2021 NFL Draft: Bears land top pick in preseason 2021 NFL mock draft
By Kyle Edmond
2021 NFL Draft Round 1, Pick 25 (New England Patriots, 11-5)
Pick Analysis. Defensive End. Oregon State. Hamilcar Rashed Jr.. player. Scouting Report. 25. 47
I don’t think it is possible to accurately predict anything that Bill Belichick will do, especially when it comes to the draft. Assuming that Cam Newton signs a long-term deal following this season, which is likely if they have the season I’m projecting, the talk of New England drafting a quarterback should settle for a bit.
So, in prime Belichick form, he adds another edge rusher to his defense. This has become a norm for the Patriots, adding Josh Uche this past year and Chase Winovich the year before. However, it has been a few years since the Patriots used a first-round pick on a strong edge rusher.
Hamilcar Rashed Jr. had an incredibly impressive 2019 season that is sure to gain the attention of NFL scouts across the league. Despite having only 62 tackles on the season, 22 of those were tackles for loss and 14 were sacks. Rashed also forced two fumbles on the season and recovered one as well.
Rashed would bring a force to the edge in New England that hasn’t been there since Richard Seymour and would be a pivotal point in keeping the Patriots atop the AFC East and ahead of the Buffalo Bills progression.