Patriots 7-round mock draft: Trading up for a QB and trading away J.C. Jackson, N’Keal Harry

If you’ve followed my mock drafts at all this offseason, you’ll know that I like to keep things exciting. Well, that’s just what this mock draft is.

After all, what’s the point of a boring, sensible mock draft? These things are supposed to be fun. Yes, they’re supposed to be realistic. But they’re also (in my opinion) intended to explore what’s possible — and not just what’s most likely to happen. That’s why I have the Patriots trading all over the board in this mock draft, including trades that send away cornerback J.C. Jackson and receiver N’Keal Harry. Amid all that, New England lands a developmental quarterback and a starting-caliber receiver.

(For those curious, I used the Pro Football Network mock draft simulator, which allows draft pick trades. It doesn’t allow player trades. I did some fudging to make those work.)

So let’s dive in.

MOCK TRADE! First round, 11th overall: DeVonta Smith, WR, Alabama

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The deal: The Patriots send 15th and 46th picks to the New York Giants in exchange for 11th overall. I tried making a deal to get up to Nos. 8 and 9 for North Dakota State quarterback Trey Lance. That failed. The Denver Broncos picked him. I tried then to make a deal to get up for No. 10 for Smith. That also failed. But luckily, the Giants were happy to do business. There is a clear top tier of receivers in this draft: Smith, Jaylen Waddle and Ja'Marr Chase. After those three, you see a mishmash of about six players who have much bigger questions to answer as they transition to the pros. Smith might just be the best receiver in this draft class, even with the questions about how his weight will factor into the NFL game. He will be a player who changes the complexion of the offense. Imagine a starting lineup that includes Cam Newton, Smith, Nelson Agholor, Jonnu Smith, Hunter Henry and Damien Harris (or James White). That's freaky.

MOCK TRADE! Round 2, 50th overall: Dillon Radunz, OT, North Dakota State

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The deal: The Patriots send Jackson to the Dolphins in exchange for the 50th overall pick. Here's a very risky play for Bill Belichick. He's hurting his secondary in a big way in 2021. Jackson was the best CB2 in the NFL. But when he moved into the CB1 role (with Stephon Gilmore getting injured), Jackson was just ... OK. My sense is that he might struggle in another system. He is also a restricted free agent, and could leave in 2022. So New England could feel OK sending him away, even to a division rival. The Patriots would then turn around and sign Jason McCourty out of free agency. And then they would need to develop Radunz in short time. He may be needed in 2021 with Patriots left tackle Isaiah Wynn looking injury prone. Radunz is a member of a deep group of tackles -- he should develop into a starter and perhaps even one of the best offensive lineman in this class.

MOCK TRADE! Round 3, 82nd overall: Jamie Newman, QB, Georgia

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The deal: The Patriots trade Harry and the 122nd overall pick to the Washington Football Team. There simply isn't a way New England can fit Harry onto the roster, especially if it drafts Smith. Harry needs a change of scenery. So the Patriots package him with a pick to move up and get their developmental quarterback. Newman has lost momentum after opting out of the 2020 season. In 2019, however, he looked poised to rocket into the first round. Newman will need time to develop. He'll require patience and he has plenty of flaws. But he's a prospect that's worth the risk. New England can sit him in the same room as Newton (and maybe Stidham) and see whether Newman shows signs of readiness. The 2022 offseason could produce an array of quarterback options (Aaron Rodgers, Matt Ryan, Jimmy Garoppolo). So the Patriots can draft and develop Newman. If he's not looking promising, he can be a cheap backup to the next starter.

MOCK TRADE! Round 3, 96th overall: No selection.

The deal: The Patriots received the Texans' 2022 third-round pick. Here's a no-brainer. New England doesn't need all 10 of its picks in 2021 with such a crowded group of veterans already on the roster. The Pats deal for a Texans pick, which should be at the top of the third round.

Round 4, 120th overall: Tyree Gillespie, S, Missouri

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*Looks left. Looks right.* No trade? No trade. Finally, the Patriots stay put. They take Gillespie, an athletic safety who played in a lot of single-high look at Missouri. He won't be ready for that role in the NFL right away -- or maybe ever. So while the Patriots figure out what to do with his physical tools on defense, they could deploy him on special teams, where he'd be immediately productive. It helps, too, that Gillespie had a nice Senior Bowl, a place where prospects like Kyle Dugger have impressed the Patriots.

Round 4, 122th overall: Hamilcar Rashed Jr., EDGE, Oregon State

(AP Photo/Amanda Loman)

Rashed Jr. made for a strange projection in the 2021 draft. He had an impressive 2019 season (16 sacks, 62 tackles), and might have gone in the second round if he'd been able to declare for the draft. But 2020 was ugly (0 sacks, 23 tackles in 7 games), both during the season and at the Senior Bowl. New England doesn't mind taking a risk on a regressing player in these middle rounds (Byron Cowart, Jarrett Stidham). Sometimes, they think they can fix the guy.

Round 4, 139th overall: Shaun Wade, DB, Ohio State

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Here's another player who never seemed to live up to his potential. He's a special athlete. It's unclear what he'll play in the NFL. Safety? Slot cornerback? Maybe even outside cornerback? The Buckeyes wanted Wade to develop into a shutdown corner. He never really showed consistency in the slot or outside. Maybe Belichick feels he can make something out of Wade's tenacity and physicality.

MOCK TRADE! Round 5, 157th overall: Chuba Hubbard, RB, Oklahoma State

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The deal: The Patriots send picks 177 and 188 to the Minnesota Vikings in exchange for 157th. Hubbard reminds me of Rashed Jr. Both players looked elite in 2019. Both players really struggled in 2020. But again, I think Belichick likes to look at the whole body of work, and the coach might see that players didn't get a fair shake while playing during the pandemic. A player's 2019 tape might be much more representative of what they can do in the NFL. So Hubbard, who proved both powerful and a big-play threat, might be a worthwhile risk despite his inconsistencies. In 2019, he had 328 carries for 2,094 rushing yards and 21 touchdowns, as well as 23 receptions for 198 yards.

Round 6, 197 overall: Pier-Olivier Lestage, OG, Montreal

Honestly, I have no idea who this kid is. I just saw he was a guard from Montreal (with no scouting report available) and figured that was EXACTLY the kind of player Belichick would take.

Round 7, 242nd overall: Jose Borregales, K, Miami (FL)

Syndication: Montgomery

Borregales won the Lou Groza Award award for the best kicker in college football. He handled kickoffs at Miami and showed plenty of leg. He also finished 20-for-22 on field goal attempts and perfect 37-for-37 on extra point attempts during the regular season.

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