New England Patriots stock up with talent in 7-round 2021 NFL mock draft
Round 2, 47th Overall
Pick Analysis. OL. Alabama. 2. 829. Scouting Report. Alex Leatherwood. player
The Patriots appear to have found a hidden gem in rookie offensive lineman Michael Onwenu, but their offensive line situation as a whole is shaky at best. Injuries seem to kill this unit every year, and starting left guard and starting center David Andrews will both hit free agency this offseason. Simply put, the Patriots should be looking for some impact offensive line depth in the 2021 NFL Draft class, regardless of position.
In the second round of this mock draft, Alex Leatherwood out of Alabama stands out as a strong fit for the team. Leatherwood is a big and physical offensive lineman who has had success at both left tackle and right guard in college. He is an extremely aggressive player who is quick off of the ball and powerful at the point of attack. Leatherwood will struggle with elite speed on the edge at times, but overall, he is a rock-solid offensive lineman who would fit what the Pats need well.
The Patriots could certainly use a versatile offensive lineman and Leatherwood’s tough and physical demeanor will likely appeal to this team. We know that Bill Belichick likes to target Nick Saban prospects and he does so with his first two picks of this mock draft.
Round 3, 96th Overall
WR. Elijah Moore. 3. Scouting Report. Pick Analysis. Ole Miss. player. 841
The addition of DeVonta Smith earlier in this mock draft would help, but the Patriots need wholesale changes to their wide receiver room if they expect to be seriously competitive going forward. Here, they add another playmaker, bringing Elijah Moore out of Ole Miss into the mix.
Moore has been fantastic for Ole Miss this season, showing off tremendous natural playmaking ability from the wide receiver position. He is a quick and explosive athlete who can consistently win as a deep ball receiver and also create well after the catch.
Right now, the Patriots have an extremely uninspiring group of players at the wide receiver position. A wide receiver room led by Smith, Moore, Jakobi Meyers and N’Keal Harry would help inject some much-needed life into their offensive attack.