2012 Patriots Mock Draft

Round 1, Pick 27

Projected Selection: Patriots trade pick to CAR who select Stephon Gilmore, CB, South Carolina

The Panthers trade up to get ahead of the Packers to select Gilmore, while the Patriots receive the 40^th overall pick and Carolina’s 2013 first-round pick.

Round 1, Pick 31

Projected Selection: Andre Branch, OLB/DE, Clemson

The Patriots add the All-ACC pass rusher from Clemson. He should be able to step right in and play a major role on the defense immediately.

Round 2, Pick 9, 40 Overall (From Projected trade with CAR)

Projected Selection: Harrison Smith, S, Notre Dame

After trading out of the 27^th pick with Mark Barron already off the board, the Patriots have the 2^nd best safety in the draft fall right into their lap at pick 40.  Smith should have no trouble receiving immediately playing time alongside Patrick Chung and Steve Gregory.

Round 2, Pick 16, 48 Overall

Projected Selection: Alshon Jeffery, WR, South Carolina

The Patriots get an extremely talented WR to groom behind their current collection of veterans at the position. Jeffery would likely have to wait until the 2013 season to emerge with players like Lloyd, Branch, and Ochocinco all ahead of him.

Round 2, Pick 31, 62 Overall

Projected Selection: Patriots trade pick to CLE who select Brian Quick, WR, Appalachian State

The Browns badly in need of receivers trade up for Quick, while the Patriots receive the Browns 2013 second-round pick, as well as picks 160 and 211

Round 3, Pick 31, 93 Overall

Projected Selection: Jeff Allen, T, Illinois

The Patriots add much needed depth at tackle with the selection of Allen, a four-year starter for the Illini.

Round 4, Pick 31, 126 Overall

Projected Selection: Marcus Forston, DT, Miami

The Patriots add Forston who would likely play defensive end if the Patriots employ their 3-4 defense again in 2012. He is a player who will likely fall farther than he should due to his knee injury last season.

Round 5, Pick 25, 160 Overall (From Projected trade with CLE)

Projected Selection: Quinton Richardson, S, Washington

The Patriots add a fast safety (ran a 4.3 forty) in Richardson, who if nothing else can push players like Sergio Brown and Ross Ventrone for a role on special teams.

Round 5- Traded in 2011 to CIN for WR Chad Ochocinco

Round 6- Traded in 2010 to PHI for LB Tracy White

Round 7, Pick 4, 211 Overall (From Projected trade with CLE)

Projected Selection: Darron Thomas, QB, Oregon

The Patriots take a chance on Thomas, who surprisingly left Oregon early. With Hoyer and Mallett not going anywhere, he will have to either carve out a role doing something other than quarterbacking, or hope to make the team via the practice squad.

Round 7- Traded in 2010 to KC for S Jarrad Page

Patriots' Draft Needs

1. Outside Linebacker/Defensive End         

Every year the Patriots go into the draft with everyone clamoring for them to take a pass rusher and this year should be no different. The Patriots found some quick solutions to the problem last season with afterthought free agents Mark Anderson and Andre Carter. However, Anderson has since signed with the Bills, and Carter is a free agent coming off a torn quad who will be 33 before the season. The Patriots need to find an edge presence that is more than a one-year player.

2. Safety

Patrick Chung and Steve Gregory are a solid set of safeties but neither are complete players. Chung is a player who can come up and make plays in the box, but coverage is not his specialty. Gregory is a versatile player who has better coverage ability and can play back deep, but he is by no means a star. The Patriots needs to draft another safety that can come in and be an all around player, something the team has been missing since Rodney Harrison’s early days with the team.

3. Offensive Tackle

All indications are that left tackle Matt Light is hanging up his cleats after 12 seasons in the league. Luckily the team did draft Nate Solder to take that role in last year’s draft. Assuming Solder is penciled in as the starter at left tackle that still leaves a question mark at right tackle. If Sebastian Vollmer is able to remain healthy the job is obviously his, but with his history of back problems and a foot injury that bothered him last year, his status is up in the air. That leaves Marcus Cannon as the only other option at tackle unless recently signed Robert Gallery moves back there from guard, but he has struggled at tackle in the past. The team should add a rookie at the position with one of their mid-round picks.

4. Wide Receiver

People probably assume the Patriots will not draft a receiver after the slew of free agent signing at the position, but they really need to look at the players they have signed. Donte’ Stallworth, Brandon Lloyd, Deion Branch are all in their 30’s. The Patriots still lack a young receiver to develop at the position long-term unless they feel Tiquan Underwood or Britt Davis is that player, but there is no reason to believe the team feels that way.

I will soon post my 2012 Patriots Mock Draft with all of the Patriots’ picks from 27-126.