Currently, the Patriots head into tonight with a trio of day two picks, #38, 69, and 77. A lot of good football players are still on the board, and this team still has a significant number of needs. With that in mind, here is a look at possible fits for each selection.
SECOND ROUND, #38
Jaylin Noel (WR, Iowa State), Jayden Higgins (WR, Iowa State), Luther Burden (WR, Missouri), Kyle Williams (WR, Washington State), Mike Green (Edge, Marshall), Donovan Ezeiruaku (Edge, BC), Nic Scourton (Edge, Texas A&M), J.T. Tuimoloau (Edge, Ohio State), Mason Taylor (TE, LSU), Elijah Arroyo (TE, Miami), Aireontae Ersery (T, Minnesota), TreVeyon Henderson (RB, Ohio State)
Of those players, you could say it's a little rich for a tight end and/or running back, although, with the age of Hunter Henry and Austin Hooper, I wouldn't call that careless if that's where their board took them. There are some durability concerns with Arroyo, and he was used much more in the slot (51%) than inline, but he provided a slew of explosives for that Miami team with Cam Ward at QB and then shined at the Senior Bowl. Taylor is just a well-rounded player and has drawn comparisons to Henry of all people. He's one of the most productive TEs in LSU history and a smooth route runner, but he has never had a 100-yard receiving game and didn't provide many explosives.
Henderson is not considered a bell-cow back. The good news is there aren't too many of those in the league anymore. But in a committee, he should be a weapon, a threat to take it to the house on every touch. As I highlighted in one of my mocks, Henderson's also exceptional in pass protection, which is a must for any back in the McDaniels' system.
Would the Pats consider doubling up at tackle? Ersery has started a lot of football game at Minnesota, although he's considered someone who floats a little too much and doesn't have the kind of finish that someone his size should possess. But Ersery played his best games in the Golden Gophers' biggest games, so you're saying there's a chance?
Staying on offense, if you want a pass catcher, there are plenty of flavors to choose from. The Pats know they need an element of verticality, but Higgins doesn't necessarily fit that description. That would be much more in Noel and Williams' wheelhouse. Those two have JUICE! However, Noel's would come from the slot, whereas Williams has a little more positional versatility, albeit with some erratic hands.
Burden is one of the real X factors in this draft. His 2023 tape is vastly superior to '24's. He's one of the better, if not the best, YAC guys, feeding on crossers and screens. Burden's also a hard guy to tackle, but his route running needs work and there are some concerns about his attitude and family's involvement. As I've written, there are some in the league who believe he could end up being the best in this class. But there's a flip side, and you wonder if the Pats look at their room as currently constructed and say, "We can't go that way again."
Green is the most talented of the available edges and would have been a top-15 pick if not for the off-field concerns. Ezeiruaku is a little light, but his production is there for all to see (and he doesn't have any baggage). Scourton's Purdue tape was first-round stuff. Top-15 as well. He took the NIL money (I can't blame him) and was asked to gain 20+ pounds, and he wasn't the same player for A&M. He's dropped that weight now. I'd sign up for the '23 version of him over any of these guys. As for Tuimoloau, he's been a rock-solid player for the Buckeyes, and while he doesn't possess the high-end traits and potential sack numbers, you know what you're getting.
There are a couple of good corners in Will Johnson and Trey Amos that could be sitting there as well, but both are outside guys and with the money invested in Carlton Davis, that would seem illogical.
ROUND 3, PICK #69
Jared Wilson (C, Georgia) and Jacob Parrish (CB, Kansas State)
Wilson is the best center in this draft not named Grey Zabel, who went 18th overall to Seattle and could play either center or guard. He's 6'3", 310 pounds, and didn't move to the position until 2022. He was All-SEC this past year, his first as a starter. Wilson has the same arm length as Will Campbell despite being just 6'3" and a longer wingspan. He also has massive paws (11 inches). What kind of athlete is he? He clocked over 21 MPHs while running his 40 at the combine, the fastest ever recorded by a center. Who knew? Not surprisingly, he's good on the move.
As for Parrish, the Pats are in the market for competition (and potential replacement) at nickel corner. He showed he could play inside and out in college, and at 21 years of age, there's still room for growth in his game. Check out his tape vs. Travis Hunter. Yesterday's 2nd overall pick had a devil of a time creating space against Parrish.
ROUND 3, PICK #77
D.J. Giddens (RB, Kansas State), Princely Umanmielen (Edge, Ole Miss), Ozzy Trapilo (T, BC) and Ty Robinson (DL, Nebraska).
So I'm partial to Giddens here, but you could tell me he'd be available a round later (at #106), and I wouldn't be surprised. Tennessee's Dylan Sampson or Jordan James of Oregon would be higher on their board and more worthy of being selected this high. All three can impact the passing game in addition to toting the mail, which the Pats are looking to add to the McDaniels offense. They could also just wait until day three and still find players capable.
Umanmielen is 6'4", 244 pounds, and he's got the kind of bend you want to see from an edge rusher. He's also found a middle ground as a run defender, and while I'm sure Vrabel and Terrell Williams will want more in that regard, he's willing and could do it at a higher level if he refines his hand usage.
We've spent a lot of time talking about Trapilo. My only caution here is that they may already see Caedan Wallace as their swing tackle and eventual successor to Morgan Moses, so this pick might be too similar for their roster build.
Robinson's got a motor that won't quit, and you couldn't watch a Nebraska game and not find yourself watching the energy he played with and marveling at how often he found himself in the backfield.
Another edge, Ashton Gillotte from Louisville, is expected to go around this point in the draft. While he isn't an eye-popping athlete, he was incredibly productive for the Cardinals. Josaiah Stewart of Michigan is another bendy edge guy, and LSU guard Miles Frazier is a starter in this league. He lined up only on the right side for the Tigers, and unless the Pats wanted to move Mike Onwenu to the left side and have him next to Campbell, I'm not sure I see it.