Blog by: @CaptnJack24 

Needs: DL, TE, OG, OC, Safety, WR, RB, LB

1st Round (29)

Options at 29 should be a pretty solid combination of talent and filling needs the team has. There is always the possibility that the Patriots trade out of the first round. The 29th pick has added value with the addition of a 5th year team option in a rookie contract when that player is drafted in the 1st round. This makes teams like Houston, Cleveland, Jacksonville, and Oakland all possibilities to trade up to find their QB of the future or some other player they value enough to make the move up for the 5th year option. Even with the value this pick presents, in my opinion the Patriots should not trade out of the 1st round. There is a small window left with BB and TB12 that the Patriots need to take advantage of and get impact players in the program now. The best place to find these impact players is in the 1st round. The popular pick for the 29th pick is Dominique Easley, DT out of Florida. Personally I love this pick, he fills a need of depth on the DL and was a dominant force in the SEC before his injury this past season. If it weren’t for his injury, he would be a top 10 pick. So for now, I agree with most, the pick is Easley.

Other options: Austin Seferian-Jenkins (TE-Washington), Jace Amaro (TE-Texas Tech), Ra’shede Hageman (DT-Minnesota)

Dark Horse: Kelvin Benjamin (WR-Florida State)

2nd Round (62nd)

With the Defensive Line need filled with the Easley pick the Patriots can turn to another need with the 2nd round pick. The pick I like here is Troy Niklas, TE, Notre Dame. Niklas is a great athlete and would be a phenomenal complement to Rob Gronkowski, not to mention a weapon for Brady.

Other Options: Daquan Jones (DT-Penn St), Bishop Sankey (RB-Washington), Scott Crichton (DE-Oregon St)

3rd Round (93rd)

With the Pats 3rd round pick I would like to see them try to shore up the interior offensive line. A guy that could do it is Trai Turner, OG, LSU. Turner is a bit raw, but it talented and versatile, with the ability to play both Guard and Center. If Turner can fill out the potential that he has, this could be a steal for the Patriots.

Other Options: Martavis Bryant (WR-Clemson), Jeremy Hill (RB-LSU), Charles Sims (RB-West Va)

4th Round (130th)

There comes a time when you need to fill the whole behind Tom Brady, and potentially fill it for the future going forward. Ryan Mallett never has been and never will be that guy. With the first of their two picks in the 4th round, we’re going with Aaron Murray, QB, Georgia. Murray’s stock has fallen and he has been a bit overlooked due to a knee injury sustained late last fall. He would be the perfect guy to hold a clipboard and learn from the best for a couple of seasons, think Rodgers→Favre.

Other Options: Arthur Lynch (TE-UGA), Mike Davis (WR-Texas), Lache Seastrunk (RB-Baylor)

4th Round (140th)

With the other needs beginning to be filled and the interior offensive line still being a glaring need, a player that could fill that need at this spot in the draft is Brandon Thomas, Clemson, OT/OG. Thomas played LT in college and was extremely good his senior year, shutting down stars like Jadeveon Clowney and Mario Edwards. Thomas was projected as a potential all pro guard before tearing his ACL while training for the draft, when his stock fell from 2nd round to 4th.

Other Options: Bruce Ellington (WR-USuCk), Will Sutton (DT-Arizona St), Robert Herron (WR-Wyoming), Travis Swanson (C-Arkansas)

6th Round (198th) The Patriots could use another weapon and more explosiveness on offense. Generally speaking that can be tough to find in the 6th round. For some reason, the 2nd most explosive player in the draft seems to have fallen like a rock through the rankings. Look for a steal here, De’Anthony Thomas, RB/WR, Oregon. A home run threat out of the backfield, slot, return game, Thomas can take the ball to the house every time he touches the ball.

Other options: Craig Loston (SS-LSU), Prince Shembo (LB-Notre Dame), Taylor Gaffney (RB-Stanford)

6th Round (206th)

The Patriots have spent all but one pick thus far on offense, so it’s time to add some defensive talent. Craig Loston (SS-LSU)  is the best available player that can be left here. He is a hard hitter, solid in run support, and a good complement to Mccourty in the secondary.

Other Options: Shembo, Gaffney, Denicos Allen (LB-Michigan St)

7th Round (244th) Another player that could add to depth on the d-line, Easley’s Florida teammate, Ronald Powell, DE/OLB. Powell was a former #1 overall recruit and never really filled out his potential at Florida. Even so, he could potentially help the team on the D-Line with some NFL coaching and could be a guy that could find his way into the fold as a pass rusher.

Other Options: Ben Gardner (DE-Stanford), Tre Boston (SS-UNC), Vinnie Sunseri (S-Alabama)