{"id":99653,"date":"2022-02-18T13:12:07","date_gmt":"2022-02-18T18:12:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.clnsmedia.com\/?p=99653"},"modified":"2022-02-20T22:20:03","modified_gmt":"2022-02-21T03:20:03","slug":"lazars-patriots-mock-draft-1-0-pats-take-stud-wide-receiver-in-first-round","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.clnsmedia.com\/?p=99653","title":{"rendered":"Lazar’s Patriots Mock Draft 1.0: Pats Take Stud Wide Receiver in First Round"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Patriots could take their draft in a million different directions depending on free agency and how their positional clusters come together on their 2022 NFL Draft board.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Bill Belichick\u2019s staff creates a tiered board to maximize value. If the Pats view two prospects at similar talent levels, but one will be available later than the other, it\u2019s trade down or pick elsewhere.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

For example, they were thinking quarterback when New England was on the clock with the 15th pick in the 2021 draft. The Pats could either have Mac Jones or wait for Kyle Trask, Kellen Mond, or Davis Mills in the second round, so they went with Jones to avoid the drop-off.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Finding the sweet spots at wide receiver, cornerback, linebacker, defensive line, and offensive tackle will be critical for the Patriots.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Furthermore, we\u2019ll also consider where the biggest impact is needed in drafting an instant contributor at a position of need.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

With that in mind, here\u2019s our first stab at a mock draft for the Patriots in the 2022 NFL Draft:\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

(Note: We are going with no trades in this version, and maybe all versions. The Patriots will make trades. But I\u2019m far more interested in projecting players rather than trades.)<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

Round One, Pick 21: WR Chris Olave, Ohio State\u00a0<\/span><\/strong><\/h3>\n

The possibility that a technician with excellent initial burst off the line and separation quickness of Olave\u2019s caliber falls to the Patriots in the first round is growing. In his most recent mock draft, ESPN\u2019s Todd McShay had Josh McDaniels and the Raiders selecting Olave at no. 22, while The Athletic\u2019s Dane Brugler had the Ohio State product ranked 25th on his top 100 big board.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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All in on Chris Olave for the #Patriots<\/a> if he falls to them at 21. He's the best route-runner in the class. Olave is excellent at selling vertical stems and getting DBs to respect his ability to go deep, then snaps routes off with great precision. No wasted moves, no drifting. pic.twitter.com\/13RrnKHqRY<\/a><\/p>\n

— Evan Lazar (@ezlazar) January 24, 2022<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n