First, I will be tweeting my thoughts during the draft: @Jeff_Hetzel.
I would rank the Patriots needs in this order: S, 3-4 OLB, CB, 3-4 DE
I think there is a drop-off in safety quality after Mark Barron, and I could see them waiting until the second round and grabbing somebody like Trumaine Johnson or Brandon Taylor. In the first round, there will be plenty of edge rushers available, but they all have flaws, and the Patriots don't tend to reach for edge rushers, so it completely depends on how their draft boards matches the available guys at the position. If none of their guys are there at 27, they might trade or take a lesser need. I would imagine they take a pass rusher in the 2nd or 3rd round. I like Bruce Irvin and Jake Bequette.
My dream scenario is that the they take DE/OLB Whitney Mercilus and CB Janoris Jenkins at 27 and 31. Two guys who might be available, fit two of their biggest needs, and who I loved watching on tape. Both could be impact starters from day one.
If they trade up, as they have been rumored to be looking to do, I would guess they target S Mark Barron or DT/DE Michael Brockers. Brockers is a more raw prospect, and I think their interior D-line is in better shape than the rest of their defense, so I prefer Barron.
Here is my mock draft based on what players I like and what I discern to be team needs. It is not a reflection of what I think will actually happen. I made it in class today off the top of my head and might have missed some players.
| 1 | Indianapolis Colts- Andrew Luck, QB, Stanford |
| 2 | Washington Redskins- Robert Griffin III, QB, Baylor |
| 3 | Minnesota Vikings- Matt Kalil, OT, USC |
| 4 | Cleveland Browns- Trent Richardson, RB, Alabama |
| 5 | T.B. Buccaneers- Janoris Jenkins, CB, Northern Alabama |
| 6 | St. Louis Rams- Justin Blackmon, WR, OSU |
| 7 | Jacksonville Jaguars- Fletcher Cox, DT, Mississippi St. |
| 8 | Miami Dolphins- Mark Barron, SS, Alabama |
| 9 | Carolina Panthers- Luke Kuechly, LB, BC |
| 10 | Buffalo Bills- Morris Claiborne, CB, LSU |
| 11 | Kansas City Chiefs- David DeCastro, OG, Stanford |
| 12 | Seattle Seahawks- Michael Floyd, WR, Notre Dame |
| 13 | Arizona Cardinals- Reilly Reiff, OT, Iowa |
| 14 | Dallas Cowboys- Stephon Gilmore, CB, South Carolina |
| 15 | Philadelphia Eagles- Michael Brockers, DT, LSU |
| 16 | New York Jets- Whitney Mercilus, OLB, Illinois |
| 17 | Cincinnati Bengals- Quentin Coples, DE, UNC |
| 18 | San Diego Chargers- Melvin Ingram, OLB, South Carolina |
| 19 | Chicago Bears- Dontari Poe, DT, Memphis |
| 20 | Tennessee Titans- Bruce Irvin, OLB, West VIrginia |
| 21 | Bengals- Dre Kirkpatrick, CB, Alabama |
| 22 | Browns- Alshon Jeffrey, WR, South Carolina |
| 23 | Detroit Lions- Mike Adams, OT, Ohio State |
| 24 | Pittsburgh Steelers- Dont'a Hightower, ILB, Alabama |
| 25 | Denver Broncos- Jerel Worthy, DT, MSU |
| 26 | Houston Texans- Cordy Glenn, OT, Georgia |
| 27 | New England Patriots- Vinny Curry, OLB, Marshall |
| 28 | Green Bay Packers- Shea McLellin, OLB, Boise State |
| 29 | Baltimore Ravens- Peter Konz, G/C, Wisconsin |
| 30 | San Francisco 49ers- Harrison Smith, S, Notre Dame |
| 31 | Patriots- Brandon Taylor, S, LSU |
| 32 | New York Giants- Jonathan Martin, OT, Stanford |
Finally, here is my final mock draft based on predictions.
| 1 | Indianapolis Colts- Andrew Luck, QB, Stanford |
| 2 | Washington Redskins- Robert Griffin III, QB, Baylor |
| 3 | Minnesota Vikings- Matt Kalil, OT, USC |
| 4 | Cleveland Browns- Trent Richardson, RB, Alabama |
| 5 | T.B. Buccaneers- Morris Claiborne, CB, LSU |
| 6 | St. Louis Rams- Justin Blackmon, WR, OSU |
| 7 | Jacksonville Jaguars- Stephon Gilmore, CB, South Carolina |
| 8 | Miami Dolphins- Ryan Tannehill, QB, A & M |
| 9 | Carolina Panthers- Fletcher Cox, DT, Mississippi St. |
| 10 | Buffalo Bills- Mark Barron, SS, Alabama |
| 11 | Kansas City Chiefs- David DeCastro, OG, Stanford |
| 12 | Seattle Seahawks- Luke Kuechly, ILB, BC |
| 13 | Arizona Cardinals- Michael Floyd, WR, Notre Dame |
| 14 | Dallas Cowboys- Michael Brockers, DL, LSU |
| 15 | Philadelphia Eagles- Michael Brockers, DT, LSU |
| 16 | New York Jets- Melvin Ingram, OLB, South Carolina |
| 17 | Cincinnati Bengals- Chandler Jones, DE, Syracuse |
| 18 | San Diego Chargers- Nick Perry, DE, USC |
| 19 | Chicago Bears- Quentin Coples, DE, UNC |
| 20 | Tennessee Titans- David Lavonte, OLB, Nebraska |
| 21 | Bengals- Dre Kirkpatrick, CB, Alabama |
| 22 | Browns- Reilly Reiff, OT, Iowa |
| 23 | Detroit Lions- Janoris Jenkins, CB, North Alabama |
| 24 | Pittsburgh Steelers- Dont'a Hightower, ILB, Alabama |
| 25 | Denver Broncos- Brandon Thompson, DT, Clemson |
| 26 | Houston Texans- Cordy Glenn, OT, Georgia |
| 27 | New England Patriots- Whitney Mercilus, OLB, Illinois |
| 28 | Green Bay Packers- Shea McLellin, OLB, Boise State |
| 29 | Baltimore Ravens- Peter Konz, G/C, Wisconsin |
| 30 | San Francisco 49ers- Harrison Smith, S, Notre Dame |
| 31 | Patriots- Bruce Irvin, OLB, West Virgina |
| 32 | New York Giants- Bobbie Massie, OT, Mississippi |
