Round 1A

Jon Beason, LB Miami (6-0, 237)– When we came back from the Combine and did our first mock draft, we had the Patriots selecting Beason with the 24th pick in the draft. Actually, I believe we were the first ones to predict Beason to the Pats. That set off a floodgate of e-mails asking if we had lost our minds. One e-mailer even declared that Beason wouldn’t be drafted on the first day. Well, Beason isn’t only going to be picked on the first day, he may not even be on the board when the Patriots select.

At the Combine we heard the Patriots had a lot of interest in Beason and since then, they’ve done nothing to make us think otherwise. New England worked Beason out down in Miami and he also visited Gillette Stadium this month. Add all this up and Beason is a definite possibility to become a Patriot on draft day.

On the surface, Beason looks like a Tampa 2 outside linebacker but that’s not necessarily the case. He has the toughness and physical ability to move inside and play the MIKE in a 3-4 scheme. That would give the Patriots the luxury of grooming Beason behind Tedy Bruschi and using him on passing downs as a rookie because of his good coverage skills. Beason is also a big hitter and solid special teams player. He would have an instant impact on the Patriots defense and add some much needed youth and athleticism to an ageing position.

Michigan’s David Harris is also a strong possibility with this pick, as is a defensive back.

Round 1B

LaMarr Woodley, DE/OLB Michigan (6-1, 268)– I really think the Patriots are going to trade down from this spot and acquire a second round pick but if they stay, New England has the luxury of taking the best player available. In my opinion, that player would be Woodley.

Let me start off by saying that I think there is going to be a big run on defensive backs in the first round. I don’t believe Michael Griffin, Reggie Nelson, Brandon Meriweather, Leon Hall, Chris Houston or Darrelle Revis will be on the board at this point. If one of those players is available, they will certainly be a strong possibility with this pick.

I think Woodley is one of the best “football players” in the draft and will be a future stud at the pro level. I keep hearing about his size and questions about where he’s going to play in the NFL but when you watch him on tape, he’s a monster that does a lot of things well. His style of play is very similar to a guy the Patriots just paid a lot of money to acquire this offseason.

Woodley is a tremendous athlete, versatile, extremely quick and works his tail off. When you’re talking about value at the end of Round 1, there will be very few, if any, players left on the board more talented than Woodley. He could be a pass rushing terror in New England’s defense for years to come. A coach like Bill Belichick could do wonders with a player of his ability. With Woodley, Adalius Thomas and Rosevelt Colvin rushing from the edge, Peyton Manning will have a lot of sleepless nights.

Like I said, I see the Patriots moving down from this spot and getting a second round pick, which they could then use on a running back like Tony Hunt, Lorenzo Booker, Brian Leonard, Kenny Irons or Michael Bush. There are going to be a lot of backs that go in Round 2, so New England needs to get a pick in that area if there’s one in particular they’re eyeing.

Round 3

Josh Gattis, S Wake Forest (6-1, 206)– If the draft unfolded this way, Gattis would be a steal for the Patriots here. Gattis weighs 206 pounds, although he has a thick build and really unloads on ball carriers. He’s a smart player who’s rarely out of position on the field. Gattis does a good job of covering the short middle of the field, something a lot of safeties struggle with.

A couple of reasons why Gattis doesn’t get a lot of national publicity are because he played for Wake Forest and he’s not a “wow” player. What I mean by that is when you see LaRon Landry play he wows you with his vicious hits and incredible speed in coverage. Gattis is more of a lunch pale-type player. He may not be flashy but Gattis is very consistent and reliable. He’s a leader on the field and a guy I believe can step right in and contribute as a rookie because of his intelligence.

Gattis is also a good special teams player. In 2005, he led the ACC with 15 special teams tackles. Gattis shows great instincts on the field and was the leader of a very good Wake Forest defense last year. We get a lot of e-mails referring to certain prospects as being a “Patriots-kind of player”. If you’re searching for a Patriots-kind of player (Intelligent, tough, versatile, team-first attitude), then look no further than Gattis. He reminds me a lot of former Bronco Steve Atwater with the way he plays. Gattis should be a quality starting safety in the NFL for the next 10 years. I think most teams would take that.

Aaron Rouse, the bone-jarring safety out of Virginia Tech, would be another good selection in this spot.

Round 4

Michael Coe, CB Alabama State (6-0, 190)- Coe played his first two seasons at Arkansas before transferring to Division 1-AA Alabama State for his senior year. He also played some safety and returned kicks in college, so he has the versatility Belichick likes from his defensive backs. Coe was a late addition to the Senior Bowl but helped his cause by having a good week of practice and intercepting a pass in the game. Since then, Coe’s draft stock has been on the rise.

Coe has the size to play both corner and safety in the NFL, but he’ll probably start off his career as a nickel cornerback. He’s a very instinctive player (which is important at the cornerback position) who has tremendous ball skills. Coe goes up and fights receivers for the ball and does a good job of getting his head turned around. He also uses his body well to overpower smaller receivers.

Coe isn’t going to come in and be a superstar right off the bat. However, in New England he doesn’t have to. Coe can contribute to the Patriots by being their fourth or fifth defensive back and returning kicks during his rookie year. But make no mistake about it, Coe does have the physical tools to be a starter in the NFL and after a year or two under Belichick’s tutelage, he should be ready to shine in the Patriots secondary.

Usama Young is rising up draft boards and was recruited by current Patriots defensive coordinator Dean Pees when he was the head coach of Kent State. Young is also a strong possibility if he’s still on the board at this point.

Round 5

Chris Davis, WR Florida State (5-10, 185) – Davis was one of the most impressive receivers we saw on tape and that says a lot considering who was throwing him the football at Florida State. Davis is also a guy the Patriots have shown interest in leading up to the draft.

Davis comes out of his breaks very quickly, a quality the Patriots look for in their receivers. He’s explosive in the open field and Davis made a lot of tough catches on tape due to the awful quarterback play at Florida State. That’s the main reason why Davis’ production isn’t better. It’s hard for a receiver to put up big numbers when their quarterbacks can’t play.

One of the things I like most about Davis is he’s fearless going over the middle. He kind of reminds me of a faster version of Wes Welker. Despite his size, Davis will go into traffic and take a big hit. He has great hands and is an effective blocker for a smaller receiver.

Davis would be a good selection for the Patriots on Day 2 of the draft. His game is refined and I think he could come in and contribute as a slot receiver and kick returner as a rookie. Also, Davis’ best days are still ahead of him. Unlike Florida State, the Patriots actually have a quarterback who throws the ball pretty well.

Round 6A

DeAndre Jackson, CB Iowa State (5-11, 193) – Jackson is a mid-round prospect I’m extremely high on. He’s one of the most athletic corners available this year and he really has a nose for the football. Jackson showed great instincts on tape. He’s quick to react to the ball and knocks down a lot of passes. 

Jackson is a player who could be a real steal because he’s coming off an injury. He tore his ACL last year and missed the second half of his senior season. If Jackson didn’t get hurt, he might have been a second round prospect but now he could slip to the fifth or sixth round. That’s great value for a player with Jackson’s physical skills.

Besides being an impressive cornerback, Jackson is also an exceptional kick returner and special teams player. He’s someone who is always around the ball and is very similar to another former Cyclone, Ellis Hobbs. If he’s still on the board in the sixth round, Jackson could be reunited with Hobbs in New England. He’s a very talented corner and return man with a lot of upside.

Round 6B

Desmond Bishop, ILB Cal (6-1, 239)– Bishop is a player we’ve been projecting to the Patriots all along because we know he’s someone they’ve been showing interest in since before the Combine. Bishop is one of the better run-stuffing linebackers in the draft. He’s not blazing fast and won’t wow anyone running the 40, but when you see him on the field he just makes plays. Bishop led the Pac-10 with 124 tackles last year, so he’s proven to be a force against the run.

Bishop is that big, physical linebacker the Patriots haven’t had since Ted Johnson retired. He’s very productive playing in the box and Bishop has the size to take on bigger offensive linemen. He trimmed down to 239 pounds so he could improve his speed for pro scouts but Bishop’s natural playing weight is closer to 245 pounds, with the frame to carry 250.  He played some 3-4 at Cal but still needs to improve in coverage. At the Combine he said his favorite thing to do is take on big guards and throw them off to the side before making a tackle. Sounds like the kind of linebacker that would be a good fit in the Patriots scheme.

Round 6C

Dwayne Wright, RB Fresno State (5-11, 231)- Wright is a big guy who can play that RB/FB hybrid position similar to Heath Evans and Patrick Pass. The former Bulldog is a powerful runner who wears down defenses between the tackles. He doesn’t have great speed but is a versatile player who can do a lot for a team. Wright’s ability to pound the ball and get the tough yards would be a nice complement to Laurence Maroney’s slashing running style.

Wright came back in 2006 after tearing the patellar tendon in his knee to rush for 1,462 yards and 11 touchdowns as a junior. He also caught 29 passes last season for Fresno State. Because he’s not very fast, Wright will probably never be an every-down back in the NFL. However, his ability to block, play special teams and be a short-yardage back makes him an intriguing prospect late in the draft.

Oregon State tight end Joe Newton is another possibility if he’s still available in the sixth round.

Round 6D

Ryne Robinson, WR Miami (5-9, 180) – Robinson is a late-round receiver I really like. He’s coming into the draft under the radar but Robinson was very productive in college and has impressive physical skills. As a junior, Robinson caught 75 passes for 1,119 yards and eight touchdowns. He had an even better senior season, finishing with 91 receptions for 1,178 yards and eight scores. He finished his career at Miami, Ohio averaging 14.3 yards per catch.

On tape, Robinson showed he’s fearless going over the middle and racked up a lot of yards after the catch. He has great hands and is also a crisp route runner. He’s not very big but Robinson is a tough guy who breaks a lot of tackles for his size. He’s a dangerous deep threat, although he turned a lot of short receptions into long gains as well. Robinson is also an explosive kick returner because he gets upfield quickly. In my opinion, Robinson is a big-time sleeper and would be a great selection by the Patriots in the later rounds of the draft.

Round 7

Jeff Rowe, QB Nevada (6-5, 226)– I think with four sixth round selections and a seventh, the Patriots will pick a young quarterback in this draft. They like Washington’s Isaiah Stanback and he will be a definite possibility if he’s still on the board in Round 6. However, Stanback is on the rise and I’m not sure if the Patriots would pull the trigger on him in the fifth round, unless they really like his potential as a receiver. If New England can’t get the versatile Stanback, Rowe could be a possibility late in the draft.

Rowe was the MVP of the East-West Shrine Game and was productive as Nevada’s starting quarterback over the last three years. In his last two seasons, Rowe connected on 63 percent of his passes, while throwing 38 touchdowns and 18 interceptions in Nevada’s “Pistol” offense.

Rowe has a long way to go before he’s ready to step on the field in the NFL but he’s accurate, throws a nice ball and moves around well in the pocket. If the Patriots decide to go with a quarterback late in the draft, Rowe – along with Oregon State’s Matt Moore, Central Missouri State’s Toby Korrodi and Idaho State’s Matt Gutierrez – could be possible targets.

Be sure to check back here tomorrow as we’ll be doing a first round NFL mock draft. We will also be kicking off our “Draft Buzz” section where we let you know all the rumors we’re hearing from around the league. We have some really interesting rumors to share, so don’t miss it.