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Inside the New England Patriots Draft Room: Who Will Join the Super Bowl Champions

By Shawn Spencer

Dec 18, 2016; Denver, CO, USA; New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick walks the sidelines in the second half against the Denver Broncos at Sports Authority Field. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 18, 2016; Denver, CO, USA; New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick walks the sidelines in the second half against the Denver Broncos at Sports Authority Field. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports /
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Joe Thuney Patriots draft
Dec 4, 2016; Foxborough, MA, USA; New England Patriots offensive guard Joe Thuney (62) blocks for New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady (12) against the Los Angeles Rams during the first half at Gillette Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Winslow Townson-USA TODAY Sports /

Guards

The Patriots drafted two guards last season in Joe Thuney and Ted Karras, and both are still on the roster. Thuney has already earned a starting job at left guard, while Shaq Mason is on the right side. New England doesn’t necessarily need to find a starter in the draft, but depth is needed after the release of Tre’ Jackson.

Highly-valued skills:

hand size, 40-yard dash, vertical, broad jump, three cone, short shuttle (135 graded)

1. Forrest Lamp (Western Kentucky) – 64.7%

2. J.P. Flynn (Montana State) – 41.1%

2. Geoff Gray (Manitoba) – 41.1%

2. Nico Siragusa (San Diego State) – 41.1%

5. Kofi Amichia (South Florida) – 35.2%

5. Thomas Evans (Richmond) – 35.2%

5. Corey Levin (Chattanooga) – 35.2%

5. Michael Miller (Washburn) – 35.2%

5. Corey Whitaker (Nebraska) – 35.2%

10. Dion Dawkins (Temple) – 29.4%

10. Dan Feeney (Indiana) – 29.4%

12. Darrell Brown (Louisiana Tech) – 23.5%

12. Bret Treadway (Lamar) – 23.5%

12. Dylan Wiesman (Tennessee) – 23.5%

15. Jessamen Dunker (Tennessee State) – 17.6%

15. Andrew Eide (BYU) – 17.6%

17. J.T. Boyd (East Carolina) – 11.7%

17. Jeremy Liggins (Ole Miss) – 11.7%

17. Jordan Roos (Purdue) – 11.7%

20. Ben Braden (Michigan) – 5.8%

20. Sean Harlow (Oregon State) – 5.8%

20. Will Holden (Vanderbilt) – 5.8%

Fell below the minimum threshold in one category, but still finished with a positive score:

None

There are only about a handful of prospects on this list who will be drafted, so it is highly unlikely the Patriots actually have 22 guards on their draft board. With Belichick and Scarnecchia coveting versatility on the offensive line, college left tackles Dion Dawkins, Sean Harlow and Will Holden are three of the most likely candidates to be selected. Dawkins would have to be selected with one of the team’s third-round picks, although he may be off the board by that point. Harlow and Holden should be selected on day three of the draft. Harlow’s father, Pat, was a first-round pick of the Patriots back in 1991.

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