March 25, 2008 - Who Will the Pats Pick in the 2008 NFL Draft? I Mock Their Mock Drafts!

This year, the New England Patriots have the 7th pick in the NFL Draft.  They received that pick when they traded with San Francisco last year.

So who will they choose?  How should I know?  Bill Belichick never does what people think he will do. 

But here are some bold predictions from several mock drafts.

I'll try to keep this updated, and we can mock them once the draft is complete.

John Tomase, Boston Herald 

Sedrick Ellis, DT, USC

 

Gholston would be tempting if available. Ellis was just as productive at a more difficult position to fill -- and the Pats could have some decisions to make on Wilfork and Seymour in 2009.

 

http://www.bostonherald.com/sports/football/other_nfl/view.bg?articleid=1089549

Pat Kirwin, NFL.com

Branden Albert, G, Virginia (Patriots trade with Cincinnati down to #9)

 

The Patriots could select CB Leodis McKelvin here, but their history says take the big man when you can in the first round of the draft. Albert is a young talent with the skills to play left tackle for a long time. The Super Bowl demonstrated a pass rush may be the only way to stop Tom Brady.

 

http://www.nfl.com/draft/story;jsessionid=F498694080170C7EA2BAF3B83611CF5B?id=09000d5d807c192b

Mike Mayock, NFL Network

Branden Albert, G, Virginia

 

http://www.nfl.com/videos?videoId=09000d5d80797a16

Don Banks, SI.com

Jerod Mayo, LB, Tennessee

 

*PROJECTED TRADE WITH THE SAINTS*  While USC's Keith Rivers has been a popular match for the Patriots' first-round pick, we believe they're higher on Mayo. He has much more experience playing inside linebacker than Rivers, and he'd allow New England to shift Adalius Thomas back outside, where his playmaking impact has been greatest. 

 

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2008/writers/don_banks/04/25/mock.draft7.page1/index.html

Peter King, Sports Illustrated

Vernon Gholston, DE/OLB Ohio State

 

I think the Patriots will sniff around a couple of guys this week, most notably Chris Long in the off-chance he makes it to No. 7, and I wouldn't be surprised to see them trade up to the Chiefs' pick if they think the Jets might be Gholston people. Remember how weak the Patriot rush was in the Super Bowl -- and fairly consistently weak at points late in the season? Richard Seymour's postseason: 12 quarters, zero quarterback pressures or sacks. New England has to address that.

 

The one thing that would stun me is a cornerback. Bill Belichick, in Cleveland and in New England, has had 14 first-round picks, and only once did he take a cornerback -- Antonio Langham, the just-OK DB from Alabama in 1994, picked way too high at No. 9 overall. The Patriots plucked Asante Samuel in the fourth round. They're far more likely to help their front seven if they pick at No. 7, then take a cornerback down the line.

 

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2008/writers/peter_king/04/20/mmqb/index.html

Dr. Z, Sports Illustrated

Glenn Dorsey, DT, LSU

 

They're a base 3-4 defensive team, but Bill Belichick likes to throw in a lot of 4-3 on pressure downs. And with the dynamic, disruptive Dorsey lining up next to All-Pro Richard Seymour, the Pats will have enough pressure to make lives miserable.

 

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2008/writers/dr_z/04/24/nfldraft/index.html

Mel Kiper, ESPN

Aqib Talib, CB, Kansas

 

Matt Mosley, ESPN

LB Keith Rivers, USC

 

This team could use some youthful energy at linebacker. Rivers is one of those players who quietly made his way up the draft board. The Patriots might try to trade down and take him, but it's obvious they love his potential. He'll start immediately at linebacker and give the defense more speed. I was told Thursday night that Lions coach Rod Marinelli is in love with Rivers, but not enough to trade up to No. 7.

 

http://myespn.go.com/blogs/hashmarks/0-6-237/Hash-Mock--The-Final-Draft.html

 

Todd McShay, ESPN/Scouts, Inc.

Leodis McKelvin, CB, Troy

 

I am convinced the Patriots will trade out of this spot. For starters, coach Bill Belichick and GM Scott Pioli have made 25 draft-weekend trades since taking over eight years ago. Secondly, the team is in desperate need of secondary help, but there isn't a defensive back in this class worth selecting in the top 10. McKelvin is the most likely fit at corner, but only if the team moves down at least a few spots. And New England has been known to take value over need in the past, so DT Sedrick Ellis is a possibility here, too.

 

http://insider.espn.go.com/nfl/draft08/insider/columns/story?columnist=mcshay_todd&page=mcshaymock0401&action=upsell&appRedirect=http%3a%2f%2finsider.espn.go.com%2fnfl%2fdraft08%2finsider%2fcolumns%2fstory%3fcolumnist%3dmcshay_todd%26page%3dmcshaymock0401

Chris Steuber, Scout.com

Sedrick Ellis, DT, USC

 

This is another intriguing spot in the draft, and the Patriots have an opportunity to upgrade a defense that's full of aging veterans. New England will consider many options at this point: drafting a top cornerback, possibly Leodis McKelvin, a savvy linebacker in Keith Rivers, or grabbing the best player on the board. There is a possibility the Patriots trade out of this pick, but either way USC's Sedrick Ellis should be the pick.
 
http://msn.foxsports.com/nfl/story/8066420/Scout.com-mock-draft:-Ryan,-Stewart-move-up

Steve Silverman, NBC.com

Sedrick Ellis, DT, USC

 

The rich get richer, at least along the defensive line. The need for a linebacker like USC’s Keith Rivers is probably greater, but the Pats can never have enough game-changing defensive linemen. Don’t be surprised to see New England trade down and get an extra second-round pick.

 

http://nbcsports.msnbc.com/id/7149535/

Tom Curran, NBC.com

Keith Rivers, LB, USC

 

The Patriots aren’t prone to taking linebackers in the draft, well, at all. Normally, they convert defensive ends to linebackers for their 3-4 scheme. But with Tedy Bruschi and Junior Seau on borrowed time at inside linebacker, Rivers has the talent and smarts to become a good one. Another possibility: a deal with Baltimore, Chicago or Detroit if Matt Ryan’s still available. 

http://nbcsports.msnbc.com/id/24279097

Vic Carucci, NFL.com

Leodis McKelvin, CB, Troy

 

After losing Asante Samuel and Randall Gay, the Patriots have little choice but to rebuild themselves at cornerback.

 

http://www.nfl.com/news/story;jsessionid=D0EEC9FB43783A98DEF5D05E228E2CEB?id=09000d5d80744321

Rob Rang, CBSSports.com

Derrick Harvey, DE, Florida

 

Bill Belichick rarely attends Pro Days, so the speculation has already started with the news that the New England coach worked out South Florida's Mike Jenkins. Jenkins, however, is viewed as more of a mid to late first-round value, adding credence to the theory that the Patriots will move out of this pick. Should they remain, a versatile pass-rusher like Harvey makes a lot of sense.

 

http://sportsline.com/nfl/story/10606857

Pete Prisco, CBSSports.com

Keith Rivers, OLB, USC

 

One of the big things lacking on their defense is speed at linebacker. Rivers can bring that.

 

http://www.sportsline.com/nfl/story/10644150

Clark Judge, CBSSports.com

Keith Rivers, OLB, USC

 

The Pats were looking at Gholston and, possibly, Long, but they will take the best linebacker on the board. He's the most gifted. If he doesn't go here, look for Baltimore to make a run at him.

 

http://www.sportsline.com/nfl/story/10706885

Charley Casserly, CBSSports.com

Keith Rivers, OLB, USC

 

They need a CB, but might not see the value in the seventh pick. I would think they would try to trade out of this position. Jared Mayo would be a shock here to many people, but in watching tape I like him better than Rivers: more instinctive and physical.

 

http://www.sportsline.com/nfl/story/10796749

Pete Fiutak, msn.foxsports.com

Mike Jenkins, CB, South Florida

 

It would be nice if Gholston slips this far — if the Pats think the former Buckeye star can be a hybrid of outside linebacker and end — but with corner help needed even without the Asante Samuel factor kicking in, getting a player like Mike Jenkins or Troy's Leodis McKelvin will be a must.

 

http://msn.foxsports.com/cfb/story/7826254/CFN's-2008-NFL-mock-draft

USA Today

Jarrett Bell

Ryan Clady, T, Boise State

 

Jim Corbett

Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, CB, Tennessee State

 

Nate Davis

Leodis McKelvin, CB, Troy State

 

Derek Harper

Keith Rivers, LB, Southern California

 

Sean Leahy

Leodis McKelvin, CB, Troy State

 

Rob Rang

Derrick Harvey, DE, Florida

 

Larry Weisman

Ryan Clady, T, Boise State

 

Scott Zucker

Vernon Gholston, LB/DE, Ohio State

http://www.usatoday.com/sports/football/nfl/2008-mock-draft.htm

James Alder, About.com: Football

Vernon Gholston, DE/OLB Ohio State

 

Gholston’s stock is on the rise and he may not be available at this point come draft day. If he is, however, the Patriots shouldn’t hesitate to take him. They are desperate for some youth at the linebacking position and Gholston, who would fit in well as a rush linebacker, has the ability to develop into an impact player.

 

http://football.about.com/cs/nfldraft/a/bl_mockdraft.htm

Frank Coyle, draftinsider.com

Leodis McKelvin, CB, Troy

 

The Patriots defense took some major hits in the secondary. They will look to add a top-flight cover man early in the draft. McKelvin's special teams ability is a big plus.

 

http://nfldraft.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=775564

Athlonsports.com

Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, CB, Tennessee State

 

http://www.athlonsports.com/pro-football/12986/2008-mock-draft

Ourlads.com

Leodis, McKelvin, CB Troy
 
Patriots take top corner on their board. Safety Kenny Phillips in discussion. No inside linebacker warrants this. 

 

http://www.ourlads.com/2008nflmockdraft.cfm?MockDraftID=5