The Patriots don’t have a first round pick but they have two seconds, two three and four sixth round picks. Bill Belichick and his scouts have plenty of ammo to move around and pick the players they want. Here are five players that profile as Patriots type players that could be available to the Patriots.
1. Jason Spriggs, OT, Indiana: Spriggs probably won’t be there tomorrow night when the Patriots pick at number 60 but if he’s in the 40’s, Belichick should make a couple of phone calls and try to move and get him. At 6-6 305, Spriggs is long and athletic. He has the potential to be a franchise left tackle if he is given time to develop. With Sebastian Vollmer a free agent after the 2016 season, the Patriots need to come out of this draft with one offensive tackle. Spriggs would be a terrific pick up.
2. Carl Nassib, DE, Penn State: Nassib is a Belichick kind of guy. He walked on at Penn State and by his senior year, turned into one of the best defensive players in the country. At 6-7 275, Nassib has the size, length and athleticism to start as either a nine technique defensive end or kick inside and play the three technique defensive tackle. Nassib is a grinder. He is a high motor type player who only knows one speed. He is a Patriot type player.
3. Noah Spence, DE, Eastern Kentucky: Go ahead, call me crazy. I know Spence won’t be there at 60 but he is dropping and I think from a scheme fit, he would be a great fit for the Patriots. Belichick likes defensive ends in 6-3, 6-4, 260-275 range because they are explosive off the ball and they can play down the line of scrimmage. Spence has character issues and he didn’t test well at the combine or his pro day. His stock is down. Again, I doubt he’ll be there at 60, but if he’s in the fifties, Belichick should consider making a move up for him.
4. Devonte Booker, RB, Utah: I really like Booker’s size and his style of running. At 5-11, 230, Booker has the build of an every down back. Although he absorbed a lot of carries at Utah the last two years, he’s still relatively fresh compared to Derrick Henry or Kenneth Dixon. Booker has more carries left in him than those guys. The Patriots need a back who carry the ball 20 times a game on occasion. Booker is that type of back. He can be the “game plan” specific running back. I know this is still Tom Brady’s team but eventually, the Patriots will need to run the ball more to protect Brady. A young back like Booker makes sense.
5. Cyrus Jones, CB, Alabama: Jones fits the mold physically in terms of what Belichick looks for in a corner back. At 5-11 197, Jones has good height, he’s fluid athletically and has terrific ball skills. He is a player that has the talent to develop into a starting corner a year or two down the road. With Logan Ryan an unrestricted free agent next off-season and Malcolm Butler a restricted free agent, the Patriots need to draft a couple of corners in this draft. Jones could be a possibility at 60 or 61.