The New England Patriots have had their fair share of success in recent years, winning a Super Bowl in 2017. What could happen if they got the first overall pick in 2022?
The “New England Patriots 4-Round 2022 Mock Draft” is a mock draft that predicts the New England Patriots have four picks in their 2019 NFL draft. Read more in detail here: how many draft picks do the patriots have in 2022.
The New England Patriots rebounded in 2021 after a disappointing 2020 season, ending with a 10-7 record and a playoff spot. Bill Belichick’s team, on the other hand, was eliminated early in the Wild Card Round after being blasted out by the Buffalo Bills. New England has remained silent throughout the summer and will need to make the most of its draft selections in 2022.
If the Patriots want to progress in their second season with Mac Jones at quarterback, they must solve a number of issues. In New England, wide receiver is always a position of need. The departures of cornerback J.C. Jackson, linebacker Kyle Van Noy, and offensive tackle Shaq Mason must also be included into Belichick’s and the front office’s calculations.
The Patriots might approach the first four rounds of the 2018 draft in the following manner.
Jameson Williams, WR, Alabama, 1st round, No. 21 overall
Against Southern Miss, Alabama wide receiver Jameson Williams receives a touchdown pass | Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images
The New England Patriots haven’t had a standout wide receiver in a long time. Randy Moss was the most recent (2007-2010), although he was still in his early 30s. Mac Jones is about to enter his second NFL season, and the front office can’t afford to leave him without a quarterback.
Jameson Williams is without a doubt one of the best pass catchers available in the 2019 NFL draft class. Because the Alabama star tore his ACL in the College Football Playoff National Championship Game, he may conceivably be drafted No. 21 overall by the Patriots. If he does, Bill Belichick will have no choice but to seize him.
After transferring from Ohio State, Williams had a fantastic junior season in Tuscaloosa. In 15 games, he caught 79 receptions for 1,572 yards and 15 touchdowns. He’s a game-changing deep threat, something the Patriots offense sorely needs. If the organization wants Mac Jones to improve as a passer, he needs a legitimate weapon. Williams, without a question, meets the description.
Chad Muma, LB, Wyoming (Round 2, No. 54 overall)
The Patriots concluded the 2021 season with the second-best defense in the league. Their run defense, on the other hand, might need some work. The defense gave up 123.7 running yards per game but just nine touchdowns all season.
The front seven of the New England Patriots was a bend-but-don’t-break unit, but Chad Muma of Wyoming may help the defense bend less. He has the eighth-best linebacker rating for the 2021 season, according to Pro Football Focus (90.3). He also had the second-best run defense among all FBS quarterbacks. In 33 games with the Cowboys, Muma has 266 tackles, 19 tackles for loss, 5.5 sacks, and three interceptions.
In the offseason, the Patriots parted ways with Kyle Van Noy, but re-signed Ja’Whaun Bentley and acquired Mack Wilson. Even so, New England will need to address the linebacker issue in the NFL Draft of 2022. Muma has the perfect size and athleticism for the position, and he might flourish in Bill Belichick’s defense.
Marcus Jones, CB, Houston, 3rd round, 85th overall
New England cannot afford to overlook their secondary, particularly cornerback, in the NFL draft. The defense suffered a major blow when Pro Bowl cornerback J.C. Jackson signed with the Los Angeles Chargers in free agency. He’s one of the best cover corners in the NFL, and he’ll be dearly missed by Belichick.
Marcus Jones might be a bargain in the third round for the Patriots. When Jackson departed, they lost their playmaker, and Jones could surely fill that position. As a senior, the Houston Cougars standout had 47 tackles, 13 passes defensed, and five interceptions. In 2021, PFF ranked him as the ninth-best cornerback (87.8).
The consensus All-American is also a tremendous return specialist. In two seasons with the Cougars, he scored two kick return touchdowns and three punt return touchdowns. Jones’ explosive playmaking skills might provide a huge boost to the Patriots’ defense and special teams.
Zach Tom, OL, Wake Forest, 4th round, No. 125 overall
On a stunt, he’s the best at blocking both the inside rusher and the looper (or down blocking then getting back to the outside blitzer)
— Zach Tom of Wake Forest
Quickness in a small region that is second to none
— Chris Trapasso (@ChrisTrapasso) March 1, 2022
New England has a strong front office, but it needs to build depth in the front office moving into 2022. In the summer, the Patriots sent starting guard Shaq Mason to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers without receiving anything in return. He’s one of the NFL’s most dependable interior offensive lineman, and he’ll be difficult to replace.
Zach Smith of Wake Forest Tom is a player that the Patriots should be able to choose in the fourth round. He started at offensive tackle for the Demon Deacons the last two seasons, but he projects as an interior lineman at the next level. Tom is an excellent athlete for his stature, standing 6-foot-4 and weighing 305 pounds.
Pass protection is Tom’s forte. For the 2021 season, Pro Football Focus assigned him a 92.1 pass-blocking rating. With a rookie quarterback at the helm, New England must place a premium on safeguarding its investment. The Wake Forest star isn’t as good at run blocking as he is at passing, so he’ll have to work on that if he wants to remain on the field with the Patriots.
Pro Football Reference and College Football Reference provided all stats.
Mock Draft: Baltimore Ravens, 3rd Round, 2022
The “nfl mock draft 2022 simulator” is a tool that simulates the 4-round 2022 NFL Draft. The tool allows users to select what team they would like to draft for, and also gives them the option of selecting which players in the draft they would like to keep or release.
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