Apparently Mel Kiper Jr. doesn’t like the New England Patriots’ Super Bowl odds.
ESPN’s well-known NFL draft analyst released the first version of his 2015 NFL Mock Draft on Thursday, which has the Patriots picking 31st, one spot ahead of the Seattle Seahawks.
If Patriots fans take offense to that marginal slight, though, they’ll likely be happy with Kiper’s projected pick for New England: Auburn wide receiver Sammie Coates.
Kiper has high praise for the 6-foot-1, 200 pound redshirt junior, calling him “arguably the best athlete in all of college football” and “a player who can create big plays out of very little.”
Coates certainly has made his fair share of big plays, averaging over 21 yards per catch in each of his last two seasons with Auburn. The 21-year-old thrust himself into the national spotlight in this season’s SEC championship game, posting 206 receiving yards and two touchdowns against Alabama.
Brandon LaFell has stepped in nicely as a receiving threat for the Patriots in 2014, and reaching for skill position players isn’t exactly Bill Belichick’s M.O. Still, Kiper believes Coates might be too good to pass up if he’s on the draft board late in the first round.
“The Patriots have the ultimate matchup threat at tight end (in Rob Gronkowski),” Kiper writes. “And while it’s not their style to look here, they could use one at wide receiver.”
Thumbnail photo via Shanna Lockwood/USA TODAY Sports Images
