With the NFL Draft just days away, debates, mock drafts, and visions of whom the New England Patriots will take with their coveted fourth pick—which could've been the first pick had New England not beaten Buffalo's JV team in Week 18 last season—continue to dance through everyone's heads.
The Patriots got themselves significantly ahead of the eight-ball in free agency, and many prognosticators feel the team should undoubtedly pick the best player available, or perhaps continue to upgrade positions that need more talent.
But one mock draft by Pro Football Focus puts a surprising twist on things, including Shedeur Sanders (not Cam Ward) going No. 1 overall to the Tennessee Titans, Jaxson Dart (QB, Ole Miss) heading to the Cleveland Browns at No. 2, and the NewYork Giants choosing to upgrade their defense, not their putrid offense, with defensive tackle Mason Graham.
So where does this leave the Patriots? It leaves them upgrading one of the most disappointing position groups in football last year.
Shocking draft twist has Ashton Jeanty heading to New England
Jeanty is clearly the top back in this draft and it would certainly be a surprising choice if New England calls his name over the likes of Travis Hunter and Abdul Carter. For the record, this PFF mock doesn't even have Hunter coming off the board in the first round, which appears quite literally impossible (but that was the point of the exercise).
More Ashton Jeanty-Patriots stories:
But what's not so surprising is that New England's running back room could use some fresh blood.
Rhamondre Stevenson has had fumbling issues since he came into the NFL, and they were one of the Patriot offense's many issues last year. New England also ranked 28th in the league in yards per carry last season, and that just doesn't fly with a young quarterback who needs help.
Stevenson has been a great back with the Patriots. He has a 1,000-yard season to his credit, but he just isn't the home-run hitter that Jeanty is. Jeanty is the type of back who can run with power and speed, and he can catch the ball out of the backfield. He's the complete package at the position the Patriots haven't had since Corey Dillon was a key piece to the team that won Super Bowl XXXIX.
If Carter and Hunter are off the board and the Patriots don't want to trade the fourth pick, Jeanty is a wild-card possibility. Would it be a shock? Yes. But would it surprise other fans and media who know the running back room could use an upgrade? Probably not.