The New England Patriots saw Mac Jones rise from the fifth quarterback taken in the 2021 NFL Draft to a Pro Bowl passer in his rookie season. With the defense possessing enough talent, look for New England to potentially get Jones a new running mate on the offensive side of the ball.
New England could look to add more offensive linemen to make sure Jones stays upright while looking for some more pass-catchers. With the quarterback and running back boxes checked thanks to Jones, Damien Harris, and Rhamondre Stevenson, New England needs to add around those positions.
With Trent Brown potentially on the move and a receiving corps that’s currently being led by Kendrick Bourne and Nelson Agholor in need of a young stud that raises the ceiling, Bill Belichick will be spoiled for choice at pick No. 21. He hasn’t been the best skill position drafter in the world, but he’s got so many idiot-proof options at his disposal.
Any one of these three players could make an impact for the Patriots during their rookie season. If developed correctly, they could end up becoming a piece of the long-term core that helps Jones continue to develop into a star in this league.
3 offensive players the New England Patriots could take at No. 21.
Brown might be the biggest offensive lineman in the league, but he could get that title taken away from him when Faalele gets drafted. At 6-9 and just under 390 pounds, Faalele is going to be a problem as soon as he arrives based purely on his size and strength.
He was able to move fairly well for his stature, which helped the Golden Gophers concoct one of the strongest running games in the Big Ten. Good luck hitting this guy with a bullrush. Even an experienced NFL lineman might have an issue dealing with his girth and muscle.
Daniel Faalele could replace Trent Brown for the New England Patriots.
Faalele’s issues stem from a lack of experience. He only started playing football in his final year of high school and started for two seasons with the Gophers. Speedy edge rushers can get low and bend the edge around him, and it might be tough to correct deficiencies in that area given how big he is.
But he seems like the type of lineman that Belichick has loved to develop with or without Dante Scarnecchia. You can work with Faalele on technique pointers and how to pick up advanced stunt concepts — you can’t teach unique physical attributes. He could jump up draft boards with a strong week at the Senior Bowl.
The Patriots improved their wide receiving corps last year, but the element that this team is lacking at the moment is a speed demon who could get behind the defense. If New England wants a playmaker at receiver, Dotson seems like a perfect fit for this offensive attack.
Dotson has the ability to separate at the line of scrimmage Belichick loves, and he pairs that with the short-area quickness needed to become an elusive ball-carrier as well as the top-end speed that will make him a vertical threat. Agholor tried and failed to take on this role, but Dotson seems naturally suited to it.
Jahan Dotson would be a deep threat for the New England Patriots.
Dotson is not a big receiver (just 183 pounds), which could make him a poor run blocker and someone who could be in for a rude awakening against some of the bigger cornerbacks in this league. That might result in some growing pains.
Some Mac Jones critics took aim at the fact that he was not a great deep passer this season, but he didn’t have a ton of vertical weapons. Going from N’Keal Harry to Dotson would be a major upgrade in that area and could open up the field in a big way.
If you were drawing up a receiver that’s perfect for what Belichick wants out of his offense, it would look a lot like Olave. Even though teammate Garrett Wilson is widely regarded as the best receiver in this class, Olave might have him beat in terms of his route-running and nose for the end zone.
Olave led the Buckeyes in touchdowns last season despite sharing targets with Wilson and projected 2023 top selection Jaxon Smith-Njigba. With soft hands and intuition post-snap, Olave seems like a safe bet. His floor is as high as any receiver in this class, and that could appeal to Belichick.
Chris Olave will start instantly for the New England Patriots.
Players like Arkansas’ Treylon Burks, USC’s Drake London, and Alabama’s Jameson Williams all have compelling cases in this spot as well. However, if New England wants someone who could make an impact right away, Olave might be the best choice.
The Patriots already know that Jones can lead this team to consistent wins, but they need to make sure that he has the proper infrastructure around him to make sure he doesn’t fall off of a cliff in his second season. Jones to Olave could be seared into the brains of rivals for a decade.
3 defensive talents Patriots can target with No. 21 pick in 2022 NFL Draft
One of these three defensive players, including Kaiir Elam and DeMarvin Leal, might end up getting drafted by the New England Patriots