite the tantalizing measurables and athleticism, but Bill Belichick has never been one to shy away from a gamble.

R6-184: ED Viliami Fehoko, San Jose State  (PFF Big Board: #121, A+)

We already know Fehoko is on the Patriots’ radar after he reportedly met with the team for a top-30 visit. This interest makes sense given the tweener edge defender’s productive career, which saw him lead his team in tackles for loss in each season since 2020, earning back-to-back First Team All-MWC honors and Second Team honors last season. Fehoko also comes pre-packaged with an array of well-developed pass-rush moves, which he maximizes with toughness and a red-hot motor.

His measurables and explosiveness aren’t eye-popping, and he needs to play with more discipline to avoid the high penalty count he wracked up in college. But he would provide Josh Uche insurance and could blossom under the Patriots’ discipline and veteran leadership.

R6-187: ED Yasir Abdullah, Louisville (PFF Big Board: #138, A)

Frankly, I wasn’t too familiar with Abdullah’s tape before making this pick. I did know he lived behind the line of scrimmage, leading Louisville in tackles for loss and sacks three seasons straight and garnering First Team All-ACC honors in 2022 and Second Team honors in 2021.  After watching him play, it became clear Abdullah is being criminally overlooked.

The edge defender’s tape reminded me of Rob Ninkovich, whose tweener traits were dwarfed by his football acumen and playmaking ability. Abdullah’s active backfield presence is a testament to recognition, discipline, and awareness. He quickly recognizes blocking schemes and reacts before plays have a chance to develop, and he’s ravenous near the football. Abdullah’s also a solid pass rusher with enough burst and bend to win the edge, though he may rely more on stunts as a pro. If I’m in the draft room, I’m pounding the table for Abdullah on day 3, and I think the Patriots are one of few teams who would maximize his skills.

R6-192: CB Starling Thomas V, UAB  (PFF Big Board: #137, A+)

Thomas V hasn’t gotten much attention this draft cycle due to his small school status and lack of size, but he showed while being coached by New England’s staff at the Shrine Bowl that he deserves to be on people’s radars.

Thomas V may seem redundant in a cornerback group without a projected starter above 5’11”, but you can never have too many quality corners. And he compounds sticky coverage (led UAB with double-digit passes defensed in each of the past two seasons) with rare toughness (played the final seven games of his 2019 campaign on a torn right ACL). Thomas V has blazing speed to run with just about any receiver, exceptional quickness, and coverage versatility to play press or off. He also offers return ability and could become a plus on coverage teams.

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

Picks this late are usually more on the fun side, so why not bring in Jahlani Tavai’s brother to help bolster depth in the trenches? And this isn’t just a nepotism pick, as Tavai was a human wrecking ball in college.

He’s a massive man with a natural leverage advantage, leading to some explosive collisions. He was a leader on San Diego State’s defense, and he showed it on the field in his effort and versatility, sometimes rushing from a two-point stance. Tavai’s use at the next level will take clever scheming due to his less-than-ideal arm length and height, but he’s primed to be a quick contributor in a role similar to Daniel Ekuale.