The New England Patriots were tremendously productive during free agency, satiating a near-desperate fanbase with splash signings like Milton Wiliams, Stefon Diggs, and Robert Spillane. It delivered a very clear message to the fans: Mike Vrabel did not come to New England to tank.
While free agency was thrilling, the roster is still thin in plenty of spots, and the NFL Draft next week sets up the perfect opportunity for Vrabel to fill out his first Patriots team. Specifically, it prompts an opportunity for Vrabel to make the team younger, especially at some places of need. You can find plenty of stardom in round one this year, but depth is built in the mid-rounds:
6 mid-round draft prospects Patriots must consider taking
RJ Harvey: RB (UCF)
Harvey is 5-foot-8, 205 pounds, and ran a 4.4 40-yard dash at the NFL Combine. While he is not considered a premier running back prospect, he is extremely talented, has surefire NFL speed, and would provide a fascinating piece to a backfield defined by Rhamondre Stevenson’s physicality and Antonio Gibson’s receiving work.
Harvey is a player who could far exceed his draft spot, as he is bumped down the board in part due to a saturated running back class. Nonetheless, he would be a great addition in New England to add some more explosiveness to the backfield, while still very much matching Vrabel’s violent ideals.
Xavier Restrepo: WR (Miami)
Restrepo was a massive part of Miami’s offense. He is a highly athletic and reliable target with the sure-handed characteristics that defined New England slot receivers during the Brady/Belichick era. He sits on the high end of the class with an average of 16.3 yards per catch and stands at a strong 5-foot-10, 209 pounds.
Even after the Diggs signing, the Patriots remain concerningly thin at receiver. Barring Travis Hunter falling to #4, it’s unlikely Eliot Wolf will take a receiver in round one, making the right mid-round picks essential to New England’s future at the position. Restrepo may well be this player: he does not stand out in any one way against the class, but he is a safe selection who would immediately benefit Drake Maye’s development.
Anthony Belton: OT (NC State)
The first thing to acknowledge here is that Anthony Belton is a massive individual. Coming into the league at 6-foot-6, 336 pounds, the NC State product moves relatively well for his size. Belton would be more of a long-term project than some of the other prospects on this list, but his size and strength absolutely match the requirements to be a dominant NFL lineman. One issue Belton had in college was a tendency to take a head start against speed rushers. Specifically against James Pearce Jr., the defensive end from Tennessee, Belton got penalized multiple times for setting himself well off the line of scrimmage. Gaining depth on his pass set will be a priority if he ends up in New England, but the upside is there.
On the bright side, his overwhelming power is evident on tape. He leans on defenders and the wear that inflicts becomes apparent throughout games. Once he's latched on, you are not getting rid of him. Belton's favorite thing to do is to play cleanup crew, burying defenders when he has the chance to help the guard or center. He does not have terrible feet, but he plays in a stumbling manner and falls a decent amount, but when he gets his weight and momentum moving in one direction he is a bulldozer. If he can develop properly, Belton might just be an absolute steal for Vrabel to build up a physical offensive line.
Cobee Bryant: CB (Kansas)
Cobee Bryant does not have the archetypal NFL build many teams are looking for, as he is 6-foot, 180 pounds. Furthermore, the Patriots are solid at cornerback, with Christian Gonzalez continually proving to be one of the league’s best, and with the addition of Carlton Davis in free agency.
That said, Bryant absolutely blanketed some of the best separators in the Draft at the Reese’s Senior Bowl, and he is a shockingly willing tackler. Bryant is a physical corner, willingly engaging the receiver in press coverage, and could very well become what Jack Jones could have been in New England if not for his external issues. Due to his frame, he’s a strong candidate to be available in the mid-to-late rounds of the Draft and could be a fantastic addition with the proper development.
Deone Walker: DT (Kentucky)
It is impossible to turn on a Kentucky football game and not immediately notice the 6-foot-7, 345-pound defensive tackle clogging up the middle of the field. Walker does not move as well as some of the other DT options in the draft, but he doesn't necessarily need to. He epitomizes strength and run stuffing, holds his ground extremely well, and even generates interior pressure through his overpowering strength and long arms.
There is a strong chance that a team takes a shot on Walker in the second round, which may extend beyond New England’s desired reach for an interior defensive lineman, but he would be a fantastic addition alongside a recovering Christian Barmore and a new defensive star in Williams. If Vrabel wants to hang his hat on run defense (see Spillane and Williams signings) then Walker very much fits the bill for the Vrabel era.
Drew Kendall: IOL (Boston College)
Kendall would be a hometown pick out of Boston College, and would immediately begin the process of replacing David Andrews. While Morgan Moses was a good veteran addition to a rough offensive line situation, no other signing was noteworthy enough to reassure the fanbase.
Kendall would not be a sure thing, but at 6-foot-4, 299 pounds with years of experience anchoring the offensive line for the Eagles, he would be a fantastic young addition to the group. On tape, Kendall has great feet, is active at the second level, and helps the guards against complex blitz packages. He plays with the violence and physicality necessary to match the culture of a Vrabel-led team. Regarding adding mid-round talent, Kendall would be a great addition to bolster a struggling offensive line.
The Pats made numerous splashes in free agency, making it abundantly clear to everyone that the Vrabel era would be aggressive and designed for success. Now, it becomes the team’s burden to round out the roster with young talent to see through Vrabel’s vision and to support a budding talent in Drake Maye. Executing in the middle rounds is essential to building sustainable success, and scooping up any of these six players would contribute immediately to that end.