The Patriots are looking to avoid a Super Bowl hangover after a disappointing loss in February, and they need to start getting returns from recent draft classes to avoid falling off. Actual selections compared to would-be selections using our board can be viewed below.

 

Actual selections

1.28: OT Caleb Lomu

2.55: EDGE Gabe Jacas

3.95: TE Eli Raridon

5.171: CB Karon Prunty

6.196: OT Dametrious Crownover

6.212: LB Namdi Obiazor

7.234: QB Behren Morton

7.245: RB Jam Miller

7.247: EDGE Quintayvious Hutchins

 

Wolf Sports selections

1.28: CB D’Angelo Ponds

2.55: S Emmanuel McNeil-Warren

3.95: CB Jermod McCoy

5.171: LB Harold Perkins Jr.

6.196: G DJ Campbell

6.212: TE John Michael Gyllenborg

7.234: WR Deion Burks

7.245: QB Jalon Daniels

7.247: WR J. Michael Sturdivant

 

Thoughts

New England taking Caleb Lomu with their first-round selection was an interesting decision, and it was even more interesting with the rookie beginning rookie minicamp at left tackle. Could that mean they have plans to eventually move last year’s No. 4 overall pick Will Campbell—who was our No. 36 overall prospect and someone we viewed as a guard—inside? Right guard Mike Onwenu is entering the final year of his contract and right tackle Morgan Moses is entering his age-35 campaign, so it’ll be a situation worth watching over the next couple of years.

 

Without having the ability to trade down, our target in the first round would have been D’Angelo Ponds as the best player available, and he could have formed a scary long-term trio with Christian Gonzalez and Marcus Jones at cornerback. For this year, though, it’d be similar to Caleb Lomu in terms of not being a starter with Carlton Davis III still playing well, but Ponds will provide top-end insurance at all three spots.

 

In the second round, the Pats took Gabe Jacas as a high-effort edge defender who fits well in New England’s defense, and he’ll rotate with Harold Landry III and Dre’Mont Jones for an improved group. In the third round, Eli Raridon was selected as a bigger target out of Notre Dame at six-foot-seven, and he’s a nice stylistic complement to Hunter Henry.

 

We would have gone with Emmanuel McNeil-Warren and Jermod McCoy at those slots—though trading up for Germie Bernard or CJ Allen would have been ideal in Round 2. Of course, neither player fills a need (especially after already taking D’Angelo Ponds), but McNeil-Warren could allow for more three safety looks with Kevin Byard III and Craig Woodson, while McCoy was too good of a value late in Round 3 (and a trade is always possible).

 

The rest of the selections for New England didn’t begin until later on Day 3, but they had six shots—which turned into cornerback Karon Prunty, right tackle Dametrious Crownover, linebacker Namdi Obiazor, quarterback Behren Morton, running back Jam Miller, and edge defender Quintavious Hutchens (who was arrested and charged with domestic assault and battery last week).

 

We believe there were better values to be had with players such as Harold Perkins Jr. and DJ Campbell in the top 200, and it was a bit surprising that Jalon Daniels wasn’t the choice at quarterback after the team did quite a bit of work on him in the pre-draft process.