The New England Patriots 7 round mock after the Wildcard playoff game

By: Jake Rajala

The New England Patriots suffered an uncharacteristic wildcard playoff loss by a score of 47-17 as their defense was poured on by opposing Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen. The Bills QB sadly unleashed hell for Patriots nation and delivered five passing touchdowns for his offense. The Bills offensive unit simply exploded and scored a touchdown on each of their first seven possessions. Belichick didn’t have answers on Saturday night, but he will seek revenge against his AFC East foe moving forward. 

Now that the Patriots season has eclipsed, the focus turns to the offseason. The focal point is unequivocally the 2022 NFL draft. Enormous questions loom for Bill Belichick can company. I will portray which direction the Pats will likely go in this Patriots 7 round mock draft. 

Here is a recap of the first-round draft picks selected by Bill in recent memory:

• 2021 – Mac Jones
• 2020 – Kyle Dugger and Josh Uche (second round picks)
• 2019 – N’keal Harry
• 2018 – Isaiah Wynn

Round 1 (15), Roger Mccreary – CB – Auburn

It’s no secret that Patriots All-Pro CB J.C. Jackson will demand a very lucrative contract and he will likely land with a different team that will overpay for him in the 2022 free agency period. ESPN has pegged the Arizona Cardinals as the best fit for the stud CB. The former Defensive Player of The Year Stephon Gilmore left early in the season to Carolina Panthers, so it’s clearly a slam dunk aim for NE to go CB early in the draft. Pats need help on the defense in general, so it would be wise to go in that direction early.

Roger Mccreary is a Top 30 player and he would fit in the perfect range for the Patriots first pick. The Auburn defender is not only one of the most explosive and quick-twitch Corners, but he also carries the size (6 ft, 190 pounds). The AP All American first team profile recorded only two interceptions, but he was a true lockdown CB routinely in 2021.

He would match up extremely well against Bills WR Stefon Diggs and he could overwhelm the 2021 rookie sensation, Dolphins wideout Jaylen Waddle in 2022. The Sr. who studied Liberal Arts can be the next Pro Bowl CB for the Patriots. 

Round 2 (54), Marcus Jones – CB – Houston 

I would love to see the defensive mind coach select a CB in back-to-back selections. The Pats once brought in Brandon Browner and Darrelle Revis to the same secondary and now they can bring in two high potential cornerbacks in Roger Mccreary and Marcus Jones in 2022. It would make sense to pencil a WR in round two based on the need, but I believe they could get much more needed help with a nice value selection in Marcus Jones here. The Houston CB Marcus Jones is a supreme playmaker. It’s as simple as that. Jones, who is also a nifty CB and aggressive 5’8 CB, can play slot corner and be the immediate starting kick returner. Jones is one of the “best CFB returners of the past decade”. 

It would be no surprise if Belichick was creative in round two and selected the versatile Jones. It wouldn’t be an overhyped idea if Josh McDaniels even got Jones involved on offense. 

The Pats ask their WRs and CBs to also be Super Bowl heroes. Jones could be the x-factor in the Pats next potential Super Bowl showdown.

Round 3 (85), Isaiah Spiller – RB – Texas A & M 

The Texas A & M running back isn’t related to the former Clemson gifted RB CJ Spiller, but he is another Day 1 impact ballplayer. Spiller has been consistent throughout his three years in college. He registered 1,036 rushing yards in 2020 and 1,011 yards in 2021 while averaging 5.5 YPC and 5.6 YPC in each of the seasons. He may not be the next Derrick Henry, but he’s a pillar of consistency and an all-time Texas A & M great. He could be a huge asset to Mac Jones, especially in the play-action game. The Pats have a Top 10 offensive line, but they clearly don’t yield a top-shelf RB group. Damien Harris broke out this season with 15 rushing touchdowns, but he’s not a game wrecker and there’s no RB2 that can complement him well. Spiller would be a 1B in the 2022 training camp, but he could be a potential 1A within a couple of seasons. The Pats bullied their way in the playoffs with LeGarrette Blount. It’s time to get back to smash-mouth football in the playoffs with Spiller.

All in all, an improved rushing attack would help their defense and second-year QB Mac Jones take the next step. It would be very well balanced for the Patriots to select a CB, CB, and stud playmaker on offense in Spiller in the first three rounds. 

Round 4 (123), Alec Pierce – WR – Cincinnati 

Alec Pierce would be a perfect WR addition for Mac Jones and another red-zone threat that he desperately needs. The 6’4 wideout has monster potential and the ability to still make an impact early on for Josh McDaniel’s offense. Pierce hauled in 8 touchdowns last season and averaged 17 YPC for 884 yards at the same time. Similar to Jones, Pierce is also a strong, versatile athlete. He is a potent gunner and a notable difference-maker on special teams. Belichick has an All-Pro special teamer in Matthew Slater, but he could find another gifted, hungry special team force in Alec Pierce.

The Pats don’t currently have a 1,000 yard WR on their roster. Hunter Henry had nine touchdowns, but the next leading touchdown receiver was Kendrick Bourne with five touchdown catches. They need a wideout with lots of potential and red-zone playmaking ability.

The Pats could target a veteran wideout in FA and wait until rounds 3-5 to select a rook WR. Pierce and the Pats would be a match made in heaven. He can be what they expected Aaron Dobson to be and the Pats starting WR for many years to come.

Round 6 (205), Projected trade for Saints WR Tre’Quan Smith 

The HC and GM Bill Belichick always hides under the hoody and gets ultra-creative with draft picks. It would be a genius idea in my opinion if Belichick traded a late-round wideout for a modest veteran wideout. The Saints head coach Sean Payton and Belichick have exchanged players and picks (think Brandin Cooks, Michael Hoomanawanui) on many previous occasions. The Saints will have Michael Thomas returning, the ascending Deonte Harris in the fold, and likely another newcomer at the WR position. The Pats should see if they can get Smith off on the Saints hands for a late-round pick. Smith is a free agent, but it would make sense for the Saints and the familiar Smith to reunite on a prove-it deal. If the Pats don’t give the Saints GM Mickey Loomis a call, it may be a deep-thinking move for Belichick to deal their sixth-round pick for the right veteran wideout elsewhere.

Round 7 (projected trade up in seventh round), Chase Garbers – QB – California

The Pats currently have Brian Hoyer and Jarrett Stidham behind Jones. The Pats backup QB position isn’t an admirable outlook and it’s not exciting to visualize the Patriots Super Bowl chances if Jones has an unexpected injury. They could snag another winner and athlete in Chase Garbers. The former Cal Bear recorded 2,531 passing yards and 456 rushing yards in his senior season. The senior also capped off a career-best 135.7 passer rating. He really shined in a 41-11 thrashing of Stanford. 

The Kansas City Chiefs are bizarre enough to roll the dice with the washed-up Chad Henne in the backup role, who fumbled in back-to-back snaps when he took over for Pat Mahomes late in a 4th quarter contest earlier this season. The Pats need to be firm with their QB2 position this offseason. They could find a gem in Garbers, who can be a serviceable backup for many years to come.