As NFL draft week creeps in, it’s time for one last mock draft before the first team is on the clock.
The Patriots currently hold the 14th overall pick, and with rumors circulating on who they want, if they’ll trade up or down, or what position their leaning, it may ease some minds with one last mock draft.
In this mock draft, we’ll be going where I think the Patriots will go with their picks, but it is not a recommendation on what I think they should do. I just recently completed my draft kit with the top 10 at each position and a top-50 big board. So that’ll give you a sense of how I truly view this prospect class.
All weekend long, stay tuned to Patriots Wire for draft coverage, the undrafted free agent tracker and more. For now, let’s get into the seven-round mock draft.
Round 1, Pick No. 14: Deonte Banks, CB, Maryland
The Patriots need speed, but they also need length. Banks is the perfect middle ground for that. Elite level speed and a solid press corner, Banks earned a (8.4/10) first-round grade for me and is the fifth-best corner in this class.
Banks will immediately mirror the game’s elite considering he has the height and length to matchup with anyone.
I tried to trade back here initially, but no teams were calling. So we decided to stick and fill a glaring need on the outside.
TRADE: Patriots move up to select unicorn prospect
New England Gets: 2023 2nd (No. 38)
Las Vegas Gets: 2023 2nd (No. 46) 2023 4th (No. 117) and 2023 4th (No. 135)
Round 2, Pick No. 38: Darnell Washington, TE, Georgia
An absolute freak athlete and a true unicorn was still on the board in Georgia’s Darnell Washington. He possesses elite speed, strength, and size in a combination we haven’t seen in the NFL since the days of prime Rob Gronkowski.
Washington will come in and give the Patriots upside as an extra blocker and a pass catcher that teams will need to gameplan for. In a sense, the Patriots kill two birds with one stone here and get some blocking and receiving help in one.
Washington is eighth on my big board, so having him still here was a surprise.
Round 3, Pick No. 76: Marvin Mims Jr., WR, Oklahoma
Mims is my seventh-best wideout in the class, and he plays way taller than his listed 5-foot-11 height. He plays well above the rim with excellent high-point ability, has sure hands and is good after the catch. An all-around playmaker is here at No. 76 with only two receivers under contract past 2023.
It makes sense to target one here.
Here’s what I had to say in my draft kit about Marvin Mims Jr.: “Highly productive receiver that plays well above the rim on contested catches and can make a splash play with the ball in his hands. He is a versatile receiver but will need to add some mass and work on release packages to improve on his deep route running.”
TRADE: Patriots get antsy and trade up for tackle of the future
New England Gets: 2023 3rd round pick (No. 96)
Arizona Gets: 2023 4th round pick (No. 107), 2023 6th round pick (No. 187), 2023 6th round pick (No. 210) and 2024 6th round pick
Round 3, Pick No. 96: Blake Freeland, OT, BYU
With the Patriots seeing tackles fly off the board in the second tier, they get antsy and move up here to select Blake Freeland. Freeland is right around where he would go in my draft kit, and is a Nate Solder 2.0 type.
He fits everything the Patriots want out of their tackles from an athletic standpoint, and it gives offensive line coach Adrian Klemm a project who doesn’t need to start right away with Trent Brown, Riley Reiff, and Calvin Anderson in the fold.
TRADE: Patriots make their third trade of the draft
New England Gets: 2023 5th Round pick (No. 164)
San Francisco Gets: 2023 6th rounder (No. 184) and 2024 5th round pick
Round 5, Pick No. 164: Jake Moody, K, Michigan
The Patriots want to find a kicker of the future soon, and they do so by adding the nation’s best in Jake Moody. Fifth round is where a lot of special teams tend to go for some reason, and Moody is no different in this mock draft.
We had to give up a future fifth-rounder here, but it’s worth it to get a kicker who has experience and success as a specialist.
Round 6, Pick No. 192: Trey Dean III, S, Florida
A popular pick here, safety Trey Dean III adds some pop to a secondary that is quietly getting older. Dean will immediately contribute on special teams.
The Patriots like to get their hands on a few Shrine Bowl players every year. So why not the one who was lighting up practice in Dean?
The Patriots made less picks than usual, as they typically average about nine per draft. But with the ability to get aggressive this year at certain spots, they still walk away with six prospects that will all play an impactful role in some capacity.
