The New England Patriots are less than three months away from one of the most important decisions in the past 30 years.
A brand new head coach is in the building in Jerod Mayo, and Eliot Wolf is working through the personnel decisions. This is an opportunity for both men to stamp their names on the Patriots.
For better or worse, the team will have a different philosophy heading into the offseason. It’s a breath of fresh air for Patriots fans who grew impatient with the lack of offensive success since Tom Brady’s departure in 2020.
In this mock draft, we’re taking a look at one scenario that could shake up on draft night, netting the Patriots a generational cornerstone receiver and some developmental tackles.
Round 1, Pick No. 3: WR Marvin Harrison Jr., Ohio State
The Patriots see both Caleb Williams and Drake Maye go right before their eyes, and in this scenario, they decide not to get too cute and take arguably the best overall player in the draft.
Harrison Jr. gives the Patriots a true game-changer and someone to dictate coverages, allowing new offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt to scheme open other secondary options.
Sure, they may not have the quarterback just yet, but the Patriots need all the talent they can get on offense. They need to take the best players until they completely flip the script offensively. They’re likely a few years away from competing, and Harrison Jr. gives whoever is throwing the ball a superstar wide receiver.
Van Pelt will have a say in personnel, but there probably aren’t many who would argue Harrison Jr. isn’t a generational talent. It comes down to if Eliot Wolf, Van Pelt and Jerod Mayo can come to an agreement on the position they target at No. 3 overall.
Round 2, Pick No. 34: OT Graham Barton, Duke
After taking Harrison Jr. at No. 3 overall, the Patriots need to address tackle with the top options flying off the board. Graham Barton is an athletic lineman that would fit well into Van Pelt’s system and be a nice project for whoever takes over as the Patriots’ new offensive line coach.
Barton can play either left or right tackle. Depending on what the Patriots decide to do with Trent Brown and Mike Onwenu will determine where Barton fits come training camp.
Regardless, his freakish athleticism and likely strong combine testing will pique the interest of Van Pelt and Mayo, who are looking for a franchise tackle in this class. The benefit of picking high in every round means the Patriots essentially get a crack at a first-round talent in Barton, who slides a few picks back.
Again, the theme is to add talent and the best player on the board at the time, until the Patriots’ offense starts to look like a functional, modern unit.
Round 3, Pick No. 68: QB Spencer Rattler, South Carolina
With the Patriots skipping on a quarterback in the first round, due to not being entirely sold on Jayden Daniels or the other quarterbacks at the spot, they decide to take South Carolina’s Spencer Rattler in the third round.
Rattler was once the best quarterback in his high school class, but he has fallen from grace. He has experience with plenty of snaps in college and could come in to compete with Bailey Zappe and Mac Jones for reps in camp.
This team needs to take a chance at quarterback at some point in the draft, and the 68th pick feels like a good spot for Rattler, who has all of the talent in the world, but has yet to put it together consistently enough to be considered a first-rounder.
Round 4, Pick No. 103: TE Cade Stover, Ohio State
Stover fits the profile of a traditional tight end, but he was actually a former EDGE rusher who transitioned to tight end. His inexperience at the position may force him to fall into the fourth round, right where the Patriots can take a shot on a moldable option.
In this scenario, Hunter Henry returns with a new deal, meaning he could mentor Stover in Van Pelt’s new offense. Stover has more athletic upside to be a weapon in this new offense, but he’ll need to work on adapting to the NFL defensive schemes and playing with more discipline in the run game before he is fully trusted.
This might be a project pick, but the Patriots would be getting a talented player with this option.
Round 5, Pick No.139: OT Javon Foster, Missouri
The Patriots double dip here and get an athletically gifted power tackle, who is likely a future right tackle. Foster is a pure upside pick, as he doesn’t fit the Patriots’ scheme Day 1. But he has the athletic ability to thrive in a zone blocking scheme.
He is a project for a Patriots team needing long-term options at tackle. Although he needs to improve, his athletic ability leaves plenty of room for optimism here in round five.
Round 6, Pick No. 182: RB Frank Gore Jr., Southern Miss
Pedigree is the theme here, but Frank Gore Jr. has some good traits that make him an intriguing option for the Patriots late on Day 3.
Gore Jr. is a smaller back, but he packs a punch and seeks contact. He is also an excellent pass-catcher and pass-protector, which will allow him to see the field in Year 1. He will have to work on creating separation in the slot, but out of the backfield, he has plenty of burst to get by linebackers.
His balance, powerful running style and surprising burst make him a potential bell cow developmental running back.
His floor is high as a receiving back, but his ceiling is certainly a workhorse for the team. That’s the kind of player the Patriots should be taking chances on at this stage of the draft.
Round 7, Pick No. 224: S Josh Proctor, Ohio State
The Patriots may lose Kyle Dugger and Jalen Mills this offseason, and they don’t really have a developmental defensive back in the pipeline behind Jabrill Peppers and Marte Mapu. Proctor is a downhill run-stopper, and he should fit in perfectly with the Patriots defense.
The team needs all the offensive help they can get, but they still need to throw darts on defense for special teams players and defensive depth needed for the long stretch.
Round 7, Pick No. 232: LB Omar Speights, LSU
Speights is a rangy, modern linebacker that will provide the Patriots with some off ball linebacker depth. He is a mobile quarterback eraser with good athletic traits, but he will need to work on his run defensive instincts, if he wants to crack more than special teams or third-down contributor in obvious passing down situations.
For now, the Patriots would be taking a seventh-round special teamer with upside for passing down reps. But Speights has plenty of tools that Mayo and the coaching staff might like.
