Locked On Patriots - Daily Podcast On The New England Patriots - New England Patriots 7-Round Mock Draft: Drake Maye at No. 3? Offensive Tackle, Receiver and More

Starting point is 00:00:00 You are Locked On Patriots, your daily New England Patriots podcast. Part of the Locked On Podcast Network, your team every day. Hello to all of you, Foxborough faithful, and thank you once again for making Locked On Patriots a daily part of your New England Patriots coverage. Also, and hopefully your first listen each and every day. Remember, Locked On Patriots is not only a proud part of the Locked On Podcast Network, your team every day, but we're also free and available on all platforms, including YouTube.

Starting point is 00:00:47 So smash that subscribe button, download, subscribe to, and follow Locked On Patriots wherever you get your podcasts to ensure that you get the latest episode as soon as it's available. I'm your host, Mike DeBate. I cover your New England Patriots for Patriots Country of Sports Illustrated. So reach out to me and let me know what's on your mind on X at M-D-A-B-A-T-E NFL. While you're out there

Starting point is 00:01:10 showing some social media love to Locked On Patriots, please follow our account there as well at L-O underscore Patriots. And Pats fans, today's episode is brought to you by FanDuel. Make every moment more. Right now, new customers get $200 in bonus bets with any winning $5 bet.

Starting point is 00:01:29 That's $200 if your bet wins. Visit FanDuel.com to get started. Pats fans, as always, a warm welcome to all of you everydayers joining us here today on the pod. A special welcome to all of you first-timers and all of you casual listeners as well. It is the season to take care of some personal matters, and unfortunately today we weren't able to get back in the Locked On Patriots studios,

Starting point is 00:01:53 but fear not, we'll be back on camera tomorrow, so be sure to stay locked in to Locked On Patriots as we once again come to you from our home base. And for those of you wondering where the mock drafts went this week, our man Thomas Murphy experiencing some technical difficulties difficulties he'll be back in studio shortly so be sure to send in your mock drafts because murph and i will be evaluating and grading all of your great work out there and folks speaking of mock drafts it got me thinking a little bit you guys have done an amazing job when it comes to submitting insightful mock drafts,

Starting point is 00:02:26 evaluating the Patriots' needs, and then making selections based on that. I consider myself so lucky to have such a great fan base here in New England. It takes great pride in the work that they submit. So in that vein, it inspired me to submit my own version of a mock draft here on Locked On Patriots,

Starting point is 00:02:42 something I haven't had the chance to do just yet until today. Don't forget Pats fansed On Patriots, something I haven't had the chance to do just yet until today. Don't forget, Pats fans, the Patriots currently possess eight selections in the upcoming draft, have several needs on this roster, and needless to say, I think the Patriots are going to be among the busiest and most watched teams on draft weekend. Now, we all know that it's highly likely the Patriots are going to complete a trade or two before the draft weekend is done. Here is Mike's 2024 Mock Draft 1.0 and the selections for your New England Patriots.

Starting point is 00:03:11 But for the sake of this argument, it's assumed that the Patriots are going to make all eight selections. So without further ado, let's dive right into Mike's Mock Draft 1.0 here on Locked On Patriots, and we start with round one. Pick number three, probably not a surprise to that many of you. The New England Patriots attempt to find their future franchise quarterback and select North Carolina's Drake May with that number three selection. And of course, folks, I know there's a lot of voids at several key positions for your New England Patriots, but Drake May has been

Starting point is 00:03:45 described by some draft analysts, myself included, as an ideal fit for Alex Van Pelt's offense. Some of you question his accuracy, and there is an argument to be made for that because of his accuracy under pressure, and I'll get into that for just a moment, but overall, Drake May is pretty accurate when throwing the football. He completed 63% of his passes last season, 3,608 yards, 24 touchdowns, and only nine interceptions. He also ran for nine touchdowns. So any questions about whether or not Drake May can get the job done on the ground, he definitely can do that.

Starting point is 00:04:19 What stands out most to me when I watch Drake on the field is his elite arm strength. I don't think anyone can question whether or not this kid can drive the ball down the field with his arm and make the throws to any area on the field that's required of him. And that includes the tight windows, getting the ball into areas where only the receiver can get it, and on occasion, even being able to split the defenders. That's an essential part of any successful NFL quarterback, and Drake May definitely has it. I also love the touch that he can put on the ball

Starting point is 00:04:49 and the velocity that he throws with. Because he's so good with his ball placement, it allows him to navigate the field, and he's one of the best quarterbacks in this draft class at being able to do that. That being said, Drake is also very highly touted for his exceptional athleticism. When the play breaks down, this kid possesses not only the agility, but the instinct to turn some of those

Starting point is 00:05:11 off-script plays that he's so well known for, and even chastised for on occasion, into big-time gains. That's what you want to see in your starting quarterback, and that's why I think the New England Patriots are well-su suited to go with Drake May here at number three. First two picks on the board went exactly the way I expected them to. Caleb Williams going to the Bears. Jaden Daniels going to the Washington Commanders. J.J. McCarthy was sitting out there.

Starting point is 00:05:37 We're going to talk a little bit more about J.J. tomorrow here on Locked On Patriots. But for the sake of this argument, Drake May was still the best fit. Now, I know a lot of you out there have mixed reactions when it comes to Drake. He definitely has his fans within Patriots Nation, but he does have some detractors. And look, I'll be the first to admit, Drake May still has some growing pains that need to be addressed at the professional level. And if he's going to be successful at this level, folks, he has to master the art of temperance. That daredevil-like play style can lead to costly mistakes, and I'm sure the Patriots

Starting point is 00:06:11 don't want to see that happen on a regular basis. As a result, look for guys like Alex Van Pelt and T.C. McCartney to work with Drake. In my opinion, those are tendencies that he can correct with proper coaching. But there is also the question about whether or not Drake can deliver under pressure. Last season with North Carolina, when he was under pressure, it threw off his technique a little bit. Pro Football Focus credited him last year with a 19.6% pressure to sack rate. If you're wondering what the percentage is for successful quarterbacks at the pro level, typically hovers around 10 to 15 percent so that's a high number again these things can be corrected with proper coaching but drake's going

Starting point is 00:06:52 to have to buy into it the encouraging message that came out of his pro day workouts in chapel hill last week is that they tried to simulate pressure and overall drake handled the throws pretty well including something he didn't do a whole lot of last year, and that's accept the check down when the big play was available. If May can learn that Parr is good enough to win at times and not always have to go for the green or the hole-in-one on every single shot, then I think he's got a shot to be a very good quarterback in this league. And ultimately, the Patriots can't lay off that.

Starting point is 00:07:22 The ceiling is too high. Judging by what we've all heard from him the last few weeks, whether it be at the NFL scouting combine or his meetings with the Patriots or any time that he's had to meet with the media, I think he comes into the NFL with the right attitude. And if that's the case, Patriots would be smart to not bypass him at number three and take their potential future franchise quarterback with the third pick in the NFL draft. Folks, we are just getting started on Mike's mock because there are still a lot of holes

Starting point is 00:07:51 to be filled. Yeah, Murph's listening to this. I know he's talking about the offensive line. We're going to address that old line, and we're also going to address the need for Patriots pass catchers when this episode of the Locked On Patriots podcast continues, a proud part of the Locked On Podcast Network, your team every day. Locked On listeners, the sports calendar is loaded and FanDuel is making it even more exciting to get in on the action because right now new customers get $200 in bonus bets with any winning $5 bet.

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Starting point is 00:08:39 So visit fan duel.com slash locked on and make your first bet. A big win. FanDuel, America's number one sportsbook. Patriots fans, thank you once again for joining us here today on Locked On Patriots. And of course, it is Mike's Mock Draft Day 1.0. Without much of a surprise to most of you out there, I have the Patriots going quarterback at number three in round one. And North Carolina's Drake May is now wearing Patriots blue in the world we live in for at least the next few minutes here.

Starting point is 00:09:13 But as you can imagine, the New England Patriots have a significant amount of holes to fill on this roster. And in round two, with the number 34 pick in the 2024 NFL Draft. I have the Patriots going offensive tackle and BYU's Kingsley Sumamatayeya. And folks, Sumamatayeya is not only one of the most underrated offensive tackle prospects in this year's class, but I think he's severely undervalued on several draft pundit big boards across the NFL landscape. This guy is adequately sized at 6'5 and 326 pounds

Starting point is 00:09:49 to be a strong presence along the edge, particularly at left tackle. But he also has great speed and athleticism for an edge blocker of his size. He started as a left tackle last year for the BYU Cougars, and he was reliable in pass protection and showed a great deal of toughness as well as tenacity as a run blocker. So this guy can handle both duties equally as well.

Starting point is 00:10:11 Where I think Kingsley shines above the rest is on quick pulls and screens, and I think that's what would allow him to quickly assimilate into Alex Van Pelt's offense and make him a solid fit here in New England as a tackle that can not only come in and make an impact on this team in 2024, I think he may be your opening day starter at left tackle if the Patriots decide they're going to go this route and select him with the number 34 pick. Like any NFL draft prospect, he has some growing pains as well. His hand placement, his lower body strength, those are in need of development. But if Kingsley Sumataya is available at number 34 for the New England Patriots in the second round, you grab him and you grab him with both hands.

Starting point is 00:10:53 This kid is a potential first-round talent, and ultimately the Patriots get a chance to fill their largest hole along that offensive line. So the Patriots now have filled a hole at quarterback, and they've filled one at offensive tackle, particularly a potential starting left tackle. I know all of you out there are clamoring for a receiver. And in my mock draft, the Patriots are picking one up at number 68 in round three, and that is North Carolina's Tez Walker. And some of you may be excited by this. A few of you are probably groaning at this, but I'll explain exactly why Carolina's Tez Walker. And some of you may be excited by this.

Starting point is 00:11:25 A few of you are probably groaning at this, but I'll explain exactly why I think Tez Walker is a good fit for the New England Patriots. When you put a newly minted quarterback out on the field for the first time, and once again, in the world of this mock draft, it's going to be Drake May, you want to make sure that you're providing

Starting point is 00:11:42 that quarterback with some familiarity. And that's why I think the Patriots take on Walker here a project no question about it but a project with potential last season Tez caught 41 passes for 699 yards and seven touchdowns over eight games for the Tar Heels now he only played eight games because of what I deem to be a very questionable suspension because of the transfer rules. He was actually going to be ruled out for the entire year, but he did get back on the field for the final eight games, and North Carolina was that much the better because

Starting point is 00:12:15 of it. If you're wondering if this kid is a sizable receiver, something the Patriots haven't had a whole lot of lately at that position, 6'2", 200 pounds. He's got the size, but he also has the quickness and the big play ability to make him a solid force on the boundary. He had a strong showing during his NFL scouting combine. He ran the 40 in 4.36 seconds. That's an impressive time, and he also turned out big-time results in both the vertical jump, which was 40.5 inches, and the broad jump at 11 feet 2 inches. Now, he's had his issues with drops, and I know a lot of you are concerned about that.

Starting point is 00:12:50 To be honest with you, I'm concerned about it too. There's also been some talk that he may have some difficulty in recognizing the routes that NFL wide receivers have to run. Once again, they're valid concerns, but when you go back and you take a look at game film on Tez Walker, not just the highlights, because everybody looks good in the highlights, when you look at what he's done on the field, especially after he's made some mistakes, he's shown a resilience and I think an impressive enough acumen to become a solid presence for any NFL team that's in need of a perimeter receiver.

Starting point is 00:13:21 For the Patriots, I think he fills the current void at the X receiver position. He's capable of winning those battles along the perimeter. Don't forget, the Patriots right now have Kendrick Bourne, Demario Douglas, Juju Smith-Schuster, Tyquan Thornton, Keishon Butte, Jalen Rager, and KJ Osborne. Bourne, Douglas, Schuster, and Osborne are most comfortable in the middle. That's where they're going to give you their biggest contributions. Thornton, Rager, and Boutte right now can win matchups on the outside, but we haven't seen them do it consistently yet. Adding one more potential X receiver into that mix,

Starting point is 00:13:55 especially one that's familiar with Drake May, makes a whole lot of sense here. If Tez Walker is sitting there at number 68 in the third round, regardless of which quarterback I brought in, I'm giving him a very strong look and very seriously considering adding him to the roster. So with three down and five to go, you're in a wing when Patriots now have a potential big play pass catcher, possible starting left tackle, and oh yeah, the starting quarterback that everyone has been looking for. But if the Patriots are going to be serious about

Starting point is 00:14:25 trying to rebuild as soon as possible, they're going to have to do so on the line. And with the 103rd pick in the fourth round, Murph's going to like this one, folks. The New England Patriots go back to the offensive line, and they select versatile tackle Dominic Poonie of the University of Kansas. And even though Poonie is listed as a left tackle, he has the versatility to align on the right side of New England's offensive line as well. He was most dependable as the Jayhawks left tackle both in 2022 and in 2023. And my thought process here is that he's going to provide a nice one-two punch with Kingsley Sumataya. He's similarly sized to Kingsley.

Starting point is 00:15:04 Dominic is 6'5", 313 pounds, well-sized to block on either edge, and I think he could provide the Patriots with a solid swing option because he can play right and help spell Michael Wainu as well. While I do predict that he would be the swing option here in New England, don't let that fool you. He is capable of making the occasional spot start, so don't be a bit surprised if the Patriots do draft him to see him get into the starting lineup on occasion and I really think that's true of any team that selects Dominic really impressed with his arm length I think that'll help him make an impact along the line sooner rather than later and this kid also once again has exceptional athleticism for someone of his size. I think he's going to make an immediate impact on the pro level,

Starting point is 00:15:46 and the Patriots making the moves to shore up their offensive line, along with adding a pass catcher in between, is something I believe the Pats would be smart to do. And that's why I made these picks. But folks, we're not done yet. Four down and four to go for the New England Patriots. We haven't addressed the defense yet, and the Patriots are about to do so in a big way with two players

Starting point is 00:16:07 I was surprised to see available at their given slots. And don't worry, we're still going to address the offense because there are still needs on this team when this episode of the Locked On Patriots podcast continues, a proud part of the Locked On Podcast Network, your team, every day. This show is sponsored by BetterHelp. Locked On listeners, how is your social battery right now?

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Starting point is 00:18:23 Podcast Network, your team every day. And folks, we continue on with the eight selections made by your team, your New England Patriots, here on Mike's Mock Draft 1.0. And in the previous segment, we addressed the Patriots' needs at offensive line and even got ourselves a pretty decent pass catcher in between. But you know as well as I that even though the Patriots' defense was the strength of this team last year, you still can't ignore the preventive side of the ball. And I, as pseudo-Patriots GM, did not do that.

Starting point is 00:18:53 With pick number 137 in the fifth round of the 2024 NFL Mock Draft, the Patriots select safety Sione Vahke out of Utah. And folks, this may end up being a poignant pick. We all heard the recent report from Andrew Callahan of the Boston Herald saying that Kyle Duggar is not exactly thrilled with the fact that the Patriots hit him with the transition tag. In fact, it's looking more likely now than ever that Kyle Duggar may end up playing his football elsewhere in New England. If that's the case, the Patriots have a huge void at safety to fill. Even if Kyle does come back, which still is very much a possibility, folks, the Patriots

Starting point is 00:19:31 still have a need here. And in the fifth round at number 137, Vaki fills the void of being a work in progress. However, I love this kid's strength and I love his tackling abilities. And to me, that makes him worth the fifth round investment. Last season for the Utes he had 50 total tackles and interception and two passes defended. When he's at his best Sione is a solid free safety. He's got a strong instinct for finding the football and he even has previous experience carrying the football as a third down option on offense. So if the Patriots were to draft him, don't be a bit surprised to see him used on some trickery type plays. If you're going for the trifecta here and you want to know the third reason why the Patriots may be interested in Sione Vahki, he is

Starting point is 00:20:15 a standout special teamer. But for the sake of argument, I'm choosing him as a defensive back, and I think the Patriots would likely utilize him as either a single high defender or potentially in the slot. That's where he was at his best for Utah throughout his collegiate career. If he's going to be a reliable third option or even a second option at the position, he's going to need to develop his skills as a center field defender, and that's where the familiarity in the secondary of cornerbacks coach Mike Pellegrino and safeties coach Brian Belichick is going to come in big time. They're going to have to work with this kid. Once again, a work in progress, but I really like what I see from Sione Vaki. I think he can develop as a solid

Starting point is 00:20:54 option for this team, and that's why when I saw him available on this board, I realized the Patriots could not bypass the fifth round without adding him into the fold. So the Patriots finally get on the board with a defender. And for the next pick here on this draft, I went back-to-back defense. We're into the sixth round now at pick number 180, and I have the Patriots selecting Alabama defensive lineman Justin Aboibe with the Patriots' first pick in the sixth round. And to me, Aboibe falling to the Patriots in round six has the potential to be a draft steal i like what this kid can do and i think he'd be a solid depth piece to the patriots defensive line this year he's got good size six five 290 pounds in my opinion has all the physical

Starting point is 00:21:38 tools and that high motor that you love to see in a defender especially a young defender to be effective within the Patriots front seven. He's at his best when defending the run, and I think that's where New England would use him. Aboibi has a great first step, a very quick first step, and he combines that with a solid amount of power in his upper body. In most of the tape that I've watched on him, he anchors very well when defending the pass, but on more than one occasion, you can see very skilled offensive linemen trying to circumvent Justin's strength with very good hand technique and hand placement, and that's how they win their battles against him. If the Patriots can coach him up in that regard, I really like the impact that he can have. And let's not forget that Alabama defenders

Starting point is 00:22:20 do very well in this system. Anyone who's played under Nick Saban down with the Crimson Tide can tell you that prepares you well for the type of defense the Patriots are going to be playing. For as much as we expect a new look on the offense this year, that defense is going to stay pretty much intact. So that Belichickian blueprint under DeMarcus Covington and ultimately Gerard Mayo should be a good fit for a boy B. And again, that Saban experience gives him a leg up on the competition so once again if he happens to be sitting there I don't think the

Starting point is 00:22:50 Patriots are going to be able to pass him up so the Patriots address two needs on defense but I continue to read the room I know the Patriots need help on offense and one thing they really don't have on this offense right now is a good blocking tight end. And a couple of weeks ago, our good friend, the Countess of Clas herself, Ms. Claire Clasie Claire Cooper, joined me on Lockdown Patriots, and we both sung the praises of this young man that I have selected for the Patriots with the number 193 pick in the sixth round. Coincidentally, the pick the Patriots acquired from the Jacksonville Jaguars

Starting point is 00:23:25 in the Mac Jones trade to select Illinois tight end Tip Ryman and once again 6'5 271 pounds this kid is a sizable presence at the position no question about it I'm bringing him in for his blocking talent and I'll get back to that in just a second but I do want to point out that he does have some potential as a situational pass catching tight end Illinois deployed him in that role a few times in 2023 and it was met with pretty good results but ultimately his impact is going to be as a blocker that sizable frame allows him to drive his blocks by using his leg strength from his first step to the point of initial contact so in, you're not going to push this guy around. His hand placement could use some development, but I believe where he's going to shine and stand out is his ability to take on the double teams and the combo blocks.

Starting point is 00:24:14 That's why I think he's pro ready. He did such a great job of that last year for the Illini. I can see him doing something similar for the Patriots this season. And for a prospect of his size, great athleticism, really impressive agility. He ran the 40-yard dash in 4.64 seconds at last month's NFL Scouting Combine. And bottom line, folks, I think Tip could be a very good complementary tight end to both Hunter Henry and Austin Hooper at the top of the depth chart. And folks, with one to go, the Patriots are about to select their very own Mr. Irrelevant, but I assure you, for this exercise, this gentleman is anything but immaterial. With the 231st pick in the NFL draft in the seventh round, the New England

Starting point is 00:24:57 Patriots select guard Mason McCormick out of South Dakota State. And folks, I think it would take a stroke of luck for Mason McCormick to be sitting there at number 231 in the seventh round. But as we say many times here, when we're critiquing your great work, you play the board as it lies. I like the fact that McCormick plays the interior with a bit of a mean streak. In that regard, he reminds me a little bit of Cole Strange. This guy finishes his blocks with authority. Once again, a player you're not going to be able to easily push around. So again, bringing some more toughness to the Patriots interior of the offensive line is a good thing. But here's where Mason McCormick could be a very

Starting point is 00:25:36 good New England Patriot and a very valuable New England Patriot. Alex Van Pelt is looking to modernize this offense. If he's going to look to utilize pulling guards and select run packages I think McCormick would be quite effective in this role however many of you may question why he does fall to a late day three selection in a lot of draft boards not just the one for this mock draft well that's because Mason needs to show a little more consistency in his footwork both in his run blocking and in pass protection. So the Patriots coaching staff would definitely have to coach him up in that regard. Nonetheless, he's a high upside prospect, and in my humble opinion, he's worth more than

Starting point is 00:26:14 that seventh rounder I invested for the Patriots to secure his services. So folks, there you have it. Eight picks in seven rounds for your New England Patriots, starting with the number three overall selection of Drake May, the quarterback out of North Carolina, and ending up in round seven at number 231 with guard Mason McCormick of South Dakota State. And please continue to submit your 2024 mock drafts right here on Locked On Patriots

Starting point is 00:26:41 as our good friend Thomas Murphy makes his return to the airwaves and we're going to continue to grade all of your great work throughout the month of April. In the meantime, I'm Mike DeBate and I continue to remind you all to stay safe and to stay well and to be the change you wish to see in the world. Have a great day, everyone, and we'll see you back here again tomorrow

Starting point is 00:27:00 on Locked on Patriots.

Locked On Patriots - Daily Podcast On The New England Patriots - New England Patriots 7-Round Mock Draft: Drake Maye at No. 3? Offensive Tackle, Receiver and More

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