The New England Patriots’ early exit from the 2019 playoffs should make for a more compelling first round of the 2020 NFL Draft.
Bill Belichick and his front office staff are slated to pick at 23rd overall, a spot where they drafted left tackle Isaiah Wynn, cornerback Ty Law and tackle Bruce Armstrong in past years. Not bad, not bad at all.
The Patriots will look to find a similarly impactful player in this year’s draft. And though New England had a solid 2019 season, it could target just about any position in the first round of this year’s draft. Perhaps the only positions the Patriots would not target are cornerback and running back. Even so, never say never with Belichick, who always surprises during the draft process.
Here are 13 realistic targets for the Patriots in the first round.
Tee Higgins, WR, Clemson
There are so many good receivers in this draft class and there’s no knowing which ones will be available at 23rd overall. But there’s little doubt that elite playmakers will be there. The top wideouts are CeeDee Lamb, Jerry Jeudy and Henry Ruggs. Past that, it’s anyone’s guess who goes off the board. But Higgins, a player whose game may someday resemble A.J. Green’s, could be the long and lean wideout who plays well opposite N’Keal Harry for years to come. Higgins uses his frame well, though there’s some question about how well he can stretch the top of a defense.
Denzel Mims, WR, Baylor
Mims’ film shows a limited prospect — he loves hitting seam routes and fades, where his superior size and strength worked in his favor. That won’t work with the same efficiency in the NFL. But an investment in Mims makes sense for New England because of how well he performed at the NFL combine. With a 3-cone drill of 6.66 (the best at the combine among receivers) and a 4.38-second 40-yard dash, Mims has the athleticism to excel in New England’s offense. It just may take a season or two for his production to show up in a big way.
Justin Jefferson, WR, LSU
Jefferson may not have the same upside as Mims, but his floor is already exceptional. He played well in the slot at LSU, and would have the versatility to play most — and maybe all — of the Patriots’ receiver positions. That said, Jefferson wasn’t the No. 1 wideout on his team (like Mims and Higgins) and therefore didn’t see coverage from the top cornerbacks in his conference. That might be the biggest knock on Jefferson, who is otherwise polished and pro-ready.
Chase Claypool, WR, Notre Dame
I can’t help but sneak Claypool into the mix here. He’s probably more likely to fall into the second or third round, but the Patriots don’t have a pick from 24th overall to 86th. That’s a big gap. Perhaps they’ll reach slightly on a player they love. Claypool has a lot of qualities that would appeal to the Patriots.
He’s a unique athlete, with really good size and speed. That’s what has some wondering whether he’s more of a tight end than receiver in the NFL. But that doesn’t matter; he’s a center-of-the-field threat that owns the red zone. That’s exactly where the Patriots needed help in 2019. Though he may need some time to get up to speed at the NFL level, Claypool can contribute immediately on special teams. It’s likely he’d be a four-down player by Week 1. That should appeal to Belichick.
Kenneth Murray, LB, Oklahoma
This linebacker isn’t exactly the Patriots’ prototype. He’s 6-foot-2, 240 pounds, which would make him 15 pounds lighter than Jamie Collins and 20 pounds lighter than Dont’a Hightower. Even Chase Winovich (6-foot-3, 250 pounds) is bigger than Murray. Still, there’s no denying Murray’s production with over 257 tackles, 8.5 sacks and 29.5 tackles for loss over the last two seasons. He’s fast and strong, but needs some coaching on being in the right place at the right time. Under Belichick, Murray would flourish.
Zach Baun, LB, Wisconsin
Another linebacker, another body type that’s not quite right for New England. But that’s sort of the direction that the NFL is headed. Perhaps the Patriots will be at peace with adjusting their lineup to smaller linebackers. Even though he’s smaller than Kyle Van Noy, Baun drew that comparison on NFL.com. That’s because the Wisconsin product isn’t just an able pass rusher — Baun sets the edge with authority as a run defender.
Josh Jones, OT, Houston
Don’t count out a tackle for New England in 2020. The Patriots have a history of giving premium positions, like tackle and quarterback, some time to develop before thrusting them into play. Much like the Patriots did with Nate Solder, the team could draft and develop Jones as its third tackle behind Isaiah Wynn and Marcus Cannon. (Wynn has also dealt with injuries in his first two seasons. A reliable backup would be a boon to the offense, which no longer features Tom Brady.)
Jordan Elliott, DT, Missouri
The defensive interior players aren’t getting much love in this year’s draft, but there are a number of good ones. Auburn’s Derrick Brown and South Carolina’s Javon Kinlaw seem likely to be off the board by 23. But Elliott could still be around. He’s not getting much first-round buzz, but he would do well in New England’s defensive front. He doesn’t always penetrate the backfield, but that’s probably because he drew so many double teams at the college level. That’s a testament to his skills.
Jake Fromm, QB, Georgia
Which quarterbacks will be available at 23? Joe Burrow will be gone. Almost certainly, two of the following three will also be gone: Jordan Love, Justin Herbert and Tua Tagovailoa. Cincy, Miami and the Chargers all seem likely to take a quarterback. But it’s hard to say whether one of those top four players will slip. And if it’s Love, will the Patriots want to make an investment of time to develop a player who had 20 touchdowns and 17 interceptions in 2019.
But there is almost no doubt that Fromm will be on the board. He’s the smartest quarterback in the draft. But the concern is whether he has a brighter future as a quarterback coach, rather than a quarterback, as noted by For The Win’s Steven Ruiz. His physical tools don’t match his intellect.
Yetur Gross-Matos, EDGE, Penn State
There aren’t many edge and pass-rushing prospects who are getting love heading into this year’s draft. There’s Chase Young, the likely No. 2 pick. There’s K’Lavon Chaisson, a pass rusher whose injuries limited his production. Because of excellent character, he’s likely to go in the top 15 picks. And then there’s Gross-Matos, who the Patriots might find is worthy of the 23rd overall pick. Certainly, he has upside, with a lot of potential (that has largely gone untapped).
Cesar Ruiz, C/G, Michigan
This pick makes sense for two reasons. First, I’m not sure Joe Thuney will be on the roster in 2020. The Patriots could easily trade him to free up cap space. And even on the franchise tag, he should command a significant return – maybe a high second-rounder. Second, David Andrews’ health status is up in the air after he missed 2019 with blood clots in his lungs. A Day 1 starter like Ruiz could make a huge impact in helping Sony Michel put together a better season.
Cole Kmet, TE, Notre Dame
Injuries have held him back from the production that might put him in the first round. In 2019, Kmet had 43 catches for 515 yards and six touchdowns. His best comparison is Tyler Higbee. It’s not all that flattering. It’s a tough draft class for tight ends, and Kmet is probably the safest pick. He’s got clear upside and the physical tools that should get him on the field early. He’s just unlikely to develop into an elite tight end.
Harrison Bryant, TE, Florida Atlantic
The more I watch Bryant. the more I come to prefer him over Kmet (and Adam Trautman). Bryant isn’t perceived to be a first-round talent, but again, with the Patriots not picking in the second round, they might reach on a player who they find compelling. That’s definitely what Bryant is. The biggest knock — which is true for almost all the tight ends in this draft — is a lack of elite athleticism. But as the No. 1 pass-catching threat at Florida Atlantic, Bryant was a game-changer.
“Bryant’s plus athletic traits, high football IQ and toughness as a blocker make him one of the most talented, well-rounded tight ends in this draft,” NFL.com’s Lance Zuerlein wrote.
It’s an appealing and true summary of this prospect, especially in New England where the depth chart is bare at the tight end position.
