The draft is just around the corner, and the Patriots have a lot of improvements to be made to be a competitive team moving forward, but especially for next season.
They are set to have the 14th overall pick, their highest position in round one since 2008, and have been mock-drafted to select impact players on offense and defense. The problem is they need help on both sides of the football, making their first pick all the more dire to be the right one.
At this point, their biggest needs are offensive tackle, cornerback, and wide receiver. They will have a variety of prospects to choose from, but they will also have a few they should avoid with their round-one pick.
Bijan Robinson (RB) – Texas
The thought of the Patriots going with a running back in the first round is beyond comprehensible, especially given their currently packed RB roster at the moment.
Additionally, Bill Belichick has only selected two players at the position in the first round during his Patriots’ tenure, picking Laurence Maroney in 2006 and Sony Michel in 2018.
Running backs are not an often valued position in the NFL; generally speaking, there are great prospects in the draft every year. Unless a team is lucky enough to land a player like Derrick Henry or Christian McCaffery, they are unlikely to pay the big bucks to retain them.
Bijan Robinson would be an excellent fit for nearly any team in the league, and he is ranked as the top back in his class for all the right reasons.
He’s fast. He’s dynamic. He’s so elusive he even set a record last season with 104 missed tackles.
How could a team choose against drafting a guy like that?
The Patriots should do just that, unfortunately. They are currently set with their top back Rhamondre Stevenson who has quickly taken over the James White role in the offense. Belichick also brought in James Robinson via free agency this year, another pass-catching back, and Pierre Strong Jr. and Kevin Harris will enter their second season in the NFL, ready to have their chance to show all they can do for New England.
Although it wouldn’t be an easy pass, taking a running back in the first round makes absolutely zero sense for the Patriots to do this year, even if Robinson somehow falls to them at 14.
Michael Mayer (TE) – Notre Dame
This is probably a more surprising player to choose, considering he has been nicknamed “Baby Gronk” over the years, but that may play a big part in why the Patriots shouldn’t select.
The idea of having the second coming of Rob Gronkowski will undoubtedly make most fans salivate, myself included, and Michael Mayer could certainly be an asset to the team if Belichick decided to take him. However, in an ideal world, it would be on day two or later in the draft, not with their first-round pick.
The Patriots have far more significant needs to fill than replacing the limited production they got out of Jonnu Smith over two years. Plus, there is optimism that Hunter Henry will have a resurgence this upcoming season after having a down year in 2022 due to injuries.
There’s also the free agent signing of Mike Gesicki to consider. Of course, the former Dolphin is not known for his size or block abilities, which Mayer would be a big help in, but the Patriots are reportedly set on using Gesicki more in a receiving role than a typical tight end.
Then there’s also the deep tight end class in this year’s draft. Belichick could choose from plenty of talented tight ends in later rounds that could bring similar production to the team as Mayer.
Since more glaring needs should be prioritized, it’s best to pass on Mayer even if he’s available at pick 14.
Lukas Van Ness (EDGE) – Iowa
The Patriots defensive line is not an area of concern needing addressing in the early rounds of this year’s draft, which essentially eliminates Lukas Van Ness from consideration with pick 14.
His size and raw abilities make him an easy Belichick target, so much so that they had him in for a top-30 visit on Wednesday. Still, just like with Bijan Robinson and Michael Mayer, more prominent positions need massive improvement over the defensive line.
However, Van Ness would be an intriguing selection and would definitely add depth to the perimeter, which has been a consistently inconsistent aspect of the defense. He possesses the versatility to play inside and outside but has shown to succeed most when playing as a pass rusher.
Although these are all traits that the Patriots historically would love on their team, selecting Van Ness would be a toss-up and mean that they chose to pass on offensive tackles or cornerbacks, two far-needier positions.