So after doing a little more research and placing a few more calls (most teams have been locked into long draft meetings through the weekend), we have an updated mock draft for you.
Here's Version 1.0.
The headlines from our second stab:
• The top 3 QBs remain unchanged in the top 3 spots: Trevor Lawrence, Zach Wilson and Mac Jones.
• The Falcons don't take a QB, and the next two QBs go off the board at 7 and 8 in two trade-ups.
• Those trades don't involve the Patriots, who are probably feeling good about a) Jimmy Garoppolo being cut loose by the Niners after drafting the pro-ready Jones; b) finding their future QB in the next crop of rookies.
• The Patriots trade down from 15 and end up with a defender.
• No one wants to pay the ransom the Falcons are looking for at No. 4. Other teams wait them out knowing the Bengals and Dolphins aren't going to pick a QB. The Falcons relent to their new coach's wishes by sticking with Matt Ryan and giving Arthur Smith a generational talent in the middle of the field in TE Kyle Pitts. Smith loves TEs and Hayden Hurst is ... average.
• The Bengals aren't stupid, so they protect their QB, who already lost one season to a caved-in knee, by protecting his blindside for years.
• Dolphins are psyched the best receiver in the draft falls to them (another reason for our pick later and, oh yeah, Stefon Diggs).
• Lions are open for business at 7 and drive a hard bargain because they could take a QB like Trey Lance to stash behind Jared Goff. Washington, instead, givens up a future 1st and a '21 third to get their future at QB in Lance.
• The Panthers are telling anyone who will listen that they will take Justin Fields if he's there at 8, and he is. Broncos get antsy and give up a third to move one spot to take Fields for themselves.
• Patriots curse Joe Judge for taking DeVonta Smith, and the Chargers and Vikings for taking the two tackles they would have selected, Rashawn Slater and Christian Darrisaw.
• Patriots are sitting there ... other teams see their need for a linebacker and Micah Parsons still on the board as the last Top 10 talent (with some issues) ... the phone rings ...
Patriots trade No. 15 ...
• ... to the Lions, who earlier traded down from the top 10. This way, the new braintrust gets to tell their fans they got a top 10 centerpiece and more draft ammo for the rebuild. Parsons also satisfies team president Chris Spielman, the former linebacker who loves him some Big 10 LBs. Lions get a physical playmaker in the middle of their defense that it has been lacking linebackers for years.
• Patriots pick up pick No. 72 — the eighth pick in the third round — to help replace their forfeited pick (77) and plug the gap from 46 to 97. It gives them extra ammo to move for the QB they desire, if they want to.
• Three picks go off the board the Patriots didn't really want, as 15 was pretty much the dividing line on real-deal first-round players.
Patriots are on the clock at 19...
• Again, they're hoping for a trade-down because there are multiple players they are considering for this selection. They get very close — in reality, they likely would trade down again but I couldn't find a good fit — with teams who want to jump them for an edge player or the last top cornerback on the board (Caleb Farley).
With the 19th selection, the Patriots select ...
This was very tough. In Mock Draft world, it took me over an hour to settle on the selection.
Considered but rejected:
• Safeties Trevon Moehrig and Andre Cisco ... I'm sure Bill Belichick has his safety binkie he's waiting to overdraft at some point next round.
With the 19th selection, the Patriots select ... CB Caleb Farley, Virginia Tech.
Absolutely, there's a medical red flag here, with an ACL in the past, and two back procedures. But the Patriots were OK with Rob Gronkowski, and probably would have taken him in the first round if they knew then what they know now about the same back procedure. Farley reportedly was injured in a workout, not football, and has been cleared by NFL doctors to be a full strength around the time of training camp.
And Farley has the chance to be a special man coverage corner — in fact, it's about the only thing he can do right now because he's still very raw after opting out in '20. That's good, because that's all the Patriots play, especially with a front this good again. Started as a receiver and that's how he plays the position — sometimes he beats the receivers to the ball. Excellent mirror ability in coverage. Built very well at 6-1 and 207 pounds with long arms. Makes great plays on the ball. If it wasn't for the injury issues, he'd probably be the top corner in the draft. His talent is too great not to take the risk here. Plus, the Patriots need coverage at the position with Stephon Gilmore's situation up in the air (even Robert Kraft was pretty much like, "Yeah, we'll see what happens") and J.C. Jackson possibly trade bait after the Patriots make this pick, perhaps for another third-round pick for QB ammo (the Patriots need it).
A linebacker was tempting. So were edge players. But the Patriots likely think they can find good players there later. A cornerback like Farley, if he checks out medically, gives the Patriots a player they need now (no Jason McCourty around yet) and in the future. Plus, he has the upside of being a future star. Not sure you can pass that up at 19.
Rob Gronkowski and Tedy Bruschi are the honorary head coaches for the University of Arizona’s spring game. But before the game, Gronk set a world world record because...he’s Gronk. pic.twitter.com/RuSCZPUFQU
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) April 24, 2021