Patriots Mock Draft Roulette: Why A Receiver Could Make Sense At 3

FOXBORO, MA — To all the Patriots fans hoping to see only quarterbacks in mock drafts this week. Sorry.

Welcome to the second in a three-part series of mock draft scenarios for the New England Patriots ahead of the Thursday NFL draft.

In yesterday’s part one, the Patriots selected Drake Maye with the third pick and paired him with his college wide receiver Devontez Walker and offensive tackle Jordan Morgan, of Arizona.

Read more: Patriots Mock Draft Roulette: Why The Team Should Pick A Quarterback

Today will be a look into alternatives in the draft for the team, which will be centered around an approach that looks to build for the future. Essentially, what could happen if the team only likes two of the four projected first-round quarterbacks and both go ahead of the third pick?

You might be saying, screaming even, trade back. We’ll get to that tomorrow.

As a refresher, we’ll run through three mock draft simulations that give a rough understanding of what could happen should the Patriots take one of three approaches:

1. Stay at three and draft a quarterback
2. Trade out of three for as much draft capital as possible
3. Stay at three and draft one of the top wide receivers or offensive lineman

Each of these simulations will be three rounds, which should give readers a rough idea of who could make up the core of the draft class and potentially find playing time in their first year.

Now, without further ado, welcome to Wide Receiver Island.

Why Not Taking A Quarterback Can Make Sense

There’s a prevailing narrative about young quarterbacks that the landing spot is just as important, if not more important, than the prospect themselves.

Of course, this doesn’t mean you can take any quarterback and turn them into a star. What it means is this: If the separation between quarterbacks at the top of draft boards is narrow, then the situation can be the difference between that player turning into a career starter or a career backup.

If we use that theory, then it’s likely true the Patriots don’t have a great situation for a young quarterback. The evidence? Ask Mac Jones.

The offensive ecosystem in New England hasn’t changed much. Sure, a new coordinator arrived in the offseason, but he comes from Cleveland where the head coach was the primary playcaller.

The skillplayers? They’re pretty much all the same with the addition of K.J. Osborn who was the third receiving option — fourth if you include tight end T.J. Hockenson — on last year’s Minnesota Vikings.

This theory isn’t foolproof. Joe Burrow’s situation in Cincinnati was abysmal during his rookie season and he turned into Joe Burrow. Jared Goff’s rookie season was among the worst in NFL history. Then Sean McVay came along and he became a good enough quarterback to make the Super Bowl just a couple of years later.

Still, it could be worth considering alternatives to build up the roster with superior talent. If that’s the direction the team chooses, here’s what it could look like:

The Draft

Round 1, Pick 3

Marvin Harrison, Jr., Ohio State

For the sake of not completely giving away the pick, I’ll explain why this pick makes sense for the Patriots here.

There is a consensus big three in this year’s draft at the wide receiver position consisting of Harrison, Jr., Washington’s Rome Odunze and LSU’s Malik Nabers. All three have big-time potential and, as nearly every scout and draft expert has noted, would be the top receiver in most other drafts.

So why Harrison?

Harrison is billed as the most surefire prospect in this year’s draft and has garnered comparisons to Julio Jones when it comes to the likelihood that’ll he’ll be successful. In short, he’s the complete package.

Harrison’s name should ring bells as his father, Marvin Harrison, is an NFL Hall of Famer who caught passes from Peyton Manning. The elder Harrison told Steve Smith Sr., the superstar receiver turned superstar receiver evaluator, that he thinks his son is better. Smith didn’t disagree, which should say a lot.

]

So why receiver? The chance to add a skill player of Harrison, Jr.’s ability doesn’t come around often, and Patriots fans can be the first to tell you that. Harrison also ranks above USC quarterback Caleb Williams on The Athletic’s consensus big board, meaning if New England doesn’t like the quarterbacks left on the board at three, they can simply select a player who, in the eyes of many, is the best in the draft.

Round 2, Pick 34

Jordan Morgan, Arizona

A repeat pick!

In this simulation, the Kansas City Chiefs offered to trade from pick 46 up to 34. The Patriots would get pick 46 and another second-rounder. (Those picks went to the Chiefs in an apparent trade with the Indianapolis Colts, who sent them to Kansas City in exchange for the last pick in the first round.)

Similar to yesterday’s column, that’s a great value deal for New England, but for the sake of this exercise, we’ll pass and select at 34.

Morgan is the pick again because he offers slightly more certainty than BYU’s Kingsley Suamataia and greater positional versatility than UConn’s Christian Haynes.

Now, if New England wants to throw additional resources at receiver this early in the draft, Georgia’s Ladd McConkey is still available. McConkey projects more as a slot player, but offers much more versatility than Demario Douglas, the team’s current slot option. However, with Harrison off the board and Douglas showing some promise last year, taking a swing at the offensive line makes the most sense.

Round 3, Pick 68

Christian Mahogany, Boston College

Who doesn’t love a little local flair? Mahogany is the pick here over Washington offensive tackle Roger Rosengarten and center Sedrick Van Pran-Granger, as the team could look to upgrade multiple spots on the offensive line in the draft.

There were several intriguing options left on the board at 68, including Texas running back Jonathon Brooks, Florida State defensive tackle Braden Fiske, Oregon edge rusher Brandon Dorlus and yesterday’s third-round selection Devontez Walker.

In Nate Tice’s big board for Yahoo!, Mahogany is described as a bulldog in the run game, where he’s a plus player. He will need to develop in pass protection to take the next step, and he gets a year to develop those skills ahead of the team moving toward their quarterback of the future.