Locked On Patriots - Daily Podcast On The New England Patriots - New England Patriots: Eliot Wolf Pre-Draft Press Conference, Drake Maye or Trade? Mike’s Mock 2.0

Episode Date: April 19, 2024

With the NFL Draft just one week away, New England Patriots director of scouting Eliot Wolf has declared the Pats “open for business.” Does that mean drafting a future franchise quarterback or tra...ding the pick to maximize capital? Host Mike D’Abate discusses drafting Drake Maye at No. 3 in the Locked On NFL Mock Draft and offers his latest mock draft. #NFL #NFLDraft #Patriots  Find and follow Locked On Patriots on your favorite podcast platforms: Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast... Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1c5ZxFm... Stitcher: https://www.stitcher.com/show/locked-... And follow host Mike D’Abate on X, where he’ll be sharing the latest news about the New England Patriots and talking with fans — @mdabateNFL Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Monopoly GO!Get in the game and join your friends. Download MONOPOLY GO! now free on The App Store or Google Pay. The mobile hit twist on classic MONOPOLY. Yahoo FinanceFor comprehensive financial news and analysis, visit the brand behind every great investor, YahooFinance.com. eBay MotorsFor parts that fit, head to eBay Motors and look for the green check. Stay in the game with eBay Guaranteed Fit at eBayMotos.com. Let’s ride. eBay Guaranteed Fit only available to US customers. Eligible items only. Exclusions apply. LinkedInLinkedIn Jobs helps you find the qualified candidates you want to talk to, faster. Post your job for free at LinkedIn.com/LOCKEDONNFL. Terms and conditions apply. BetterHelpThis episode is sponsored by BetterHelp. Make your brain your friend, with BetterHelp. Visit BetterHelp.com/LOCKEDON today to get 10% off your first month. GametimeDownload the Gametime app, create an account, and use code LOCKEDONNFL for $20 off your first purchase. FanDuelFanDuel, America’s Number One Sportsbook. Right now, NEW customers get ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTY DOLLARS in BONUS BETS with any winning GUARENTEED That’s A HUNDRED AND FIFTY BUCKS – win or lose! Visit FanDuel.com/LOCKEDON to get started. FANDUEL DISCLAIMER: 21+ in select states. First online real money wager only. Bonus issued as nonwithdrawable free bets that expires in 14 days. Restrictions apply. See terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit FanDuel.com/RG (CO, IA, MD, MI, NJ, PA, IL, VA, WV), 1-800-NEXT-STEP or text NEXTSTEP to 53342 (AZ), 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat (CT), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 (WY, KS) or visit ksgamblinghelp.com (KS), 1-877-770-STOP (LA), 1-877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY), TN REDLINE 1-800-889-9789 (TN)

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Starting point is 00:00:00 Elliot Wolfe has declared the Patriots open for business, but are they still all the way for May? Stick around, you're about to be locked in to the Locked On Patriots Podcast. 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 the daily part of your New England Patriots coverage. And also, hopefully, your first listen each and every day. Remember that Locked On Patriots is not only a proud part of the Locked On Podcast Network, your team every day,
Starting point is 00:00:45 but we're also free and available on all platforms, including YouTube. So smash that subscribe button and download and follow Locked On Patriots wherever you get your podcasts to ensure that you're getting the latest episode as soon as it's available. I'm your host, Mike DeBate. I cover your New England Patriots for Patriots country. So reach out to me and let me know what's on your mind on X at
Starting point is 00:01:07 MDABATENFL. While you're out there showing some social media love to Locked On Patriots, please be sure to follow our account there as well at LO underscore Patriots. And Pats fans, today's episode is brought to you by Monopoly Go.
Starting point is 00:01:23 I'll admit it, I have a competitive side, and that part of me that loves competition is a big fan of Monopoly Go. The mobile hit twist on the classic Monopoly, so please join your friends and download Monopoly Go right now, free, on the
Starting point is 00:01:39 App Store or on Google Play. And Pats fans, thank you very much for joining me here today on Locked On Patriots. As you can see, we are once again coming to you from a remote location. Some technical problems in the Locked On studios today, but don't worry, we will be back and back in a big way for your Friday. We'll tease that in just a little bit coming up. But of course, with the NFL draft just one week away new england patriots director of scouting
Starting point is 00:02:06 elliot wolf has declared the patriots open for business and even though most of the draft pundits out there still believe that your new england patriots going to be taking a strong look at the quarterback position with that number three overall pick wolf maintained that all options are on the table. And that includes trading that number three pick, that crown jewel of their draft table. And Elliott was very candid when he met with the media on Thursday morning for what is an annual tradition for the New England Patriots, but Elliott's first as director of scouting, holding a pre-draft press conference. He said, quote, we're open to anything, moving up, moving down. We're open for business in the first round or in any round.
Starting point is 00:02:50 We're a draft and developed team, so the more picks we have, the better. And as you're listening to that, I know it's going to elicit some polarizing reaction. Are you excited that the Patriots are open to any and all options? Or are you pretty upset that the Patriots are not locked into taking a quarterback at number three? Well, good news for those of you that believe the Patriots should do that. Because Elliot Wolfe was very complimentary of this year's quarterback class. He said that both he and the team would be comfortable if they selected a quarterback in the first round.
Starting point is 00:03:20 What was interesting is that he said that all of the top six quarterbacks on the board are intriguing in their own right yeah that's right folks i said top six a lot of people are thinking this is down to a dual choice of jayden daniels or drake may maybe with jj mccarthy as an outside dark horse but don't forget the patriots had michael pennix in for a visit earlier this week they also reportedly have done their due diligence on guys like Bo Nix and Caleb Williams, so you can never be sure until draft night what's going to happen. Well, in that vein, all of us here on the Locked On Podcast Network, all of my esteemed colleagues, each of the hosts of the NFL channels, recently got together for our annual mock
Starting point is 00:04:02 draft. And as you can imagine, the number three pick was highly coveted. Yeah, I felt like a pseudo GM for a little bit. My phone was buzzing for days in advance to this. And I kid you not, folks, a lot of teams offering a lot of picks. There were even deals that were being made on contingency based on what I was going to do. So yeah, yours truly definitely felt some power at the controls of the Locked On Podcast Network's mock draft for 2024.
Starting point is 00:04:30 I'll admit there were some tempting offers out there on the table. And to protect the identity of my colleagues, I'm not going to spill any tea here, but let's say I went with my gut on this one. I felt strongly enough in staying at the number three pick overall, and that's exactly what I did. No big surprise. I selected Drake May, quarterback, North Carolina, with the number three overall selection. And folks, if you did listen to or you saw last night's national show,
Starting point is 00:04:56 check it out. It's on the YouTube feed. If you're listening to us on Spotify or on Apple Podcasts, it's definitely in the feed. I strongly suggest that you check that out. This was a masterfully done production by our Locked On team. One of my favorite times of year is getting together with my colleagues and doing these. We have a blast.
Starting point is 00:05:14 You'll see it right off the bat. So please be sure to check out the replay of the draft in its entirety and also the clip of the one, two, and three picks that really focus on your New England Patriots. You're going to love it. You can find it wherever you get your podcasts on the Locked On Podcast Network. But as you can recall, a couple of weeks ago here on Locked On Patriots, I ran my own mock draft 1.0.
Starting point is 00:05:37 I've been very vocal of the fact that really for the last month or so, I've been pretty locked into Drake May as the best fit for this team. And as Don Vito Corleone would say, I'm going to give you my reasons. Well, I gave you a lot of my reasons the last time. But for those of you that haven't checked out this year's Locked On NFL Mock Draft, here's a clip of my quick post-pick thoughts on choosing Drake May for the Pats at number three. What do you get for the team that needs, well, everything? In this case, you start with the most high profile and arguably the most important position on the field, and that's the quarterback. Drake May has all of the physical tools and the skill set to be a solid quarterback
Starting point is 00:06:17 at the pro level. 6'4", 223 pounds, he has the arm strength to make the throws to any area of the field, and his ability to maneuver in and around the pocket and make plays with his legs means that defenses have to account for his whereabouts on every single snap. If he can control his tendencies to push the big play when a simple check down will do, he's going to be exactly what the New England Patriots need at the position. Again, the Pats have a lot of holes on this roster. They're going to need to build the talent and protection around Drake before he's able to realize his full potential. But the presence of Jacoby Brissett will allow him to learn the pro game at his own pace
Starting point is 00:06:55 from one of the best veteran mentors in the game today. So there you have it, folks. Drake May comes to the New England Patriots with the number three overall pick, not just here on Locked On Patriotsots but throughout the locked on podcast network if you recall a couple of years ago i predicted the patriots would take mac jones at number 15 overall yeah i know that didn't work out so well for the patriots on the field but i was right in my prediction let's see if i can be right on patriots quarterbacks two times in a row we'll find out next Thursday night.
Starting point is 00:07:25 But again, I fully acknowledge the drawbacks here on taking Drake May. I and several of my guests here on Locked On Patriots have discussed that several times. I know about the gunslinger mentality, always pushing the big play, his ability not only to handle but also be level-headed when facing pressure. These are things that Drake May is going to have to overcome to be the quarterback we all hope he can be here in New England. But when it comes to Drake, I've seen enough to know that I've seen too much. The ceiling for this kid is definitely worth the risk, and that's why I made the move,
Starting point is 00:07:57 and that's why I believe the Patriots are going to do that too in approximately one week. But even though my colleagues stopped at round one on our Locked On Podcast Network mock draft, I wasn't about to stop the mock draft fun. That's right, folks. To keep the good times rolling here on Locked On Patriots, I kept going, and I did have some fun on this one.
Starting point is 00:08:17 And like so many of you out there, I placed a lot of emphasis on the offense in this draft. In fact, I think I placed more emphasis on the offense than the Patriots will in their actual draft coming up next weekend. But do you believe my finished product was worth it? Well, in order for you to determine that, you're going to have to see what that finished product is. You can decide when this episode of the Locked On Patriots podcast continues, a proud part
Starting point is 00:08:42 of the Locked On Podcast on podcast network your team every day Patriots fans as locked on Patriots everydayers you know that I tend to be on the mild-mannered side you might even say overly polite well guess what I have a competitive side too we all do and my competitive side is a big fan of monopoly go i'm sure you've heard of it it's been downloaded over 150 million times it's a great twist on monopoly where you play on not one but hundreds of monopoly boards in crazy locations building up amazing cities that bring you big money but the best part is messing with my friends i can charge them rent on my iconic properties just like classic monopoly but now i can also heist their vaults of riches
Starting point is 00:09:32 all for myself and leaderboards show me who the biggest monopoly tycoon is but it's not just my competitive side that loves it you can team up with friends and people all around the world in timed tournaments to earn huge rewards. So get in the game and join your friends. Download Monopoly Go now free on the App Store or on Google Play. Patriots fans, thank you once again for joining me here today on Mike's Patriots seven round mock draft 2.0 episode of Locked On Patriots. In the first round, kind of tip my hand a little bit as to my decision for your New England Patriots on the annual Locked On NFL mock draft, which took place on Wednesday
Starting point is 00:10:16 evening here on the Locked On Podcast Network. Not a big surprise. My selection was quarterback Drake May out of North Carolina with number three. But in order to keep the fun going here on Locked On Patriots, I didn't stop when my colleagues did. And I chose to extend this opportunity into what has become Mike's seven-round mock draft 2.0. So without further ado, we go into what the Patriots would do with their next pick. And obviously, they're next slated to pick in the second round
Starting point is 00:10:45 at number 34 well as i said there were a lot of tempting trade offers out there for your new england patriots with the number three pick i didn't succumb to that temptation in the first round but when you're offered an opportunity to get back into the first round and what i believe to be a deep and talented draft class you have to to pick up the phone. And that's what the Patriots did here. I channeled my inner Elliott Wolfe and called upon my old mates in Green Bay. And I got back into the first round by offering up the number 34 and the number 103 pick
Starting point is 00:11:17 to get number 25 and number 169 in the fifth round. That's right. I was Trader Mike in this situation. And the Patriots end up back in the latter part of the fifth round that's right i was trader mike in this situation and the patriots end up back in the latter part of the first round now they already got their future franchise quarterback in drake may well i know there are a lot of patriots fans out there and you may be one of them listening to this pod right now that are screaming at me to take an offensive tackle because you'd much rather see the patriots trade for an experienced receiver like a T. Higgins or Brandon Ayuk. I think Ayuk is a little bit more realistic than Higgins right now,
Starting point is 00:11:51 just my feeling on the matter. And trust me, the Patriots have that option on the table. Elliott Wolfe himself said so on Thursday morning, but this option and this trade, I believe, could solve all the Patri Patriots problems and answer all their receiver questions and in the immortal words of George Costanza they really didn't have to give up that much so without further ado now with the number 25 selection in the first round the Patriots select Xavier Leguette wide receiver out of South Carolina and I know that some of you may argue right now that Leggett is not a first round talent, that I could have waited until the second round. Trust me, folks, I believe this kid is worth the investment. Xavier has a tremendous skill set. He's got the size,
Starting point is 00:12:36 the speed, the athleticism to be everything the Patriots have been looking for and more. In 2023, he had 71 catches for 1,255 yards and seven touchdowns for South Carolina. This kid is built like a wide receiver, 6'1", 221 pounds, and that can create mismatches when he goes up against his defenders. He's got pretty good speed for a guy his size as well. He ran the 40 in 4.39 seconds, which again again opened the eyes of a lot of scouts out there i like him because he's big he's strong and he's got the ability to run after the catch and create yardage he's a yak guy and that's big and an alex van pelt type offense he's got great long speed when he's stretching the field i definitely encourage you to watch some of his highlights
Starting point is 00:13:21 you'll be excited by them but if you're to watch a little bit more game film, you'll see it's not just about the highlights. That type of speed can open up underneath routes. When he works back to the quarterback, that's where he can really go to work on a defense. When it comes to route running, he's much more physical than he is a finesse route runner, but the good news is he's not going to be one that shies away from contact. And even when he does mix it up with defensive backs a little bit, he doesn't seem to lose all that much speed. That could really help him to assimilate to the pro level sooner rather than later. One of the things I love most about him is his ability to win at the catch point.
Starting point is 00:13:58 So often throughout last season and throughout his entire collegiate career, you see Leguette go up, make leaping catches, and it's a lot more than just going up and being able to snatch it away from his defender. He's got very good hand-eye coordination, and he times his jumps very well. You see him knock the ball out of the air at its highest point more often than not. That's an intrinsic skill that a lot of the best wide receivers in the NFL have, and I think this kid has got all of those traits. I do know this was a gamble on my part, and some of you may not agree with it, but when you look at what Xavier can bring to an NFL offense, especially one that might be
Starting point is 00:14:34 predicated on the deep ball, if they do take Drake May at number three, I think this kid could be a perfect fit, and I think it could be a very good pairing with Drake May and Xavier Leguette for a number of seasons to come. On Thursday, Elliott Wolfe said that there is a lot of talent in that receiver's room, but he did acknowledge that there's a need for a player that can draw sometimes as many as three defenders and still beat them down the field. Xavier Leguette is that guy and I for one think he's worth the extra investment to trade back into the first round if the Patriots see him sitting there at number 34 even though this is a deep offensive tackle class and I think the Patriots need a tackle desperately I can't see them leaving him
Starting point is 00:15:17 on the cutting room floor there is no way they pass this kid up that's how much I think he can make an impact on a wide receivers room especially in new england right from the outset of his career so the patriots now have their potential future quarterback and maybe their wide receiver of the future i think it might be time to take a tackle yeah i know murph i know you're screaming at the device you're listening to this on right now well good news folks the patriots are about to do so because with their third rounder the number 68 overall pick in Mike's mock draft 2.0 the Patriots are selecting a Notre Dame tackle now folks not that one there is no chance he's there at number 68 but the guy they're
Starting point is 00:15:58 going to get here actually may be a better fit than a lot of people might believe, and that is offensive tackle Blake Fisher. Now, since 2021, Blake has played a key role in protecting and facilitating one of the most productive offenses in Notre Dame's history, and that's a storied history, folks. Blake played opposite Joe Ault, who I think we all agree is the top tackle prospect on the board. In fact, I think he's the best offensive line prospect on the board. But Blake is not someone to be taken lightly. He's 6'6", 312 pounds. He played on the right side and started all 12 games last season. And again, I know it was all at right tackle, but here's where Blake actually may be a good fit in New England, and I think one of the reasons why they brought
Starting point is 00:16:41 him in for a top 30 visit. During Notre Dame's pro day back on March 21st, new Patriots offensive line coach Scott Peters worked with him. He studied his technique, studied his versatility, and even though he came away from that meeting realizing that Blake Fisher's prowess is most evident on the right side, I think he saw enough in him to show that those intangibles could permit a move to the left side. And right now, that's where the Patriots have their biggest void. When he's at his best, Blake Fisher is capable of mirroring his opponent, and he can hold up against the bull rush. He's got great size, and because of that size and complementary strength, he can create leverage when he's driving his blocks. I do understand that he's going to need to show more consistency on finishing those blocks if he wants to be an everyday starter at the pro level. But if the Patriots are going to
Starting point is 00:17:30 wait until 68 to get a tackle, they're going to have someone that comes in that's a little bit of a project. But in my opinion, this is a big, solid, fundamentally sound cornerstone type tackle that I think the Patriots could mold into a left tackle of the future. Keep a sharp eye on Blake Fisher, folks. The Patriots didn't bring him in for a top 30 visit for no reason. I think Scott Peters sees something in him. Who knows? Maybe some of the things Peters saw is some of the things I saw when I watched some film on him and selected him in this draft with the number 68 overall pick. Because the Patriots traded away their fourth rounder at number 103 to the Green Bay Packers, their next selection is one guy that recently came in here for a top 30 visit is the gentleman I have coming in at number 137 in the fifth round,
Starting point is 00:18:17 Mississippi State cornerback Decamerion Richardson. And Steve Balistrieri joined me earlier this week, folks, and we talked a little about Decamerarillo and we talked about his ability to assimilate into a Patriots defense. Throughout his college tenure, Richardson served as one of the Bulldogs most versatile players. Not only was he an asset in the defensive backfield, he was also a very good special teamer. As a cornerback, he played in 45 games, 177 tackles, 10 passes defended, one sack, and one fumble recovery. He played 1,770 career snaps, and that was primarily a perimeter corner.
Starting point is 00:18:54 But he also logged 354 snaps on various special teams units as well. So his ability to be a dual threat in the game's second and third phase could make him an intriguing option for the Patriots. What I love about Richardson is he has a multifaceted skill set. He's well-sized for the position, 6'2", 188 pounds. Might be beneficial for him to add a little bulk, but the way he plays, I think will make up for it, even if he doesn't right off the bat. This kid's got tremendous agility, tremendous speed. During last month's NFL scouting combine, he ran a 4.3440 yard dash. He's also someone that is not averse to mixing it up. He's not afraid of contact. He led all cornerbacks in the SEC in tackles as both a junior and a senior. So not only does he have the ability to get after the ball, he's also physical enough to be able to get in there and stop receivers or pass catchers from being able to advance with it.
Starting point is 00:19:50 I know a lot of the buzz surrounding the Patriots draft plans has them centered around offense, but New England has to have a plan on addressing its defensive backfield. And I think the Cameron Richardson would look nice in a Patriots uniform. I'd also love to see him learn a little bit and be able to build perhaps a solid tandem in that backfield with Christian Gonzalez. So keep an eye out, folks. I think the Patriots will go defensive backfield right around this time in the draft. We'll see if it's cornerback or safety and who knows, maybe it will be Richardson coming here to New England. Pats fans we are four picks and one trade deep into my Locked On Patriots Mock Draft 2.0 but there are still four picks to go here on the pod and in just a moment we're going to delve into
Starting point is 00:20:36 how I invested the number 169 pick acquired from the Green Bay Packers. The final four picks of Mike's Mock 2.0 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, when it comes to your financial future, you think you've done it all. You've saved. You've researched. You've invested all that you can.
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Starting point is 00:22:14 Patriots fans, thank you once again for joining us here today on Locked on Patriots. And it is not only segment three of our pod today, but it is also day three of breaking down Mike's Patriots seven round mock draft 2.0 as we enter the fifth round and at pick number 169, which I acquired from the green Bay Packers in the trade for the number 25 pick earlier, your new England Patriots getting some backfield pass catching help in the form of wait for it.
Starting point is 00:22:44 University of New Hampshire, running back Dylan Loughby. And I know a lot of you who are everydayers out there are laughing, smirking, grinning. You know I've been on the Dylan Loughby train for quite some time. I'm not necessarily the conductor of that train. I've got some help. My good friend Alex Barth of 98.5 The Sports Hub has been on Dylan's train for a good long time, as well as Kevin Stone of the New England Football Journal. But we have definitely seen a lot in this kid. And even though the Patriots brought in Antonio Gibson, which I love the player, I love the signing, I still think the Patriots could use some help from a backfield
Starting point is 00:23:21 receiver. And look, Dylan Lauby fits that bill. There's no question about it. Explosive burst, sure hands. I think he could be a solid fit in Alex Van Pelt's offense. Gets adequately sized 6'1", 225. He's sufficiently skilled to settle into that type of change of pace back that I think would thrive here in New England. Last year, Loughby averaged 4.5 yards per carry, 715 yards, and nine touchdowns. I think he showed tremendous receiving ability. That's where he stands out. 68 catches for 699 yards and seven scores. And Dylan has been impressive no matter where he's worked out, whether it be the Senior Bowl, the NFL Combine, or whether it be at local pro days. This kid shows the ability to not just be a versatile pass catcher,
Starting point is 00:24:11 but also a situational rusher. Again, folks, I know Antonio Gibson is going to be the second option behind Ramondre Stevenson, but the Patriots can always use backfield receiving help. You never know when one of these guys is going to go down. If the Patriots see Dylan Lauby here, especially at number 169, I couldn't lay off him. We'll see if the Patriots can lay off him this Thursday night. But Dylan Lauby comes to the New England Patriots in the fifth round at pick number 169.
Starting point is 00:24:41 As the Patriots move to the sixth round, it's time to address a position we talk about a lot here on Locked On Patriots, especially with our esteemed Countess of Clas, who we miss very much on these airwaves, but was kind enough to join us a couple of weeks ago and lend her wisdom and counsel on exactly who she had her sharp eye on when it comes to tight endage. That's right, folks. She did mention this man,
Starting point is 00:25:07 and it's a player that I've been looking at for a while too. In the sixth round at number 180, the Patriots select tight end Jared Wiley out of TCU. And again, you're looking for a sizable tight end. This kid fits the bill. 6'7", 260. The size and the field awareness, I think to succeed in multiple offensive systems and i think he'd look pretty nice as a backup wide tight end under alex van pelt who knows maybe even alongside
Starting point is 00:25:33 hunter henry on select packages during the senior bowl during the combine he definitely showed his athleticism show that he's got some speed and the ability to cut 7.19 time in the three-cone drill, and he also raised some scouts' eyes with a 9.10 broad jump. So again, it's not just limited to speed. This kid is athletic, and he has the ability to leap. Whether it be senior bowl, combine, or pro day, he has been impressive, and to be honest, sometimes he stood out above his peers in that regard. But this is a kid that can also get the job done on the field. He's not just someone that had a solid workout. Last season for TCU, he had 47 catches, 520 yards, and eight touchdowns.
Starting point is 00:26:14 If I'm the Patriots, I'm bringing this kid in as a wide tight end backup. I'm not saying he's going to start right off the bat. He needs a little bit of work as an inline blocker. I think he has the tools to do it, but I'd like to see him He needs a little bit of work as an inline blocker. I think he has the tools to do it, but I'd like to see him develop them a little bit more, but he's at his best when he's slightly flexed away from the tackle, and I think that's where the Patriots will work with him. They've got Hunter Henry. They've got Austin Hooper. I'd like to see Wiley come in and add a little bit of intrigue to the Patriots' future plans, and bottom line, the Patriots have a need
Starting point is 00:26:44 at the position. So the Patriots have a need at the position. So the Patriots filling their need at tight end. Claire, you can drop me a line either personally or in the comments section below to let me know how I did. Did I get the tight end you were looking for? I know in Mike's draft 1.0, we went with Tip Ryman. I still think he's a better fit for what the Patriots need immediately. But if they're looking long-term
Starting point is 00:27:03 and they don't want to invest early round draft capital, I think Wiley could be a very good pick. The Patriots still in the sixth round now at number 193, and they continue to add offensive weapons here. I go with a player that was very highly touted by my guest earlier this week, Steve Valistrari, and that is Texas A&M wide receiver Aniyah Smith. He comes to New England with the number 193 pick overall in the sixth round. And as Steve said yesterday, folks, at 5'9", 190 pounds, he's not going to intimidate anyone with his size. But this kid is a shifty, quick playmaker out of the slot. And as much as I love Demario Douglas, Aniyah Smith could come in and be a solid depth piece or maybe even someone that you could hope to stash on the practice squad. After all, the type
Starting point is 00:27:49 of player that DeMario Douglas is is so important for this offense. You don't want to be without a player with that skill set. Smith could come in and help spell that if Douglas has any injury concerns. Once again, folks, I hope DeMario plays all 17 games and has another amazing year but you always want to plan for contingency and smith can be effective throughout his tenure with the aggies he's been a consistent route runner demonstrated an ability to separate from his defender which is also important last season for texas a&m he caught 53 passes for 795 yards and two touchdowns and that was after missing most of 2022 while recovering from a fractured leg.
Starting point is 00:28:27 If he didn't have that injury, I think you're talking about Aniyah Smith as a potential day two selection. So can the Patriots take advantage of that? In my mock draft, I did. Let's see if the chips fall that way next week. Folks, it's that time to wrap up Mike's Mock 2.0. And with the 231st pick in the 7th round, the New England Patriots
Starting point is 00:28:48 select offensive tackle Julian Pearl out of the University of Illinois. And once again, folks, a definite project at tackle, but someone that I believe could learn and learn very well from a seasoned veteran like Michael Wainham, Chuck Sikora for,
Starting point is 00:29:03 and maybe even someone like a Viderian Lowe or a Tyrone Wheatley or a Calvin Anderson that are solid veteran depth pieces on this roster that could help cultivate a very young and talented, but raw talent at the position. Pearl started at right tackle and left tackle for the Illini over the past three seasons. He broke into the starting lineup on the right side in 2020, but then he moved over to the left and he exclusively aligned on the left side in 2023. Took 843 snaps, 327 of those came as a run blocker, and 516 were in pass protection. He was credited by Pro Football Focus with allowing seven sacks and three quarterback hits that earned him an overall grade of 66.2 so once again folks you're looking at someone with impressive skills but
Starting point is 00:29:51 maybe needs a little extra seasoning at 6'6 315 pounds you know this kid can come in and play the position and be sizable enough to intimidate some defenders he anchors well he's got great lower body strength, but for someone of his size, it's a little surprising that he has some difficulty in warding off defenders with his arms. That's going to remain a work in progress. So if the Patriots do bring him in, they're going to have to teach him to stand his ground because more often than not, in some of the film that I've seen on him, he surrenders his position. And if he continues to do that, he's not going to be effective as a starting pro tackle. But if he can harness his strength, he might be looking at a potential diamond in the rough.
Starting point is 00:30:32 Again, I do expect him to slip. There's a possibility some team may look at him and take him in the sixth round, but I think his most likely destination is the seventh. And if he's sitting there at number 231, the Patriots have a clear need for depth at that position. seventh and if he's sitting there at number 231 the Patriots have a clear need for depth at that position young players that can come in and be solid contributors in that regard I think Pearl would be a good fit for the bats so Patriots fans the full draft card of Mike's Mach 2.0 has been submitted what are your thoughts on what the Patriots are going to be doing do you think they're going to dig in their heels and stay at number three or do you think they're seriously
Starting point is 00:31:04 entertaining trading down? What's the bigger need in your opinion? Wide receiver or offensive tackle? Did I neglect the defense too much in this draft? Drop us a line in the comments section below. We'd love to hear what you think. And don't forget, once that monster hard drive is reconstructed on the green side of Connecticut, our man Murph will be back to help us break down all of your great mock drafts
Starting point is 00:31:25 at least once before the NFL draft, so stay tuned for that. But also, folks, you are going to want to keep a sharp eye and tune in on Friday because in addition to getting my guest thoughts on the draft, we're also going to talk about all of that Bill Belichick news floating around out there. Who better to join me here on the airwaves to do that than my good friend Tanya Ray Fox of FS1. So be sure to stay locked into Locked on Patriots so you do not miss
Starting point is 00:31:50 a second of the action. In the meantime, I'm Mike DeBate and I 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 on Locked on Patriots.

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