AP Photo/Steve Luciano
With the NFL season officially over, we kick off our weekly mock draft series. Each week, I will have a mock draft that will include trades and any actual moves the team makes.
So without further ado, here is our first mock draft.
Round 1: Pick 3: Drake Maye, QB, North Carolina: It is early in the process and barring a trade by the Bears, I see them drafting Caleb Williams. The urge to draft him will be too much to resist for Chicago. At number two, I see the Commanders opting for Jaylen Daniels as more of a system fit in Kliff Kingsbury’s offense. That means the quarterback most Patriots fans want, Drake Maye falls to New England at three. If that is the case, the Patriots should break the record for submitting their pick. The 6-4 230 pound Maye is a franchise quarterback who can step in start and from day one. He is an athletic pocket passer who can extend plays in or out of the pocket. Maye can also factor into the run game, especially in the red zone. If developed right, he locks down the quarterback position for years to come.
Round 2: Pick 34: Tyler Guyton, OT, Oklahoma: Guyton impressed at the Senior Bowl and projects as a late first rounder. There are questions about his maturity so he could potentially slip into the second round. He has the foot work and athleticism to develop into a starting left tackle in the NFL.
Round 3: Pick 68: Ja’Lynn Polk, WR, Washington: The Patriots would love to take a tight end here but the value just isn’t there so they draft in a young receiver in Polk who has the size (6-2 204) and the skill set to develop into a starting receiver in Alex Van Pelt’s offense. Polk caught 73 passes for 1,191 yards and 10 touchdowns last season.
Round 4: Pick 103: Adisa Issac, EDGE, Penn State: Issac could go sooner but I think he lasts into early day three and the Patriots capitalize. Issac is impressive on tape as a pass rusher as he transitions from speed to power well. He also plays with strong hands and can consistent set an edge against outside runs. The 6-4 255 Issac is unheralded compared to teammate Chop Robinson but he is a good player who can contribute right away.
Round 5: Pick 135: Elijah Jones, CB, Boston College: Like Bill Belichick, Jerod Mayo has a keen interest in collecting cornerback talent. The Patriots could use another one and Jones fits the bill as a long corner who can play on the outside but has also proven he can slide inside and play against slot receivers and tight ends. Jones had 25 tackles, five interceptions and nine passes broken up in 2023.
Round 6: Pick 181: Ladarius Henderson, OT, Michigan: Henderson offers swing versatility. He can play both tackle and guard. He transferred to Michigan from Arizona State where he started 19 games at left guard and 10 at left tackle. He started 10 games for Michigan at left tackle last season. At 6-4 310, he has good length, can get movement in the run game in single blocks and is an athletic pass blocker who can hold up against speed rushers. He would be a tremendous value pick in this spot.
Round 7 (via Chicago Bears): Pick 228: Erick All, TE, Iowa: All transferred to Iowa from Michigan. He has had injury issues throughout his career. He caught 21 passes for 299 yards and three touchdowns last season. He tore his ACL in mid-October and missed the reminder of the season. All would be a solid value pick this late in the draft. He has the size (6-5 250) and the ability to develop into a starting Y in the NFL but needs to prove he can stay healthy.