Mock Madness: Patriots with trades shock the NFL with an electric 7-round mock draft

The Patriots select tight end Dallin Holker with pick No. 136

With Patriots' own pick, No. 136 in the fifth round, they continue to pound the offensive side of the ball, as well they should. This time, they double up on the tight end position and draft Dallin Holker, a 6'5", 235-pound Colorado State Ram. Holker is a bit more of a pass-catcher than the previously selected Sennott. It's a good mix of talents to have on your team.

Holker caught 64 passes for 767 yards and six TDs for the Rams in 2023. nfldraftbuzz.com notes his strengths,

"Holker's strengths lie in his ability to deliver in crucial moments and even against tough opposition, making him a reliable target in clutch situations. Despite his less-than-ideal explosive speed off the line, Holker's proficiency in making plays in traffic and his effective use of size and technique in blocking make him a versatile asset. His soft hands, good catch technique, and ability to gain separation with head fakes and stutter steps are positives."

Holker can block. Check. He makes plays in big moments. Check. He can separate. Check. And he can make plays in traffic. Check. All this sounds like a really good investment of a fifth-round pick on a position that is bereft of almost everything including bodies at the moment in the New England Patriots locker room. The assessment here of Holker is, a Check.

Pats wrap the draft with running back Henry Holani at pick No. 182

With their final pick in the 2024 NFL draft, the Patriots stay true-to-form and draft another offensive skill position player. This time it's a running back to augment the depleted room with Ezekiel Elliot a free agent. The Pats select Henry Holani, a 5'10" 205-pound running back from Boise State with their own sixth-round pick, No. 182 overall.

profootballnetwork.com commented on Holani's 2023 season and his strengths,

"As a fifth year senior in 2023 he played in 8 games and ran for 757 yards on 133 carries for an impressive average of 5.7 ypc, with 7 TDs, with no fumbles. In the passing game he had 17 receptions for 199 yards.

• "His competitiveness and knack for high-pointing the ball allow him to play bigger than his size.
• Solid receiver in the flat, capable of running through tackles on the edge to move the chains. Flexible enough to catch passes thrown behind him.
• Difficult to bring down one-on-one in space, regularly sidesteps would-be tacklers and uses offhand to use oncoming defenders' momentum against them without slowing down significantly."

No one knows if a sixth-round pick will be a Tom Brady or Terrell Davis, a Mike Onwenu, or just another guy drafted late. But Holani's worth a flier for the Patriots who are thin at running back. He may just be that mid-size, change-of-pace back that they need. 'ya just never know.