Locked On Patriots - Daily Podcast On The New England Patriots - New England Patriots: Tee Higgins Trade? Jayden Daniels, Joe Milton and More Pats Mock Drafts

Episode Date: April 8, 2024

In less than three weeks, the New England Patriots will join 31 NFL teams in attempting to put the exclamation mark on their roster for the upcoming season at the 2024 NFL Draft. Will the Pats use their No. 3 overall selection on a future franchise quarterback (such as LSU’s Jayden Daniels) or complete a trade for an established receiver such as Cincinnati Bengals’ wideout Tee Higgins? Host Mike D’Abate is joined by Thomas ‘Murph’ Murphy to evaluate and grade mock draft submitted by Locked On Patriots listeners. #NFL #Patriots #nfldraft #mockdraft 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! 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. 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)

Mostly everyone is assuming the Patriots are locked in to taking a quarterback at number three, but could they swing a deal for a top-flight receiver? 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 Lockdown Patriots a daily part of your New England Patriots coverage, and also, hopefully, your first listen each and every day. Remember, Lockdown Patriots is free and available on all platforms, including YouTube, so smash that subscribe button, and don't forget to download and follow 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 MDABATENFL. While you're out there, show and social media. Love to Lockdown Patriots. Please be sure to follow our account there as well at LO underscore Patriots. And Pats fans, been a minute since we brought you some of your great mock drafts, but our good friend is back in the studio, and we're thrilled to have him.

He is the legend himself, the Count of Murphy Pisto, Thomas Murphy. Thank you for coming to me in friendship. My apologies, guys. My apologies. Thank you for putting up with my tardiness. Yes, today I feel tardy. You do not need to feel tardy in this circumstance, my friend. You know what?

We are glad to have you. We need the wisdom. We need the counsel. We need that little bit of grit that you bring to these mock drafts. And, folks, I know it's been a little bit since we've brought you your great mock drafts here on Locked On Patriots, but fear not. We're doing it today. And you know what, Murph, I got a funny feeling. It's going to be so nice that we're going to want to do it twice.

So stick around, folks. Stay locked in because you're not going to want to miss a single second of the action on today's episode. And Murph, let's dive right into it. Let's get right into the mock draft hall that we have here. Over the week, we've got some great mock drafts submitted by all of you everydayers out there and a few of you first timers which we're glad to share today as well but i figured murph we'll start with an all-star our good friend jason sullivan here is jason's

draft hall and folks as you can see on the screen he did complete a trade for the benefit of those of you listening to this podcast on the audio version yeah he has the patriots landing a top flight receiver maybe the top receiver available out there jason's trade package is as follows the cincinnati bengals receive the patriots first rounder at number three and they also receive a fifth rounder in 2025 and the patriots have a pretty good haul coming back here. Obviously the centerpiece of the deal, wide receiver T Higgins. He becomes the Patriots automatic number one in this situation, but he's got the Patriots

getting a few pieces in return as well. The number 18 overall pick in this season's draft. He's got the Patriots recouping a third rounder, number 80 in this draft, a first rounder in 2025, and a fifth rounder in 2025 as well. So Murph, before we get into the heart of this draft, when you look at this trade, you think this is a little overaggressive on Jason's part, or do you think this is a pretty good haul that the Patriots could not refuse? No, this is the haul that you can't refuse. You get Tee Higgins and a cornerstone left tackle. He's not Joe Walt. He's probably the

third best tackle in this draft. But I'll take that at 18. Actually, I'm sitting here wondering how Sully pulled this off with how much he got back. That's what I'm thinking here. Because I could definitely see the Bengals doing the swap and Higgins if we threw in something else. But no, this is just brilliant. And then the way he worked the board down here, grabbing Fashanu, grabbing Pennix.

Cameron Kitchens, thank you. Thank you, Sully. Thank you for recognizing one of the biggest needs on the defensive side of the ball and addressing it within the top 100 picks. Absolutely. Okay. You know, he grabbed Cam Hart. That's another fantastic move.

But no, we're getting ahead of ourselves yeah i love the trade i love the trade if this happened i'd be all over it i'm not sure how thrilled bengals fans would be about it but the bengals get junior okay the bengals trade up and get junior so i can definitely see this kind of scenario happening and i'm all for it yeah i think at that point, you know, the Bengals right now would be swapping essentially T. Higgins for Marvin Harrison Jr. You have to think that's exactly where they'd be going in this. So probably a better haul for the Bengals than originally thought. When you look at the face of this trademark, I'm glad you mentioned

some of the rest of Sully's haul here, because i don't think you get the full appreciation for how good this deal is for the patriots until you take a look at how he filled the other positions of need for new england you get a top flight receiver someone who is proven and someone who can definitely be an asset to a young quarterback in this situation only fashano comes in as your cornerstone tackle once again Murph said he is not Joe Alt but I think a solid option here Fasciano is falling a little bit on draft boards um I've talked to several draft analysts a lot of people are having difficulty figuring out why I know there have been performance issues in pro days and whatnot but when you look at the game film which in my opinion Murph and we've talked about this several times is the superior way to grade what these guys can do in the NFL.

You have to be careful falling in love with either highlights or pro day or NFL combine type workouts, NFL combine performances, because those are designed to make you look better. If you want to see how these guys are going to look practically in the NFL, you've got to look at the game film. And for Sean, who I think stands out and someone that I believe can be a cornerstone tackle for this team for a number of years, Michael Penix Jr. coming in, you know, put the Patriots here at number 34. This is a great move. Obviously, if you're getting your top flight wide receiver, that's the quarterback folks. And believe me, when I tell you, I think if Michael Penix Jr. is still there at number 34, I don't think teams are doing the homework. This guy is right there.

He won't. He won't. We all know the way quarterbacks climb. Okay. That's why, you know, guys who play in the SEC are sitting there at number three instead of number 13. And because everybody reaches for a quarterback and they're going to reach at the bottom of the first round, just the way some teams that are quarterback desperate reach at the top.

No, this is a beautiful draft, man. This is a beautiful, this is an A plus draft. And not bad for the rest of the hall. For those of you watching here on on YouTube we'll bring it back up again but for those of you listening um at number 80 in the third round the Patriots tight end Kate Stover I think this is a good pick as well this kid is a good blocker uh a project but someone that I think can come in and be a tight end that can contribute right away and even be a potential option this is a kid that you can keep under your control for a little while.

Going down the list a little bit over here, cornerback, obviously, you can always use help. I know this is a position of strength for the Patriots right now, but you can never have too much firepower. In the fourth round at number 103, they pick up Cam Hart. I think a good pickup here. I like Will Shipley out of Clemson. I've heard comparisons before about him being a poor man's Christian

McCaffrey. It's a skilled receiver. He's going to catch balls out of the backfield. He's that third down guy going forward and, and where he's where we're getting them here. We're I hate when I do that, you know, but at one 37,

he can sit back and do, do what's always been done here. And think we'll we'll we will see it going forward get that red shirt year he'll get some touches but you know it's not like he's at 137 people don't don't expect somebody to come in at 137 and uh completely take over the running back room yeah definitely a skilled receiver as murph said great comparison there of course you know if you can pick up a guy like Will Shipley or maybe even a Dylan Loughby uh I think it's worth it uh even though the Patriots did get Antonio Gibson and I love Antonio I think he's going to be a great fit here you can always use some help right in that backfield and to round it all out Javion Cohen

coming in to help a little bit of coming in to help the interior of that offensive line a little bit. Good solid pick here, I think at number 180. And then the Patriots going past Rush and they're going front seven on their defensive side of the board with Jalen Ford at number 193. And then of course, rounding it all out and number 231 in the seventh round, J.J. Weaver, the edge rusher out of Kentucky. Right there, you know, the dream Weaver. Now, I gave this draft an A+. I'm not sure what Michael's going to give it on it because you look up and down this.

The haul that was gotten for number three is fantastic. Everybody in this draft will be on the roster week one. You know, there's, you, you'd have a hard time getting anybody that, that we've, that, uh, Sully has picked here onto, um, the practice squad because they're going to get scooped up by somebody else. That's, that's, it's a fantastic, it is just a great draft. Just one of the best drafts we've seen all year. Yeah. This one gets an A plus from me as well, because of the detail that Sully paid to the talent here. You can tell he scouted each of these individual players and selected them based on the Patriots need. And you did fill all the needs. You've got your number one receiver. You've got a top flight quarterback in my opinion Penix can be that in this league I don't necessarily know if he'll be there at number 34

but to me that's not worth taking away the plus here uh for this draft this was impeccably scouted and I really do believe that he did a great job here and again my favorite picks over here for Shano getting at 18 I think that is a steal I I love Kinchins coming in here at number 68. And, you know, I like picks like Stover and Shipley and guys that are going to come in and fill roles and help to deepen the depth charts on this team. You can't argue with the logic that he showed here. So a major tip of the cap here, Saul. Thanks so much for all of your contributions here to Lockdown Patriots and Murph.

You know, the best part of all of this, We're just getting started because we've got a first-timer that's submitted by email. Over the weekend, he's been waiting a while to get this one in, and he's got the Patriots getting a pretty good haul in return for not the number three pick. Folks, we're going to tell you what Arizona was willing to give up to move up to 34. Yeah, this is pretty amazing. I really like this, and I think you will as well. Folks, continue to stick around because we are coming back right here on the Locked On Podcast Network in just a moment.

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Patriots fans, thank you once again for joining us here today on Locked On Patriots. And of course, if we're going through your great mock drafts, who else would join me here today but the man that mock draft haul, utilizing the trade wire impeccably, in my opinion, and in yours. We both gave them an A-plus to start the show today. So we're definitely, we're firing on all cylinders. But you know we love it when first-timers submit drafts here to Locked On Patriots. And we have a first-timer submitting them here today.

Our good friend Jeremy Puffenbarger, who is an everydayer here on Locked On Patriots, sent this one in by email. When I looked at what Jeremy did here to start off this draft, I can picture an old Seinfeld episode where Jerry Seinfeld is sitting there puffing on a cigar and Elaine is just plopping down $20 bills because he's winning the bet. Folks, it's a family show.

We're not going to say why Elaine was forking over that money and giving it to Jerry, but if you've seen the episode, you know it. But if you've seen the gift file, and you know what, we may attach that to the promo tweet for this episode just to let people see what we're seeing. That's all I could think of when I see what Jeremy was able to get for the Patriots in exchange for the number 34 pick. That's right, folks. He didn't have to budge at number three. Let's take a look at the trade first Murph. And once again, for those of our great everydayers that are listening to the podcast, he has the Patriots shipping their second rounder in number 34 over to the Arizona Cardinals.

Now in return, he has the Patriots getting the number 35 picks. So you're kind of just moving down one. Not bad. He also has the Patriots picking up two third rounders this year, pick number 66 and pick number 90. He also has the Patriots getting another fifth round pick this year at number 138 and rounding it all out. He's got another sixth rounder in number 2025. That is a pretty good return for moving down only one. Yeah. I don't know if Jeremy had like incriminating photos on the car.

I don't know what was going on there. But whatever you did, my friend, a tip of the cap. You are a master negotiator. I will say that. This is brilliant. This is brilliant. I don't know who proposed this to whom, but this is fantastic. To be able to keep the number three pick, still drop down one spot.

I've been floating out there, drop down one spot from three to four with the with, with the Cardinals, you know, for months here and see what you can get back because the Cardinals have three second round draft picks this season. And if you could go and pick up two of those and he went and, you know, grabbed what just dropping down one, look at what he brought back here. This is amazing. This is fantastic. I would love this trade. I would absolutely love this trade because the Patriots still end up getting a guy of the ilk of Tyler Guyton, who I'm not sure is going to be there at 35, but they fleece the entire NFL. Tyler Guyton is a massive tackle. He projects as a solid starting option in this league for a number of years.

Strong showing at the Senior Bowl. You look at what he brings to the table and the job that he did for Oklahoma. You've got to love this. And obviously the Patriots right off the bat making that trade, getting their future franchise quarterback in Jaden Daniels. And yeah, folks, I know a lot of people are saying, well, it's a foregone conclusion that he goes to Washington until it happens. You can't say that for sure. He's coming in for a visit for the Patriots on Monday shows that there is still interest there. And the Patriots want to make sure

that if they do go with Jaden at number three in this draft, that he's going to be a good fit here. I believe he will be. And it's going to be a good fit here i believe he will be and it's going to make the job a little bit easier murph with tyler guyton protecting his blind side so not a bad job there but jeremy is not done yet at number 66 murphy double dips into the interior of the offensive line yep i think you're going to like this one in cooper bb at kansas state good pick here i really love this kid yeah this this kid fantastic. He's going to solidify the inside of this offensive line. It definitely, I love big round guys. I love guys that pay attention to the important players,

the real weapons in an offense. And it's those guys on the front line. And I love this pick. I love it. Number 68, the Patriots'ots original third round that they had they pick up michael hall jr defensive lineman out of ohio state murph this is i think an under the radar need for the page yeah it's not a lot of people are talking about the d-line depth but when you lose someone like a lawrence guy you do lose a little bit of that pop in that defensive line. I know the Patriots

are strong up front in the front seven, and I think they're still going to be strong when it comes to the starting front seven, but you can never have too much depth at this position. I like the Patriots addressing this here, and I like the pick of Michael Hall out of Ohio State here. Yeah, I do. I think it's fantastic. It is a position of need. The line is aging and aging. They're moving away. They want younger, more explosive guys. Hall is that guy.

Absolutely. And a very, very good point there as well. Moving right along, Murph, you can subscribe to My Theory, and you can say that the Patriots will be reading from the book of Malachi. Yeah, exactly. We want you, Malachi. Malachi Corley, I think, checks a lot of boxes for me. I've been very high on this kid from the start of the draft cycle.

We talked about him several times here on these airwaves. I like the synergy that he has with Bailey Zappi, whether Bailey is a viable option to start some games for you this year is still a matter of conjecture. Really, I think is going to be determined by what the Patriots do in the first round of the draft this season. But regardless of whether Bailey's here or not, I think Malachi could be a solid addition to this wide receiver core. Absolutely. Yak God. And we all know how I dig yak. I love this. Murph loves it. One pick that I wanted to pick your brain on Murph, because obviously Jeremy does address

the safety position here and he does it at safety with Utah's Cole Bishop. Now I've been very vocal the last couple of days about Sione Vaki and his ability to hit his ability to be a solid presence in that defensive backfield. Maybe even someone that can drop back and carry the ball a little bit. We've seen him do that in the past. But Sione is not a center fielder. He's not a pure center field safety.

He's more of a hybrid, and he will require a little bit more coaching in that regard. Bishop is kind of the same type of ilk. He's really kind of cut from the same type of cloth, more of an enforcer. He's got great size, great toughness. I think he can be a good down safety. I also think he can align well in the split safety. But if you're looking for that center fielder,

I'm not quite sure Cole Bishop is the guy that's going to emerge into that. And Jeremy was not done yet, Murphy. Still has a couple of picks left in the arsenal rounding out this draft at number 138 Jarvis Brownlee the cornerback of Louisville like number one at number 180 he goes to the University of Houston Patriots have had some good luck there the last couple of years Marcus Jones anyone Nelson Caesar coming in edge rusher from Houston at number 180 at number 193 one of my favorite names in this draft Satoa Laumea comes in interior offensive lineman for the Utah Utes

yeah Murph that's right the Patriots in Jeremy's draft drafted two Utes so uh you know we love it we absolutely love it anytime I can throw my cousin Vinny reference in there, folks. You know I'm happy. And at number 231, Marcus Rosemey-Jacques Saint. This is an interesting pick at number 231. I've seen a lot of hype around this guy, but he keeps lingering around this late day three type malaise. Do you think this is something that could increase his draft value over the course of the next couple of weeks leading into the draft? Or do you think this is a potential diamond in the rough here for any team

that gets him at this point? No, this is a diamond in the rough pick here. You know, he just didn't see as much time on the field as he probably should have. And it's a good dice roll. You're at 231. And I think he'd end up on on the practice squad but you know I love I love the Jarvis Brownlee Jr. pick I think it's it's a fantastic pick he doesn't lack ideal size and top end playing speed but but he's he's he's a fantastic in he's fantastic in coverage he has a lot of foot quickness I like that out of out my cornerback. Shocking, I know. But he has a good punch at the line of scrimmage and can play both press man and off. He's really good, really, really good at disrupting receivers off the line of scrimmage. And I like that. And at 138, I think it's a fantastic pick. It is another pick of need, another position of need, whether you like it or not here in New England.

Yeah, absolutely. And, you know, you pick up Brownlee. Makes the squad. He makes the squad. Agreed. And again, you pick up Brownlee at number 138. That's a pick that Jeremy acquired via trade. So using that smartly. And again, you know, I keep at number 138. That's a pick that Jeremy acquired via trade. So using that smartly.

And again, you know, I keep coming back to Marcus in this regard. And I'll tell you why. Because not only does he have a sure set of hands, Murph, but he's a very good blocker on the outside. He really did a great job for Georgia. Our good friend, Andrew Garroway, can tell you a little bit more about what this kid brings as a blocker. So if you pick him up at number 231 and he can fill that role,

you're doing something right. So Murph, it's grading time. Our good friend Jeremy submitted a total haul, a really, really big trade haul, and then turning that trade into several good picks a year. What are your thoughts? What are you grading this year? This is another A draft. I mean, we're just getting killed here.

I mean, it's so hard, people. You guys keep getting on Murph. it's so hard people you guys keep keep getting on murph what's with all the b's and a's um we don't we don't get a lot of submissions from from people that that i would give a c grade to or give a d grade to um you know you guys are just so smart and you hit it right on the button and And I mean, some of you guys that have sent in stuff, you've been kept out of the A category simply because you forgot a safety and that's not happening. That's not happening today. You sit there, you take notes, you're coachable. Yeah, that's a coachable. And I love that. Absolutely. And I agree with you. This is

an A draft by Jeremy. I love the aggressiveness he showed in the trade. I love the draft, Paul. You're going to have to tell me how you pulled that one off, my friend. I'd love to hear it. But bottom line, what he's done with the rest of the picks here, you can't argue with taking two offensive linemen right off the bat that can help a young quarterback in Jaden Daniels and then some of the great role players that he's got to wrap everything up here. Folks, we are not done yet. Even after these two blockbuster mock drafts that Murph and I have gone through, we also have one of our most valued everydayers who had a great submission year. And Murph, you're going to love what he did at the top of this draft.

I probably tipped my hand, but I don't care. And neither does he, because every time I mention the man's name, he gets giddy. He smiles. And we love it here on Locked On Patriots. That's right. We're going to talk some Joe Alt and the rest of the hall from our good friend Lucas when this episode of the Locked On Patriots podcast wraps up right here on 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?

Would you say it's bursting with energy or are you feeling drained? It can be easy to ignore our social battery and spread ourselves thin, especially with social gatherings picking up after the winter. What's the right amount of socializing for you? And how do you recharge? Maybe you thrive around people or maybe you need some more time alone. Therapy can give you the self-awareness to build a social life that doesn't drain your battery. If you're thinking of starting therapy, give BetterHelp a try. It's entirely online, designed to be convenient, flexible, and suited

to your schedule. Just fill out a brief questionnaire to get matched with a licensed therapist and switch therapists at any time for no additional charge. Find your social sweet spot with BetterHelp. Visit betterhelp.com slash locked on today to get 10% off your first month. That's BetterHelp, H-E-L-P dot com slash LockedOn. Patriots fans, thank you once again for joining us here today. We're breaking down mock drafts, and

we're having a blast doing so, folks. And of course, if we're talking mock drafts, you know we cannot do so in good conscience without welcoming in our good friend, the man who mock drafts were created for here on Lockdown Patriots, the legend himself, Thomas Murphy. Murph, we've had two great drafts submitted so far, but we've saved one for last here from a longtime everydayer, one of our most valued everydayers here on Lockdown Patriots.

This man defines the word everydayer. Folks, you can find him. His handle on Twitter is wheels, W-H-E-E-L-Z. But you can find him on Twitter at 19Lukas, L-U-K-A-S-I-K-79. Lucas is going to make a smile here. We're going to put this one right up here so you can see it. And wheels has done it here. Number three. He's going all the way at number three here

and he's taking joe alt offensive tackle out of notre dame murph i know you have no problem with this you said this right off the bat you don't need to trade down if the guy's there and you're willing to get him go get him right uh he's done that here yeah he he really has and now the the point is folks that i understand you can get Joe Alt later. I've said, you know, 150 times, yes, trade down to four, trade down to five, trade down to six. You can still get him there. Get everything that you can in the top 100. And he just went and grabbed Joe Alt at three.

That was fantastic. I'm not going to be disappointed. You've got your left tackle for the next 10 years. Joe Alt is going to Canton. Bottom line, Joe Alt is the rock on which you build the Church of Foxborough, as my good friend Murph would say. But he also has the Patriots dipping into the wide receiver market at number 37 because the Patriots did acquire the number 37 pick during a trade,

and he has the Patriots getting Roman the number 37 pick during a trade and he has the Patriots getting Roman Wilson wide receiver out of Michigan a lot of athleticism here Murph a lot of speed your thoughts on Roman Wilson coming in here at number 37 I love the player I think he's going to be a dynamic talent in the NFL is he a a number one? And is he the guy the Patriots need? I don't know if Roman Wilson is going to be a number one. He's a fantastic, this is, you know, maybe a few eight or 10 picks too soon, but you know, he's explosive. He has long speed. He has a, you know, um, I hate to toss the word out there, but elite athletic skills. Um, but he's, he's, he's again, he's one of those guys that is, is limited physically in his frame and he may be a slot receiver. And there are, there are other slot receivers that I would rather have here. He's not an X. He may be a Z.

And so that's the only thing that gives me pause here. He's going to struggle against stronger physical cornerbacks. Moving right along, another Wolverine here, number 68, the Patriots going with guard Zach Zinter. Murph, we mentioned Zach a little bit here last week. Your thoughts on this pick? Maybe a little bit more in line with where he's going to be. Last week's draft saw him drafted, I think, far too low.

I think this is right about the sweet spot where he could go. This is where he's probably going to fall between 65 and 75. I think it's a fantastic pick. Like I said, you need depth on that offensive line. We've all seen it in the past. You know, one guy goes down, you need that next guy to step up. Zach Zinter will be that next guy to step up. If not in his rookie year, definitely by his sophomore season.

This is good looking ahead by wheels here at grabbing Zinter here at 68. Absolutely. here at grabbing Zinter here at 68. Absolutely and at number 95 the Patriots getting a potential pass catching weapon for a new quarterback who no matter who it may be Brendan Rice obviously there is dad pedigree there his father Jerry one of the greatest of all time you know Brendan I think would look great here in a Patriots uniform once again contested catches this kid can make them all tough physical not the pure separator his father was, but someone I think that could come in and make a difference and move the needle. I like this at number 95 for the guy.

Yeah, 95. I like it. It might even be a little soon for him. You know, I think that he's going to fall outside the top 100. You know, he could go. He could go inside it. Don't get me wrong. I'm just saying don't expect too much freshman year in the NFL.

At number 103, the Patriots investing in a center. A lot of Wolverines here in this draft. Not a big surprise there. He's a big Wolverines guy. Drake Nugent coming in of the Michigan center, obviously. And then, of course, moving on, another Michigan Wolverine at number 137, wide receiver Cornelius Johnson. And Johnson is kind of rising up

some draft boards right now, Murph. Is this right now a pick that the Patriots would consider at number 37 here in your estimate? I'm not quite sure of that. I mean, there's not enough film on him really for me to make a, a, a valued judgment on him simply because Michigan didn't throw the ball enough. Exactly. He did catch one of the eight passes that JJ McCarthy threw against Penn state last year. I remember

that. And that is one of the knocks on JJ McCarthy right now. And why people are saying you really need to take that under account. There's not a big sample size it's one thing to say yeah he can get the job done but until he starts making passes at the same clip as guys like drake may and jayden daniels you don't really know what you've got there and the same can be said for the wide receiver core in michigan which was severely underutilized and it's simply because it just wasn't part of the game plan for jim harbaugh and the wolverines last year still worked out pretty well when you get a national title it's hard because it just wasn't part of the game plan for Jim Harbaugh and the Wolverines last year. Still worked out pretty well when you get a national title. It's hard to argue the difference.

Frank Gore Jr., we've been very vocal about the fact that we'd love to see dad get a one-day contract. And also, Frank coming in here at number 180. Again, this is a kid that can definitely add a lot of depth and I think a little bit of pop to your running back core. At number 193. Yeah. This is an interesting pick to me because I've heard people rave about the athleticism of Joe Milton quarterback out of the Tennessee volunteers. Um, when I saw this, the first thing I did was reach out to a good friend of mine.'s a big volunteers fan and naturally they're going to sing the praises of joe milton they're going to talk about the type of quarterback that he is

they don't believe milton's getting enough credit for that athleticism and they actually think it's hurting him in some draft boards this guy could be someone with a day two potential in terms of talent i think that's a little over aggressive but if, but if you go back, take a look at Tennessee's 45-14 victory over UTSA last season. 81-yard rushing touchdown. That was their first offensive drive. This is a guy that saw the end zone, took the opportunity. That was the longest rushing play by a quarterback in Volunteers program history, so this kid can do it, and then you want to talk about down the stretch stretch and the team was struggling a little bit passed for 383 yards four touchdowns to go along with two rushing

touchdowns in the victory over vanderbilt to end the regular season that performance marked the most touchdowns accounted for by a volunteer in a single game since 2009 so this kid can find the end zone when he needs to did lucas just pull off a steal here grabbing this kid at number 193 or is this just the wrong fit for alex van pelt's offense um it's both both um if i was if i was playing a game in london and i had a wide receiver open in foxborough there was nobody else in this draft that i would rather have throw the ball than Joe Milton. But the touch just isn't there. I don't think that he fits in this offense whatsoever. I think he's going to come into the league, be a project for somebody, and could possibly refine those issues that he has. He doesn't have any touch on the ball whatsoever

everything is a 98 mile an hour is 104 mile an hour fastball with him um i i i like the kid i think um in this day and age that he could find a job here but it it's i i think he's gonna he would he would be better suited um behind a behind a quarterback that plays in the same kind of style and could step in for a week or two. I don't think Joe Milton is going to be a starter in this league, guys. I'm sorry. Murph, we are at grading time here on Locked On Patriots. Our good friend Lucas was good enough to submit this draft.

When you look at it top to bottom, I know you love the first pick, here on Locked On Patriots. Our good friend Lucas was good enough to submit this draft. When you look at it top to bottom, I know you love the first pick, but from top to bottom, how would you rate this draft coming in from Lucas? This is a B draft, okay? And that's the only thing. I'm not grading on a curve here or anything. I love the top pick. That is not why we chose this. This isn't why Mike chose this draft.

It's a very good draft. It is a very solid draft. It's a hard B. I agree with you on this. This isn't why Mike chose this draft. It's a very good draft. It is a very solid draft. It's a hard B. I agree with you on this. I have this graded as a hard B as well. And as the great Don would say, I'm going to give you my reasons. And the reason being is that I do believe that Wilson at number 37 is someone that would, I think, replicate a little bit of what you have here in New England.

I would probably go after more of a perimeter receiver. I still think you're going to find good talent at a perimeter receiver at number 37, if that's the direction that you're going in. When you look at where Jeremy picked up Malachi Corley and he picked him up at number 90, that's a big difference from picking up a depth piece at 90 as to picking up someone that could be a cornerstone of your franchise for a number of years at the position at number 37 so that's why i am a little bit skeptical of that i love the pick of zach zinter at number seven at number 68 vitrious need help there brendan rice again i think was a good pick i love the wolverines that where it was picked exactly you have to look at where these guys

were chosen when we're looking at our grading. Obviously, I mean, not addressing the quarterback position until number 193 and doing it with Milton, who again, athleticism off the charts. I love the player. I'd love to see him have a long, prosperous career here in New England. I just think it's the wrong fit for an Alex Van Pelt offense. So because of that, I did take a little bit off, but this is a solid B draft. And I think the role players that you've got here to go along with all at the top of the heat is a very good job.

So a tip of the cap, Lucas, thank you so much for all of your support of Lockdown Patriots for being a valued every day. We love you. And we want you to keep those mock drafts coming in. Murph, what can I say? You've always been along for the ride for me. This is the fifth year now that we've been doing mock drafts, having the mock drafts sent in before we were on camera. Murph and I were reading them off on audio. It has been, it has been a great journey here. And I

thank my good friend, Mark Schofield for setting the table here on Locked On Patriots for doing that because you helped us become one of the originators of interactive mock draft monday we were one of the first to do it and we're proud to be one of the first to do it and we like to think that we've got maybe a little bit of flair that you can't find elsewhere and we've got murph and that's the most important thing because what can i say my good friend you're always there for the ride you're always there for the handoff when i need you and i thank you for that before i let you go buddy please let everyone know where they can interact with you and what you got cooking in Murph's kitchen from now until Monday from the great pen, the great voice of Thomas Murphy over at

diehardbostomsportsfans.com. Well, you know, I've got a little Red Sox action coming up, whether or not this pitching staff can keep doing what they're doing. Please go check that out. And I'm going to be on the pesky party hour this weekend with Leslie. You guys know her as Cape Cod Girly. I'll be doing that on Saturday night. Please check that out. Absolutely, folks. I wholeheartedly encourage you to check out that podcast.

Leslie and the crew, and of course, having Murph along. They do such an amazing job. If you're a Sox fan, it should be a must listen. Call that appointment listening, appointment viewing. So definitely be sure to check that out. You will not be disappointed. And once again, folks, I remind you to check us out on Monday because we're going to be breaking down more of your mock drafts and any of the tidbits coming out of Foxborough regarding Drake May's top 30 visit on Friday and Jaden Daniels' top 30 visit on Monday. And if there's any big-time news in between,

you know Murph and I are going to be bringing you that here on Locked on Patriots as well. But in the meantime, I remind you all to stay safe and to stay well and to be the change you wish to see in the world. And on behalf of my good friend Thomas Murphy, I'm Mike DeBate telling you to have a great weekend, and we'll see you back here again on Monday on Locked on Patriots. There you go.