Not everybody thinks the Patriots will take a receiver or an offensive lineman with their first-round pick in April’s NFL Draft that is projected to come early.
Most of the mock drafts expect them to fill one of those two major areas of need, but some experts have them looking elsewhere.
Here’s what Mock Drafts expect from the Patriots heading into December.
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ESPN
The Pick: 5
The Selection: Will Johnson, CB, Michigan, 6-foot-2, 200 pounds
The write-up: Notable in this mock draft, LSU OT Will Campbell, once a certain top 10 pick, falls to 17. That’s an interesting development if the Patriots trade down.
Left tackle is an important need for the Patriots, but the offensive tackle class isn’t strong beyond Kelvin Banks Jr. Instead of reaching, the Patriots could fill another need at corner with Johnson, my top-rated prospect in the class. The 6-foot-2, 200-pound Johnson fits the mold of Pat Surtain II, showing excellent ball skills and the physicality to hang with NFL wide receivers. He has been limited by injuries this season but has two interceptions, both of which were returned for touchdowns. Pairing Johnson with 2023 first-rounder Christian Gonzalez would give the Patriots a legitimate spot of strength on defense, and having two top corners on rookie contracts would give New England flexibility to build around them.
Pro Football Focus
The Pick: 4 Tetairoa McMillan, Arizona
The Selection: Tetairoa McMillan, WR, Arizona, 6-foot-5, 210 pounds
The write-up: “The Patriots’ first-round pick should focus on one of two positions: wide receiver or offensive tackle, either of which would provide crucial support for quarterback Drake Maye as he continues to develop.
McMillan has been a model of consistency, averaging at least 2.70 yards per route run and earning a PFF receiving grade above 80.0 in each of the past two seasons.”
Yahoo
The Pick: 4
The Selection: Will Campbell, OT, LSU 6-foot-6, 319 pounds
The write-up: “The Patriots need a lot of help on offense to even get to league average. That’s the reality of the barren cupboard Bill Belichick left. Arizona’s Tetairoa McMillan gets a long look here to pair Drake Maye with a real No. 1 receiver. (A trade back would also help the Pats accumulate more picks to replenish their personnel.) Instead, the Patriots take Campbell, a technician and good athlete with clean footwork and the ability to bend in both the run and pass games. Campbell is an intelligent player, too, who would help solidify one of the league’s weakest units. Keeping the franchise QB upright should be the first priority.”
CBS – Ryan Wilson
The Pick: 6
The Selection: Will Campbell, OT, LSU 6-foot-6, 319 pounds
The write-up: “Credit to Drake Maye, offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt and an offensive line that has been held together with chicken wire and duct tape; all parties involved have exceeded expectations, but after neglecting the offensive tackle position in recent drafts, it certainly feels like the time is now, especially if Campbell is staring them in the face at No. 6.”
CBS – Chris Trapasso
The Pick: 4
The Selection: Tetairoa McMillan, WR, Arizona, 6-foot-5, 210 pounds
The write-up: “The Patriots have a nice slot wideout in Pop Douglas and get quality contributions from depth pieces down the roster. They need a true No. 1 wideout. That’s precisely what McMillan is.”
Pro Football Network
The Pick: 6
The Selection: Abdul Carter, Edge, Penn State, 6-foot-3, 250 pounds
The write-up: “Another strong pick from the simulator. Sure, the New England Patriots would like to give Drake Maye a weapon, but the top two WRs are off the board, and Abdul Carter isn’t a consolation prize. He is one of the top players in this draft class with unrivaled upside and freaky athleticism.
The Penn State star has developed into one of the top pass rushers in the nation in his first full year playing off the edge, and if he continues his ascending trajectory and development arch, he will be a stud in the NFL.”
Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel
The Pick: 6
The Selection: Will Campbell, OT, LSU 6-foot-6, 319 pounds
The write-up: “Campbell’s been an outstanding tackle in Baton Rouge but could move to guard if his arms aren’t long enough for NFL teams. The Patriots’ offensive line is one of the worst in the league, and getting help from one of the best blockers in the class is a good solution. His smooth footwork, hand usage, and play strength in both run and pass blocking could make him a Pro Bowl-caliber lineman within his rookie contract.”
CBS – Josh Edwards
The Pick: 4
The Selection: Tetairoa McMillan, WR, Arizona, 6-foot-5, 210 pounds
The write-up: “Drake Maye is the future at quarterback in New England. His supporting cast is not good enough. The biggest issue is the offensive line, but Tetairoa McMillan is better than the offensive line options available at this stage.”
NBC Sports
The Pick: 6
The Selection: Tetairoa McMillan, WR, Arizona, 6-foot-5, 210 pounds
The write-up: “Each week Drake Maye shows why he was the third overall pick in the draft. Now, New England needs to put the proper supporting cast around him both at pass catcher and on the offensive line. McMillan is the type of physical receiver you can funnel your pass
