{"id":103464,"date":"2022-04-27T22:17:14","date_gmt":"2022-04-28T02:17:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.clnsmedia.com\/?p=103464"},"modified":"2022-04-28T17:14:19","modified_gmt":"2022-04-28T21:14:19","slug":"patriots-mailbag-who-is-on-the-shortlist-for-the-patriots-in-the-first-round-of-the-draft","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.clnsmedia.com\/?p=103464","title":{"rendered":"Patriots Mailbag: Who is on the Shortlist For the Patriots in the First Round of the Draft?"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Patriots find themselves in a familiar position heading into the 2022 NFL Draft.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

New England will wait until the 21st selection to see their options and don\u2019t need a quarterback. The more things change for Bill Belichick, the more they stay the same.<\/span><\/p>\n

Although the sense is that the Patriots would like to accumulate more picks on days two and three by trading down, Belichick\u2019s message to his staff is the same every year: \u201cwe have to be prepared to pick (at our assigned choice)\u201d since there\u2019s no guarantee that a trade market will come to fruition.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

After polling multiple scouts around the league, here\u2019s a shortlist of potential targets for the Patriots with the 21st selection:<\/span><\/p>\n

LB Devin Lloyd, Utah<\/strong> <\/a>– The Pats are on the record about their desires to add speed and playmakers on defense, with Lloyd checking both boxes. He\u2019s a physical downhill striker with terrific sideline-to-sideline range, can rush the quarterback from on or off the line, and is one of the draft\u2019s best coverage linebackers. Lloyd\u2019s game has a Jerod Mayo-like feel to it.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

CB Trent McDuffie, Washington<\/strong><\/a> – Cerebral, speedy, and the best tackler among this year\u2019s cornerback class, McDuffie would give Belichick a matchup weapon on defense. With Tyreek Hill and the Bills\u2019 spread scheme in the division, McDuffie\u2019s play speed and ability to limit yards after the catch would sure up New England\u2019s secondary. Will he fall to 21? Other fits at corner included Kaiir Elam and UW teammate Kyler Gordon.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

OT Trevor Penning, Northern Iowa<\/strong><\/a> – New England has actively poked around the offensive line class throughout the pre-draft process, especially at the top of the draft. Penning\u2019s technique is raw, but his nasty play demeanor and elite athletic profile suggest he will be a very good pro. With the \u201cbig three\u201d tackles expected to go early, a few of the scouts we spoke with don\u2019t think Penning will be there at 21, and Seattle is among the teams eying Penning ahead of New England. Bernard Raimann is next in line, but the Central Michigan left tackle\u2019s age (25) and lack of experience (18 starts) aren\u2019t first-round worthy.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

IOL Zion Johnson, Boston College<\/strong><\/a> – Although it\u2019s tough to stomach using the 21st pick on a guard, the Pats will address interior offensive line at some point after parting ways with Ted Karras and Shaq Mason this offseason. Johnson has offensive line coaches around the league swooning due to his pro-ready technique and playing strength. It\u2019s cliche to say, but he\u2019s truly a plug-and-play starter.<\/span><\/p>\n

DB Daxton Hill, Michigan<\/strong><\/a> – A versatile, high IQ defensive back from a Patriots feeder school, Hill is among the best pure coverage talents in the draft. He has the fluidity to play outside or slot corner with the range and route awareness to line up as a deep safety. We\u2019ve used the Devin McCourty comparison with Hill before.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

LB Quay Walker, Georgia<\/strong><\/a> – Walker would file under the \u201csurprise\u201d category if he\u2019s selected at 21, but mark this one down as a trade down target who they\u2019d be okay with at their original choice. Walker plays all over the defense with an insane wingspan, elite athleticism, and adds physicality to meet running backs in the trenches and blitz the quarterback. The Patriots would love to get a dose of the Georgia defense to Foxborough.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

One possibility not mentioned above is New England drafting another wide receiver in the first round. The DeVante Parker trade combined with the 2021 free-agent acquisitions already serves as investments by the team there. The other obstacle is that the Patriots will likely miss out on top prospects like Jameson Williams and Chris Olave.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

But continuing to surround second-year quarterback Mac Jones with more firepower is undoubtedly the elephant in the room for the Patriots.<\/span><\/p>\n

In a draft that lacks a clear consensus in the top 20, there are endless possibilities for the Patriots when they\u2019re on the clock, which should be at roughly 10:30 pm ET on Thursday night.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Without further ado, let\u2019s empty the Patriots draft mailbag on the morning of the 2022 NFL Draft:<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

who will be the main one drafting here? belichick or groh<\/p>\n

— Asad (@RobTouchdownSki) April 27, 2022<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n