2021 NFL Draft: New England Patriots seven-round mock draft
By John Blair
The New England Patriots are coming off their first losing season in 20 seasons, as the team went 7-9 last year and finished third in the division. The major reason for the Patriot’s downfall was an offense that lacked any real firepower. The team ranked 30th in passing yards per game, and 27th in points per game. Due to this, I look for New England to focus on the offensive side of the ball early in the 2021 NFL Draft.
How will the Pats attack the draft as a whole? Let’s find out in this seven-round 2021 NFL mock draft for the team.
New England Patriots’ first-round pick
Scouting Report. Pick Analysis. 1. player. 47. TE. Florida. Kyle Pitts
Despite spending two third-round picks on this position last year, tight end remains a major area of need for the Patriots. These two rookies (Devin Asiasi and Dalton Keene) only combined for a total of five catches during their rookie, and the team’s leading tight end in receptions was Ryan Izzo who caught only 13 passes on the year. On the positive side, Matt LaCosse should be back in the fold next year after opting out last season, but the best season of his career is when he caught 15 passes in the 2018 season for Denver.
In Kyle Pitts, the New England Patriots would be getting the best tight end in the 2021 NFL Draft and someone who would instantly be an outstanding target in the NFL. Last season, Pitts caught 43 passes for 770 yards and 12 touchdowns. This strong effort allowed Pitts to win the Mackey Award and be named a unanimous first-team All-American.
As a prospect, the first thing that stands out with Pitts is his great athleticism. He has the ability to either adjust to a poorly thrown ball or go up and grab the ball in traffic. His athletic ability is one of the main reasons he was such a dangerous weapon in the red zone last year. Another attribute that makes Pitts special is his speed. He will likely be the fastest tight end in the 2021 NFL Draft class, and definitely has the speed to stretch the field.
If the New England Patriots drafted Pitts with the 15th pick in the NFL Draft, he would most likely be the opening day starter.