New England Patriots 7-round 2020 NFL mock draft: Now what?

The New England Patriots missed Rob Gronkowski in a big way all season long. Gronkowski is arguably the best tight end in the history of the game, so it’s not like the Patriots can just easily replace him, but they simply must get more production out of the position next year. The Pats should look to add a strong veteran tight end in free agency, but they would also be wise to take a chance on some upside at the position in the 2020 NFL Draft.

Adam Trautman is a former basketball player who began his college career as a quarterback. Trautman made a move to tight end early during his time at Dayton and has become a real playmaker in the passing game.

He is a big and athletic tight end prospect who stretches the middle of the field well and can high point the ball at an extremely high level. Trautman is an extremely raw player who will not be ready to compete as a rookie, but his long-term upside is massive. He is worth the risk in the fourth round of this mock draft.

Geno Stone is a smart and tough prospect who has a nice variety of skills at the safety position. He shows great instincts in coverage, showing the ability to play both short and deep zone coverages at a high level. Stone has strong ball skills and good overall range in the defensive backfield.

Stone is a solid coverage safety, but he particularly excels as an in-the-box defender. He quickly crashes down to the line of scrimmage and does a great job of tackling in space. Stone also shows the speed to defend against the run from sideline-to-sideline.

The New England Patriots could groom Stone as a potential long-term safety option, but his immediate value to the team would be on special teams.