With at least the draft-pick portion of the DeflateGate scandal sticking, the New England Patriots are without a first-round pick this season. While missing out on one pick may not seem like it’s that big a deal, especially since the Patriots would pick at No. 29 if they hadn’t been forced to surrender the pick, the early quarterbacks off the board and the desperation many teams will feel on their offensive line could have really sent a quality player New England’s way.
As it is, the Patriots will have to use the picks they have. Now, putting together a New England draft is always ridiculous because they trade around so much. I can’t even begin to calculate that kind of thing in so here as Perfect a Patriots Mock Draft as I can put together.
To see every team’s Perfect Draft click here.
Round 2, Pick 60 – Kenneth Dixon, RB, Louisiana Tech
2015: 198 carries, 1,073 yards, 19 touchdowns, 33 catches, 464 yards, seven touchdowns, 5-foot-10, 215 pounds
If Dixon needed an exclamation point to get snagged in the second round it was his 203 total yards in his final college football game, a 47-28 win over Arkansas State in the New Orleans Bowl. Dixon has a rare combination of talents. He’s a power runner that can punch through the line, but he’s got soft hands and can contribute in the passing game. He’ll instantly be the best running back the Patriots have had on the roster since Corey Dillon.
Round 2, Pick 61 – Adolphus Washington, DT, Ohio State
2015: 49 tackles, seven tackles for a loss, four sacks, one interception, one defensive touchdown, one forced fumble, one fumble recovery, 6-foot-3, 310 pounds
The Patriots have shed defensive linemen this offseason either by cutting them or by trading them over the last two seasons. Washington is a good, solid replacement for those departures. Washington didn’t get to play in the Buckeyes’ bowl game thanks to a suspension which surely dropped him out of the top of the first round. The Pats have a knack for players like him falling into their laps.
Round 3, Pick 91 – Jason Fanaika, DE, Utah
2015: 50 tackles, 10.5 for a loss, four sacks, four passes defended, two forced fumbles, 6-foot-2, 271 pounds
A little undersized for a defensive end, but he makes up for it raw power and strength. He can suqat 830 pounds and bench 495 and should be able to use that strength to overpower offensive lineman. He just needs the coaching and the reps.
Round 3, Pick 96 – Temarrick Hemingway, TE, South Carolina State
2015: 38 catches, 418 yards, one touchdown, 6-foot-5, 244 pounds
Hemingway may have been listed as a tight end at SC State, but he played nearly every position in the passing game, lining up at the Y tight end, the wing and the slot depending on the play. He has the size to block in the running game and be a factor in the red zone. The Patriots love tight ends and it’s never a stretch to think they’ll pick one like Hemingway to develop.
Round 6, Pick 196 – Dadi Lhomme Nicolas, OLB, Virginia Tech
2015: 45 tackles, seven for a loss, 2.5 sackls, two passes defended, two forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries, 6-foot-3, 235 pounds
Nicolas is a project at outside linebacker in the pros, but he has all the tools including 4.63 speed like he proved at his pro day. He spent the last four seasons playing defensive end at Virginia Tech and can be a role player and rush end early.
Round 6, Pick 204 – Ron Thompson, DE, Syracuse
2015: 35 tackles, 9.5 for a loss, seven sacks, four passes defended, one fumble recovery, four forced fumbles, 6-foot-3, 253 pounds
Thompson mainly played defensive end over the last two seasons, but before that spent time at defensive tackle, delivering at that spot too. He’s athletic and was actually recruited as a tight end out of high school.
Round 6, Pick 208 – Ted Karras, OG, Illinois
2015: All Big 10 for two seasons, 6-foot-4, 307 pounds
Karras is the great nephew of Alex Karras who you might know as Mongo from Blazing Saddles or Webster’s adoptive dad. He was a pretty good football player too. Karras is a four-year starter at guard and paved the way for some outstanding rushers.
Round 6, Pick 214 – Taylor Fallin, OT, Memphis
2015: Three-year starter, 6-foot-6, 339 pounds
Fallin is a monster-sized tackle that has spent the last few seasons helping first-round quarterback prospect Paxton Lynch stay upright. He’s especially good as a run blocker, using his size and strength to overpower defensive ends and linebackers. He’s a disciplined guy too and was only called for one holding penalty in 2015.
Round 6, Pick 221 – Luke Rhodes, ILB, William & Mary
2015: 78 tackles, 5.5 for a loss, two forced fumbles, one fumble recovery, four passes defended, 6-foot-2, 236 pounds
Of all the players on this list, none looks more like a Bill Belichick defneder than Rhodes. He was a Butkis award finalist last season, the only FCS player to make the list.
Round 7, Pick 243 – Clayton Fejedelem, Safety, Illinois
2015: 140 tackles, 4.5 for a loss, two interceptions, seven passes defended, one forced fumble, 6-foot-0, 204 pounds
Fejedelem doesn’t only have the name of some sort of planet in a Thor movie, he plays like he belongs in one too. Those stats are real, NCAA Division I FBS safety stats. He’s fast too for a safety, putting down a 4.54 40 at his pro day.
Round 7, Pick 250 – Quinton Jefferson, DT, Maryland
2015: 39 tackles, 12.5 for a loss, 6.5 sacks, one interception, one pass defended, one fumble recovery, one forced fumble, 6-foot-4, 291 pounds
Any depth issues the Pats had entering this draft along their defensive front are fixed with Jefferson being the final piece of the puzzle. He’s strong, productive and surprisingly athletic, putting down a 4.88 40 at his pro day and a 4.37 shuttle.
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