New England Patriots jolt the NFL with a sparkling 7-round mock draft
With their first-round pick in the NFL draft, the New England Patriots select ...
Here we go! It's Thursday, April 29, and for once, the New England Patriots are on the clock at an early hour. Fans can see what their team does in the draft before they ease into sleepy time or wreck their Friday before it begins.
With the first two picks in the NFL draft, what many prognosticators had thought eventuates. The top two quarterbacks, Caleb Williams of USC and Drake Maye of North Carolina go to Chicago and Washington, respectively. Now Wolf is faced with the most critical Patriots' draft decision in a quarter century: whether the Patriots should select now or trade down. And if he selects, who's it going to be?
It's not an easy decision for Wolf, yet great options abound. If he trades down, he can secure valuable assets to help rebuild an offense that needs help essentially everywhere. Indeed, a trade down to picks five through seven would secure a haul of picks and still nicely deliver a top player. If not, and he opts for the value of the Pats' high picks in every round, he'll go quality over quantity. Again, he can't be faulted there.
Wolf doesn't hesitate; he sends the card with the third pick overall up to the podium, and the Patriots waste no time in getting their quarterback of the future, dual-threat Heisman Trophy-winner Jayden Daniels of LSU. And in Daniels, he gets a multi-faceted talent.
Jayden Daniels, the best option for the Patriots both long and short-term.
Jayden Daniels can do it all. He's an accurate passer, protects the ball, and produces touchdowns, exactly what the New England Patriots need. That's a terrific long-term proposition. In addition, in the short term, he'll provide a running option while the Patriots re-tool their entire offense, which will take time. Daniels will compensate for many deficiencies with his legs on broken or scripted plays.
Daniels' 2023 season was a hallmark of excellence. He threw for 3812 yards, a 74.2 completion percentage, and 40 touchdowns. He also protects the ball and has just four interceptions for a "not too bad" 10/1, TD to INT ratio. That's a valuable asset to a turnover-prone team like the 2023 Patriots.
nfldraftbuzz.com doesn't mince words commenting on what Daniels will bring to the table for the listless Patriots offense,
"Jayden Daniels' 2023 season is a case study in the traits NFL scouts salivate over in a dual-threat quarterback. His mobility and arm are tailor-made for modern offenses, particularly in RPO (Run-Pass Option) and quick-pass scenarios. His standout performance against Florida, where he became the first player in FBS history to pass for 350 yards and rush for 200 in a single game, wasn't just record-setting; it was a showcase of his high-ceiling potential."
Nice to hear. Let's also hear from thedraftnetwork.com on the Heisman Trophy-winning Daniels,
"As a passer, Daniels appears to be most comfortable on the move, where the play moves the launch point. On these designed play calls, Daniels shows off his natural athleticism by being able to easily get out of the pocket and find the open receiver in half-field read concepts.
"When Daniels feels that a receiver isn't open, he will take the option to tuck the football and pick up significant yardage with his legs—whether that is escaping through the middle of the pocket or escaping on the perimeter. In the pocket, Daniels looks most comfortable when he has one or two reads in a play, showing that he has the arm strength to hit opposite hash comebacks and quick curl/hitch routes to receivers."
As a dual-threat quarterback, Daniels fits the bill as a 2020's NFL quarterback, especially one with a rebuilding offensive line. As a 6'3" (or 6'4", as some say) and 205-pound quarterback, he's got the right height to see over defensive lines. While he's on the slight side, he can add weight to help with that.
Eliot Wolf has gone for the gold early on and eschewed any trades down to ensure that he gets the right man in the most important position on the team, the quarterback. It's a counter-cultural move for the seemingly always willing to trade down Pats under Bill Belichick (who then largely proceeded to muff the added picks they'd secured).
No one knows if Daniels or anyone else will ultimately work out at quarterback or any other position in the first or any round of the draft, for that matter. It's all a guessing game. Yet, the odds are improved if you draft consensus players at positions you need, which Wolf has just done here. He's made a bold and clear statement: the Patriots are aiming to compete and compete now. With Daniels, a consensus dual-threat QB, now in tow, they may just do so right out of the shoot.