Patriots mock draft shocker has them reaching for player they don’t need

The NFL offseason is shifting into high gear, and mock drafts abound as they do every year at this time before the April draft. It's always an interesting exercise to observe who and at what positions analysts assign players to teams.

The Patriots are no different. They have a plethora of need positions, and one is wide receiver. That's exactly where one top analyst has them going in the first round with KC Concepcion, a wide receiver from Texas A&M.

With the recently announced release of Stefon Diggs, the team's best 2025 receiver, the need for a wide receiver has certainly been amplified. Whether in free agency, the draft, or both, that position now has to be addressed. A No. 1 receiver is now a necessity.

In addition, the Patriots' offensive line needs substantial reinforcement. Their edge unit is thin and could be even more so if K'Lavon Chaisson, arguably their best edge in 2025, moves on in free agency. Tight end and running back also should be addressed.

But now added to that list is a No. 1 wide receiver. Things are not getting any easier for Mike Vrabel.

Should the Patriots address wide receiver in the first round of the draft

Without a doubt, free agency will largely determine where the Patriots expend their draft capital in late April. Should the Patriots sign one of the premier free agents like Alec Pierce from the Colts, the need at the receiver position will diminish. If not, it remains sky high.

In a mock draft article, NFL.com's Lance Zierlein mocked wide receiver KC Concepcion to the Patriots in the first round.

"The Patriots shocked the world last season, but they will need to keep improving now that they are the hunted. Concepcion is a tremendous separator who can give Drake Maye plenty of clean looks from the slot."

If wide receiver is not strongly addressed in free agency, it's hard to argue that going wide receiver in an early round of the draft would make sense, despite the other obvious and serious needs. Whether Concepcion is the right choice, especially in the first round, is another question altogether.

The Patriots don't need another slot receiver

Lance Zierlein mocks KC Concepcion to the Patriots and sees him as a slot receiver. If there is one position that has adequate cover in the wide receiver room, it's the slot, so that choice would be faulty. The Patriots have options there.

They have Pop Douglas, who may or may not be around. They also have Mack Hollins, who has positional flexibility there. And the best 2026 option is undoubtedly Efton Chism III, who was mispositioned by the team in 2025 when he played.

The 6'0", 196-pound Concepcion had a solid 2025 season for the Aggies. He caught 62 passes for 919 yards and nine touchdowns. That's a good season playing in the SEC, but not eye-opening. NFL.com, in their Overview of the player, likes his separation ability.

"Concepcion offers immediate burst and separation into space. He’s elusive in beating press and getting into breaks with minimum damage from handsy coverage. While he has a one-speed approach, he can snap off routes with alarming suddenness, making him extremely difficult to match at leveraged break points. "

Separation is always an asset. Yet, if Concepcion is projected to be a slot receiver, the pick would not be an optimum one. The Patriots have many needs to address in free agency and the draft. Frankly, a slot receiver is not even on the list of priorities.

The Patriots should go elsewhere with their first-round pick, and offensive tackle or edge would be much better choices.