The New England Patriots added receiver N’Keal Harry in the first round of the 2019 NFL Draft, but that shouldn’t stop them from making another significant investment in the position in 2020. Bill Belichick need only peer at his depth chart to see that Mohamed Sanu’s contract expires after 2020 and Julian Edelman’s deal expires after 2021.
Harry may take a big step forward in 2020, but his rookie season wasn’t filled with production, with 12 catches for 105 yards and two touchdowns. Jakobi Meyers and Gunner Olszewski look promising despite joining the Patriots as undrafted free agents. But it’s clear the Patriots could — and perhaps should — acquire more young talent in a draft that’s touted to be deep at the receiver position.
So here’s a rundown of receivers the Patriots could target in each round of the 2020 NFL Draft.
Round 1: Justin Jefferson, LSU
He’s a big, versatile receiver who may appeal to the Patriots in the same way that Harry did. But while Harry had a flair for the catching and leaping abilities, Jefferson does a nice job with separation through savvy route running. He wasn’t viewed as an elite athlete, but his combine performance proved otherwise. In fact, it was so impressive that it might have put him in a position to go before New England picks at 23rd overall. The one knock with Jefferson was that he wasn’t the top wideout in his offense. Because of that, he wasn’t always drawing the top cornerback on a team’s depth chart.
There are so many good receivers who may land in the first round. Baylor’s Denzel Mims, Clemson’s Tee Higgins and ASU’s Brandon Aiyuk may also be in the mix at this spot.
Round 2: Chase Claypool (WR/TE), Notre Dame
In my most recent mock draft for For The Win, I put Claypool in the first round. But the truth is that his skillset is unique and it’s entirely possible no one picks him until the third round. So let’s meet in the middle: the second round. The Patriots don’t have a second-round pick, but they do have one first-rounder and three third-rounders. There will be opportunities for New England to trade back or up in the second.
Back to Claypool. He’s a special teams standout who can contribute to the team on Day 1 in that phase of the game. In some ways, this pick would be like Tavon Wilson, another special teams standout who the Patriots hoped would be more productive at his true position, safety. The same is true of Claypool, who is a Devin Funchess-like wideout that owns the red zone and the middle of the field with such dominance that some think he could be a tight end in the NFL. He’s an intriguing prospect for Belichick to mold.
Round 3: Antonio Gandy-Golden, Liberty
Gandy-Golden’s combine performance may have taken away some of the buzz surrounding him. His Senior Bowl performance was exceptional, but teams won’t be happy to see he ran a 4.6-second 40-yard dash and a 7.33-second 3-cone drill. Still, he’s drawing comparisons to DeVante Parker, and if Gandy-Golden’s film holds truer than his combine performance, then we should see a solid pro receiver with WR1 upside, particularly with his 6-foot-4, 225-pound frame.
Round 4: Van Jefferson, Florida
Jefferson is this draft’s slot king. But he’s not the typical undersized slot man; he is 6-foot-1 and 200 pounds. Had he participated in the combine, he might not have wowed. His athleticism might limit him to being a WR3 during his career. That said, he’ll likely be a WR3 on Day 1 for any team, perhaps including the Patriots.
Round 5: Joe Reed, Virginia
Reed is another one of the many slot receivers in this draft class, and maybe it’s fitting that he was once a running back because he plays well with the ball in his hands. What’s more, he’s a key special teams player, who can work not just as a returner but also a standout in coverage. That’s exactly the type of option they Patriots will be seeking in the fifth round. What can you do for them now? Special teams. And down the road? Perhaps Reed is a starting slot man someday.
Round 6: James Proche, SMU
The Patriots were in love with Proche at the Senior Bowl, according to Pro Football Network. But their perspective might have changed slightly when he ran a 7.27-second 3-cone drill. That’s not good by their standards. But in Round 6, teams have to stomach all sorts of deficiencies. Perhaps they’ll get past that one, in part because he had 209 catches and 27 touchdowns over the last two years. His ability to highpoint the ball and catch with ease is impressive.
Round 7: Kalija Lipscomb, Vanderbilt
NFL comparisons can be unfair and overly flattering for a prospect, but Lipscomb drew a comparison to Malcolm Mitchell, a receiver the Patriots drafted. That’s a good first sign. He’s big, smart and relatively polished, which is especially impressive considering he was on a bad team that faced outstanding SEC defenses. But like so many young receivers, Lipscomb wilts under press coverage. His ability to adjust to that will determine whether he has a pro career.
