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

Round 5

*Via SEA

Projected Starters: Joe Thuney, Shaq Mason

Playing left tackle at Charlotte, Cameron Clark is a Day 3 version of first-round talent Tristan Wirfs. Even though he played tackle in college, his lack of expertise on the outside and physical gifts in run blocking makes him a more suitable fit to slide inside and develop behind the top-tier guard pairing of Thuney & Mason. His mobility could bring him in as a sixth offensive lineman in the power running game and make him an option as a pulling guard in the future.

Round 6

*Via DEN

Projected Starters: Dont’a Hightower, Ja’Whuan Bentley

A downhill inside linebacker who put up an eye-popping 103 solo and 181 total tackles in his senior season at Cal, Evan Weaver does not make you say “wow” with his athleticism but instead with his motor and football IQ. Weaver could become similar to a more run-focused Luke Kuechly with his consistent tackling and gap-pursuit but will need more work on his mobility and coverage skills to become a three-down linebacker.

*Via HOU

’19 Starter: Stephen Gostkowski

After cutting veteran kicker Stephen Gostkowski, there is an apparent need at place-kicker for New England and it has already been shown the free-agent kicker market is dry on a good day. Rodrigo “Hot Rod” Blankenship has been the best kicker in college football at a competitive program and made kicks under some high-pressure situations. Other than a missed overtime kick against South Carolina in his senior year, he has been lights out with NFL-range.

*Compensatory selection

Projected Starters: Julian Edelman, Mohamed Sanu, N’Keal Harry

Julian Edelman, Danny Amendola, Wes Welker. Chris Finke fits in as another under-scouted, undersized slot receiver with a big motor, refined route running, and special teams production. Finke showed out on special teams as a punt-returner and specialized route-runner who can create space with technique over athleticism.

Even though he ran a 4.57 forty at the NFL combine, the previous three receivers mentioned ran 4.52, 4.58, and 4.65 respectively. As a technical slot receiver, speed doesn’t matter and Finke could be the next slot safety-blanket in the New England dynasty.

*Compensatory selection

Projected Starter: James Develin

In Iowa’s physical running offense, Brady Ross managed to become one of the best blocking fullbacks in the country while the rest of football looks to move the position into extinction. Belichick still highly values the fullback with mainstay James Develin and free-agent signing Danny Vitale looking to lead-block for Sony Michel in 2020. Belichick has also had a preference for Iowa products and could continue that trend with the best lead-blocker in the 2020 NFL Draft.

Round 7

*Via ATL

Projected Starters: Stephon Gilmore, J.C. Jackson, Jason McCourty

The second fastest forty-time among defensive backs at the 2020 Combine, Javaris Davis is an undersized speedster corner who will likely have a slot-corner ceiling in his career. Many of Belichick’s corners find their way to playing time through special teams, and Davis has the athletic tools to make that jump.

Patriots corner Johnathan Jones made that same jump with excellent special teams play as a gunner on the punt-unit, and Davis has that same opportunity with New England.

*Via SEA

Projected Starter: Jarrett Stidham

Possibly the most statistically outstanding of the quarterbacks in the 2020 NFL Draft, Case Cookus had completed 60.3% of his passes for nearly 4,100 yards, and 31 touchdowns to seven interceptions. Even at a small school such as Northern Arizona, this kind of output can’t be ignored, and with a pick at the back of the seventh round, there is no reason for Belichick to not take a chance on this kind of player.

Twenty years ago, Belichick and the New England Patriots took a similar chance on a Michigan quarterback who could never hold down the starting job due to questions surrounding his athleticism, and at the 199th overall selection, New England took the greatest player of all time. If Cookus can hold down a job through training camp, maybe he could have that same kind of chance?