New England Patriots 7-round 2020 NFL mock draft: Life after Tom Brady

Round 1

Projected Starters: Chase Winovich, John Simon

After losing both outside linebackers Jamie Collins and Kyle Van Noy to free agency and only receiving mid-round compensatory picks in return, New England needs to invest in their edge defenders.

New England has players who can slide to the outside and fill those roles, including Winovich, Simon, and Deatrich Wise, but none of these players will find their best production as the versatile edge defenders Belichick likes on the outside.

Yetur Gross-Matos is an edge rusher who flew up draft boards with an unprecedented 2019 campaign that brought 9.5 sacks against impressive competition (ex: Tristan Wirfs, Iowa). Gross-Matos displayed a combination of speed and power that will make him an edge rusher who can be used from a variety of sets and stances to bring a plethora of pressures from different areas of the defensive line.

Penn St used Gross-Matos from the three-technique to the 3-4 outside linebacker. Even though the three-technique is not his preferred position, Gross-Matos showed the length and strength to fit inside and be used as a variety pass-rusher. This kind of defensive utility is something for Belichick to salivate over.

The New England Patriots need a new playmaker on the edge to complement Hightower and rising star Bentley in the interior, and Matos has the immediate tools to make a difference from his first snap.