Bill Belichick has ignored New England Patriots fans’ pleas to draft a first-round wide receiver for years, so it would be fitting if the head coach finally pulled the trigger when they’ve now soured on the idea.
Patriots fans think their team has bigger needs this offseason at cornerback, defensive tackle, linebacker and even running back. But it might make sense to finally draft a receiver in the first round of the 2015 NFL draft if the right player still is available.
See who the Patriots select in NESN.com’s latest mock draft:
1. Tampa Bay Buccaneers:Â Jameis Winston, quarterback, Florida State
It would be very surprising if the Buccaneers passed on Winston, but there’s an outside chance Mariota could be in play at No. 1.
2. Tennessee Titans:Â Marcus Mariota, quarterback, Oregon
Mariota looks to be the second player off the board, whether it’s to the Titans or in a trade.
3. Jacksonville Jaguars:Â Leonard Williams, defensive line, USC
Williams is considered by many to be the best player in the draft, despite his limited potential as a pass rusher. The Jaguars should be acquiring great players, not trying to fill needs.
4. Oakland Raiders:Â Amari Cooper, wide receiver, Alabama
This pick seems to make sense on all levels. If the Raiders are going to give Derek Carr another season to prove he’s the future franchise starter, then they need to draft him a potential No. 1 receiver.
5. Washington Redskins: Dante Fowler, edge defender, Florida
Fowler is likely to be the first edge rusher off the board because he already has NFL size, and he’s a versatile player thanks to his run-defending skills.
6. New York Jets:Â Bud Dupree, edge defender, Kentucky
Dupree also is NFL sized and better against the run than other highly-touted pass rushers like Shane Ray, Randy Gregory and Vic Beasley. The Jets need young pass-rushing help and could see Dupree as a similar player to the Patriots’ Jamie Collins.
7. Chicago Bears:Â Kevin White, wide receiver, West Virginia
When you trade a player like Brandon Marshall, you need someone to take his place. White has similar size but much better speed.
8. Atlanta Falcons:Â Trae Waynes, cornerback, Michigan State
The Falcons could elect to take an edge defender at No. 8 overall, or they could help their pass defense by adding another top-tier cornerback. Atlanta had little behind Desmond Trufant last season.
9. New York Giants:Â Brandon Scherff, offensive lineman, Iowa
The Giants need to continue adding pieces along their offensive line in an attempt to protect quarterback Eli Manning. Scherff projects at guard, but he could play right tackle.
10. St. Louis Rams:Â DeVante Parker, wide receiver, Louisville
The Rams have needed wide receivers ever since Torry Holt left the team. They desperately need to hit on one.
11. Minnesota Vikings:Â Andrus Peat, offensive lineman, Stanford
Matt Kalil had a very, very bad season, according to Pro Football Focus’ ratings in 2014. If Kalil pulls it together, then Peat can play guard or right tackle.
12. Cleveland Browns:Â Shane Ray, edge defender, Missouri
Barkevious Mingo hasn’t proven to be an elite pass rusher, and Paul Kruger could be used in a situational role. Ray’s toe injury could scare some teams, but it also likely affected his testing numbers, which could make him a steal.
13. New Orleans Saints:Â Marcus Peters, cornerback, Washington
There are teams who love Peters, and teams who will be scared off by his character red flags. The Saints need a talented cornerback, and he definitely fits the bill.
14. Miami Dolphins:Â Todd Gurley, running back, Georgia
Gurley’s knee checked out OK at the NFL Scouting Combine recheck, which means he should go higher than originally expected. He’ll be dangerous when he gets healthy.
15. San Francisco 49ers:Â Vic Beasley, edge defender, Clemson
Beasley is incredibly athletic, but he’s undersized and likely will struggle against the run. The 49ers could put him on a path similar to that of Aldon Smith, where he spends his rookie year only rushing the passer and adding bulk.
16. Houston Texans:Â Randy Gregory, edge defender, Nebraska
Gregory is a similar player to Beasley and could be used in a similar role. Whitney Mercilus can handle early downs, letting Gregory flourish against the pass.
17. San Diego Chargers:Â Danny Shelton, nose tackle, Washington
The Chargers desperately need a running back, but the 2015 class is deep at that position. Shelton is a two-gapping nose tackle who showed potential as an interior disruptor at Washington.
18. Kansas City Chiefs:Â Arik Armstead, defensive lineman, Oregon
Armstead and Dontari Poe could be the next Richard Seymour and Vince Wilfork in the Chiefs’ 3-4 defense.
19. Cleveland Browns (from Buffalo Bills):Â Breshad Perriman, wide receiver, Central Florida
The Browns need a big, speedy wide receiver to replace Josh Gordon, and Perriman has freaky testing speed.
20. Philadelphia Eagles:Â Ereck Flowers, offensive lineman, Miami
The Eagles can wait on a wide receiver, and they’ll need offensive line help if they trade guard Evan Mathis.
21. Cincinnati Bengals:Â Malcom Brown, defensive tackle, Texas
Brown and Bengals defensive tackle Geno Atkins would make an imposing pair in the middle of Cincinnati’s 4-3 defense.
22. Pittsburgh Steelers:Â Kevin Johnson, cornerback, Wake Forest
Johnson has the length and athleticism to be special, but he’ll need to add bulk to overpower bigger receivers. The Steelers desperately need cornerback help, and Johnson seems to be rising up draft boards at the right time.
23. Detroit Lions:Â La’el Collins, offensive lineman, LSU
The Lions need a running back, but plenty of solid players will be available in the second round. Collins has tons of upside as the Lions’ potential future left guard.
24. Arizona Cardinals:Â Melvin Gordon, running back, Wisconsin
Gordon might be too good to pass up at No. 24 for the running back-needy Cardinals.
25. Carolina Panthers:Â D.J. Humphries, offensive tackle, Florida
Humphries has tons of upside, and the Panthers need a franchise left tackle.
26. Baltimore Ravens:Â Byron Jones, cornerback, UConn
The Ravens always seem to steal the player Patriots fans want, don’t they? The Ravens need a top-end pass defender.
27. Dallas Cowboys:Â Eli Harold, edge defender, Virginia
Harold is the best edge defender on the board, and the Cowboys need to improve their pass defense if they hope to compete again in 2014.
28. Denver Broncos:Â T.J. Clemmings, offensive lineman, Pittsburgh
Clemmings can immediately contribute to the Broncos at either guard or tackle.
29. Indianapolis Colts:Â Eddie Goldman, defensive tackle, Florida State
I usually couldn’t see the a two-down nose tackle being selected in the first round, but the Colts are really desperate for help improving their run defense.
30. Green Bay Packers:Â Eric Kendricks, linebacker, UCLA
The Packers can’t misuse Clay Matthews as an inside linebacker again in 2015.
31. New Orleans Saints (from Seattle Seahawks):Â Owa Odighizuwa, edge defender, UCLA
Odighizuwa fits the Saints’ hybrid defense well, since he could play as either a five-technique or seven-technique defensive end. After taking Peters, a risk, at No. 13, Odighizuwa offers a safer pick.
32. New England Patriots:Â Nelson Agholor, wide receiver, USC
The Patriots have never selected a wide receiver in the first round under Bill Belichick. Then again, they hadn’t drafted a first-round pass rusher before Chandler Jones in 2012, and they had never picked a first-round undersized defensive tackle before Dominique Easley in 2014.
Agholor is a perfect fit for the Patriots, because he has the speed to take the top off of a defense, but he also has the route-running ability and hands to be depended upon over the middle of the field. He also has the agility and quickness to make plays with the ball in his hands.
This is a very strong receiver class, and a player this good might not be available at No. 32 overall again.
Thumbnail photo via Kirby Lee/USA TODAY Sports Images
