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Fans will love Mel Kiper Jr.’s projected first-round pick for Patriots

By Thomas Carannante

NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA - JANUARY 01: Justin Fields #1 of the Ohio State Buckeyes looks on before a snap in the first half against the Clemson Tigers during the College Football Playoff semifinal game at the Allstate Sugar Bowl at Mercedes-Benz Superdome on January 01, 2021 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA - JANUARY 01: Justin Fields #1 of the Ohio State Buckeyes looks on before a snap in the first half against the Clemson Tigers during the College Football Playoff semifinal game at the Allstate Sugar Bowl at Mercedes-Benz Superdome on January 01, 2021 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) /
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Mel Kiper Jr. thinks the Patriots will land Justin Fields with their first-round pick.

The New England Patriots could’ve had a top-10 pick had they lost to the New York Jets, but they have more integrity than the gutless Philadelphia Eagles. The Pats used a second-half surge to steamroll their rivals and now they’ll be selecting No. 15 overall. Not bad. Not great.

But if Mel Kiper Jr. has anything to say about it, Bill Belichick and Co. could end up with a steal.

Then again, most of the description under his predicted Patriots selection in his latest mock draft elaborates upon the unlikelihood of this happening.

It’s a long offseason, but Pats fans will take anything to lift their spirits. How about Ohio State quarterback Justin Fields coming to Foxborough?

It … does feel insane. Forget about Fields’ lackluster six-game regular season. He just dismantled Clemson in the College Football Playoff and will have one last high-profile game against the Alabama Crimson Tide in the National Championship. Perhaps that’s why him dropping to 15 feels unlikely. If he performs well in that contest, you know how it’ll go.

The other good news here? Guys like Mac Jones, Kyle Trask and Trey Lance, according to Kiper, could be in the Patriots’ range come draft day. So if the Fields situation is indeed a pipe dream (which it likely is), Belichick will have an intriguing trio of arms to choose from — all of whom have had resounding success at the collegiate level.

And if we’re really going to sit here and put our evaluation hats on, each of those guys possess similar potential to succeed at the next level. We’d venture to say one isn’t eons above the other. That’s who Trevor Lawrence is.

https://twitter.com/PFF_College/status/1345403704254599168?s=20

This is the first time the Patriots will be picking within the top-15 since … 2008! And just the third time since 2001. Those three picks? Jerod Mayo, Ty Warren and Richard Seymour. Maybe a higher selection is just what Belichick needs to get this team’s draft track record back in good graces.

Just please don’t screw this one up.

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