Our staff has compiled what the top 'experts' are predicting the Patriots will do in the first round of the 2020 NFL Draft.
EXPERT: Mel Kiper, ESPN Football Analyst
PICK: Zach Baun, LB, Wisconsin
LAST UPDATED: April 14
KIPER'S ANALYSIS:
"It's really tough to predict what Bill Belichick is going to do in a draft, but we know that he likes versatile front-seven pieces. That's Baun, who broke out for the Badgers last season with 12.5 sacks and 19.5 total tackles for loss. The Patriots lost linebackers Kyle Van Noy, Jamie Collins and Elandon Roberts in free agency, so Baun fills a need. Since it appears New England is happy with Jarrett Stidham and Brian Hoyer at quarterback, I'll stay away from that position."
Click here to view Mel Kiper's full mock draft.
PREVIOUS PICKS:
EXPERT: Kevin Hanson, Sports Illustrated
PICK: A.J. EPENESA, DE, IOWA
LAST UPDATED: April 17
HANSON'S ANALYSIS:
"While not a speed rusher, Epenesa could remind Bill Belichick of one of his former players, Trey Flowers. The former Hawkeye wins with a blend of power, length, technique and heavy hands, and has the versatility to rush from the inside as well. While he started 2019 slowly, Epenesa closed the season strong with eight sacks and four forced fumbles over his final five games."
Click here for Kevin Hanson's full mock draft.
PREVIOUS PICKS:
January 21 - Tee Higgins, WR, Clemson
February 7 - Jordan Love, QB, Utah State
February 18 - A.J. Epenesa, Edge Rusher, Iowa
February 25 - Xavier McKinney, S, Alabama
March 3 - Xavier McKinney, S, Alabama
March 20 - A.J. Epenesa, DE, Iowa
April 2 - A.J. Epenesa, DE, Iowa
April 7 - Jordan Love, QB, Utah State
EXPERT: Daniel Jeremiah, NFL Analyst
PICK: A.J. EPENESA, DE, IOWA
LAST UPDATED: April 7
JEREMIAH'S ANALYSIS:
"The Patriots love size and power on the edges. Epenesa is not an elite tester, but he's a very productive football player."
Click here to view Jeremiah's full mock draft.
EXPERT: Michael Dussault, Patriots.com Staff Writer
PICK: XAVIER MCKINNEY, S, ALABAMA
LAST UPDATED: April 14
DUSSAULT'S ANALYSIS:
"McKinney is dripping with versatility and though the needs in the front seven are more significant the Alabama product can fill almost any hole in the secondary. As a rookie he could be groomed by Devin McCourty and Patrick Chung, while replacing some of what was lost in Duron Harmon. A three-down player, McKinney would solidify the back end of the Patriots defense for a decade and is the perfect player for today's NFL."
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February 4 - Laviska Shenault Jr., WR, Colorado
March 5 - Yetur Gross-Matos, DE, Penn State
March 27 - Malik Harrison, LB, Ohio State
EXPERT: Chris Trapasso, CBS Sports NFL Writer
PICK: JORDAN LOVE, QB, UTAH STATE
LAST UPDATED: April 15
TRAPASSO'S ANALYSIS:
"The Patriots may have to trade up for Love, but with him falling into their lap here, they can't pass on him."
Click here for Chris Trapasso's full mock draft.
PREVIOUS PICKS:
January 30 - Marlon Davison, DL, Auburn
February 5 - Josh Uche, Edge Rusher, Michigan
February 12 - Yetur Gross-Matos, Edge Rusher, Penn State
February 20 - Grant Delpit, S, LSU
March 4 - Kyle Dugger, S, Lenior-Rhyne
March 18 - Zach Baun, LB, Wisconsin
March 25 - Jalen Reagor, WR, TCU
April 1 - Justin Jefferson, WR, LSU
April 8 - A.J. Epenesa, DE, Iowa
EXPERT: Pete Prisco, CBS Sports Senior Writer
PICK: A.J. EPENESA, DE, IOWA
LAST UPDATED: April 21
PRISCO'S ANALYSIS:
"There are questions about his athletic ability, but he can rush the passer. He would slide inside in passing downs and still hold up, which shows his versatility. The Patriots love that in their players."
Click here for Pete Prisco's full mock draft.
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EXPERT: Todd McShay, ESPN Senior Writer
PICK: A.J. EPENESA, DE, IOWA
LAST UPDATED: March 30
MCSHAY'S ANALYSIS:
"These aren't the Patriots we are accustomed to seeing. They could use upgrades in a bunch of areas, including quarterback, wide receiver and a handful of spots on defense. I don't expect coach Bill Belichick to reach for a QB here, and while wide receiver is in play, it seems unlikely two years in a row on Day 1. So how about an edge rusher? LSU's K'Lavon Chaisson is the better player, but Belichick has a strong relationship with Iowa head coach Kirk Ferentz, and Epenesa fits nicely with the Patriots' 3-4 system as a 5-technique."
Click here to view Todd McShay's full mock draft.
PREVIOUS PICKS:
EXPERT: Lance Zierlein, NFL Media Draft Analyst
PICK: PATRICK QUEEN, LB, LSU
LAST UPDATED: March 20
ZEIRLIEN'S ANALYSIS:
"Figuring out what Bill Belichick is going to do isn't getting any easier. However, Queen is tough and fast. He could become the new leader of the defense by next year."
Click here for Lance Zeirlein's full mock draft.
PREVIOUS PICKS:
January 29 - Cesar Ruiz, C/G, Michigan
EXPERT: Josh Edwards, CBS Sports NFL Draft Writer
PICK: A.J. EPENESA, DE, IOWA
LAST UPDATED: April 10
EDWARDS' ANALYSIS:
"New England gets bigger, faster and stronger along their defensive line. The Patriots take advantage of a good player unnecessarily falling."
Click here for Josh Edwards full mock draft.
PREVIOUS PICKS
EXPERT: Ryan Wilson, CBS Sports Writer
PICK: ZACH BAUN, LB, WISCONSIN
LAST UPDATED: April 21
WILSON'S ANALYSIS:
"Jamie Collins, Kyle Van Noy and Elandon Roberts are all gone (they landed in Detroit, Miami and Miami - all home of former Pats assistant coaches) and Baun, who can play on the edge or at the linebacker position, has the type of versatility and smarts that makes it easy to connect him to New England."
Click here for Ryan Wilson's full mock draft.
PREVIOUS PICKS:
February 3 - Henry Ruggs III, WR, Alabama
February 12 - Jacob Eason, QB, Washington
February 17 - Xavier McKinney, S, Alabama
February 24 - Zach Baun, LB, Wisconsin
March 2 - Xavier McKinney, S, Alabama
March 9 - Zach Baun, LB, Wisconsin
April 6 - Jordan Love, QB, Utah State
April 13 - Xavier McKinney, S, Alabama
EXPERT: Charles Davis, NFL Media Analyst
PICK: JORDAN LOVE, QB, UTAH STATE
LAST UPDATED: April 15
Davis's Analysis:
"Yes, totally against the grain for New England to select a QB this high, but Love could easily be selected in the top 10. The Patriots snap up the QB to begin the post-Brady era."
Click here for Charles Davis's full mock draft.
EXPERT: Michael Renner, Pro Football Focus
PICK: A.J. EPENESA, DE, IOWA
LAST UPDATED: April 9
Renner's Analysis:
"Drafting Love to New England makes sense for a couple of reasons. The first is that the Patriots' current starter was an unheralded fourth-round pick who earned a middling 72.2 grade in last year's preseason. The second is that Love is seen as a boom-or-bust prospect with all the tools to be an elite quarterback. Him busting would likely result in the Patriots becoming major players in the Trevor Lawrence/Justin Fields sweepstakes."
Click here for Michael Renner's full mock draft.
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EXPERT: Andy Hart, WEEI
PICK: A.J. EPENESA, DE, IOWA
LAST UPDATED: April 16
Hart's Analysis:
"Epenesa is a physical, versatile edge option who could have a positive impact right away on the front seven, both against the run and the pass."
Click here to view Andy Hart's full Patriots mock draft.
Be sure to check out our draft prospects section where you can watch college highlight videos of all the top prospects entering the 2020 NFL Draft.
