Selecting a quarterback might be a quality path for the New England Patriots to go down as the NFL Draft comes ever closer, but there is still a need for some more skill at the linebacker position despite the fact that Kyle Van Noy has returned.
With the No. 15 pick in the draft, barring a trade-up in the order, New England will likely miss out on all of the top passers in this draft.
If that ends up being the case, adding another rover in the middle of an already stout defense could help the Patriots return to the postseason.
Nobody wants their free-agency spending spree to be for nought, after all.
This class has a couple of stars at the very top, like Penn State’s Micah Parsons, Notre Dame’s Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah, and Tulsa’s Zaven Collins, but this is a very deep draft at that specific position, which should be a boon for a New England team that was deficient in that area without Dont’a Hightower last season.
The potential for New England to draft a linebacker isn’t just a fit that makes a lot of sense on draft Twitter, as Matt Miller is reporting that the Patriots might be a landing spot for Collins if he ends up in their laps.
Spoke to a scout tonight who said they view Tulsa linebacker Zaven Collins as a top 15 pick.
— Matt Miller (@nfldraftscout) April 5, 2021
Mentioned #Cowboys and #Patriots as landing spots.
If New England decides to go linebacker, one of these three studs, all of whom can be targeted in different rounds, would be ideal.
These 3 linebackers would be perfect Patriots after the 2021 NFL Draft.
Patriots Day 3 Linebacker Target: Derrick Barnes, Purdue
At 6-1 and 245 pounds, Barnes has moved around to a few different spots in college, but he profiles as an off-ball linebacker in the pros. Barnes recorded 117 tackles, 16.5 tackles for loss, and 7.5 sacks during his final season at Purdue, and he should end up drafted somewhere on Day 3 after his standout college career.
Barnes is as impressive between the ears as he is on the field. Even in college, he showed a tremendous ability to read the offense, jump plays before they happen, position himself well enough to stop big runs from happening and deflect passes in coverage. Belichick loves versatility and smarts, and Barnes offers both of those things.
How would Derrick Barnes help the Patriots?
Fellow Boilermaker alum Ja’Whuan Bentley is not a very good athlete, yet Belichick has found a role for him due to his ability to stuff the run in between the tackles. Barnes has that same ability to plug up holes, but he offers a bit more versatility due to how he was used in college.
Barnes might not have the speed needed to hold down a starting role in the NFL, but he appears to be a high-floor guy that can fill a few different roles as a backup, all the while providing solid tackling in the open field. On Day 3, that’s about everything you can ask for out of a linebacker like Barnes.
Patriots Day 2 Linebacker Target: Jamin Davis, Kentucky
Davis might have had the most unstoppable rise of any prospect in this class, as he went from the fringes of Day 3 to an almost universal Day 2 prospect. After blowing scouts away at his pro day, Davis is out to prove that his 102 tackles and three interceptions last season were anything but a fluke.
Davis’ athletic ability and ferocious tackling will get him drafted somewhere on Day 2, and he has the potential to start right away considering how productive he was in the SEC. Despite his many positive traits, he has some wrinkles that Belichick will need to iron out before he is officially ready for primetime.
How would Jamin Davis help the Patriots?
Davis has just one season of starting experience, and that lack of game time became painfully obvious when more complex offenses were able to exploit his questionable decision-making in terms of reading plays. Once Belichick gets him to tighten up that aspect of his game, he can release this pitbull on the NFL.
Not only does Belichick’s work with Jerod Mayo establish him as a premier instructor for young linebackers, but Mayo himself will be his de facto defensive coordinator. If there is any system in which he could be properly set up for success, it’s that of New England.
Patriots First-Round Linebacker Target: Micah Parsons
There are very few “sure-fire” prospects in this draft class, or any draft class, but Parsons is one of those rare specimens that just makes your jaw hit the floor when you watch him on tape. An inside linebacker with defensive end size and safety speed, Parsons has value as an edge rusher and stand-up off-ball linebacker.
No. 15 might’ve been a spot that Parsons could’ve slipped to earlier in the draft process, but his ridiculous Pro Day has pushed his stock up into the very top tier of prospects. New England will need to trade up in order to select him, but he has given them every indication that their potential pursuit will be worth it in the long run.
How would Micah Parsons help the Patriots?
Belichick has a fetish for linebackers that can stick their hand in the dirt to pressure the passer and back away from the line of scrimmage in order to cover ground in zone coverage. Parsons can do both of those things, and he pairs that with a violence in his game that Belichick will absolutely love.
Parsons might’ve sat out last season, so it’s easy to forget how he would take games over on the defensive side of the ball that year. Parsons could start right away in any one of three positions for New England.
Don’t overthink things. Take the athletic freak with experience in one of the toughest conferences in the country.
Patriots: Is Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah the perfect Swiss Army knife for Bill Belichick?
When one takes a closer look at his style of play, Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah might be better off if the New England Patriots avoid him in the draft.