2021 NFL Draft: New England Patriots 7-round mock draft
By Ian Higgins
2021 NFL Draft: New England Patriots 7-round mock draft.
Following a disappointing 2020 campaign, the New England Patriots need to find integral pieces to the future of their organization within the 2021 NFL draft. A number of young players have been forced into the spotlight on the defensive side of the ball, including linebacker Ja’Whaun Bentley and rookie safety Kyle Dugger.
The youth of the New England Patriots has been both a blessing and a curse, bringing the lows of week-to-week inconsistency and the highs of future promise. Many of these players will be cornerstone pieces to Belichick’s defense for the foreseeable future, even with the return of Dont’a Hightower and Patrick Chung.
Going into the 2021 offseason, the New England Patriots will have 12 key players entering free agency:
- Cam Newton, QB
- James White, HB
- Rex Burkhead, HB
- Damiere Byrd, WR
- Joe Thuney, G
- David Andrews, C
- Lawrence Guy, DT
- Adam Butler, DT
- Deatrich Wise, DT
- John Simon, EDGE
- J.C. Jackson, CB
- Jason McCourty, CB
Although New England looks to be one of the few teams prepared for the incoming drop in the salary cap, many of these recent contributors will be finding their way to a new team. Youth will continue to trump experience within the New England Patriots depth chart, and with an expected $25 million in cap space for the 2021 offseason, only some of these integral pieces will be making their way back.
Some of these pieces include longtime backfield staple James White, left guard Joe Thuney, defensive tackle Deatrich Wise, and cornerback J.C. Jackson. These four player’s average salaries within their previous contracts total just over $20 million, but Wise and Jackson will be commanding significant pay-raises after their performance throughout the 2020 regular season.
Some of the major areas of need for the New England Patriots entering the 2021 NFL draft will be the future of the quarterback position, additional star-power in the passing game, as well as the continued addition of youth to the defensive front-seven in an effort to develop functional roster-depth.
The New England Patriots lost their third-round selection in the 2021 NFL draft due to allegations of filming the Cincinnati Bengal’s sideline, and Belichick is entering a draft in which the goal is to supplement their roster with inexpensive depth for the immediate future. With this considered, the trademark Patriots’ trade-down could be a common occurrence during the second and third days of the 2021 NFL draft.