Our staff has compiled what the top 'experts' are predicting the Patriots will do in the first round of the 2021 NFL Draft where New England holds the 15th pick.

EXPERT: Mel Kiper Jr., ESPN Senior Writer

PICK: TREY LANCE, QB, NORTH DAKOTA STATE

LAST UPDATED: April 29

NOTES: Projects a trade with the Detroit Lions to move up to the 7th pick.

Kiper's Analysis:
"This is going to take at least the No. 15 overall pick and New England's 2022 first-rounder, but the Patriots need to move up if they want to get the fourth quarterback on the board. Detroit, which is at the beginning of a rebuild, has needs all along its roster and should try to add more premium picks."

Click here for Mel Kiper Jr's full mock draft.

EXPERT: Todd McShay, ESPN Senior Writer

PICK: MAC JONES, QB, ALABAMA

LAST UPDATED: April 29

McShay's Analysis:
"Because the Niners opted to go with Lance, the Patriots get lucky in this scenario, not having to move up and still landing one of the top five quarterbacks. Jones is an anticipatory passer with excellent accuracy; coach Bill Belichick would help him develop into a good NFL starter."

Click here to view Todd McShay's full mock draft.

EXPERT: Ryan Wilson, CBS Sports Writer

PICK: TREY LANCE, QB, NORTH DAKOTA STATE

LAST UPDATED: April 29

NOTE: Projects a trade with the Dallas Cowboys to move up to the 10th pick.

Wilson's Analysis:
"We don't imagine Lance lasting until 15 -- we suspect a team will trade up for him -- but because we didn't have trades in this 7-rounder, he lands in New England, where he can sit for a year behind Cam Newton."

Click here for Ryan Wilson's full mock draft.

EXPERT: Charles Davis, NFL Analyst

PICK: MAC JONES, QB, ALABAMA

LAST UPDATED: April 29

Davis's Analysis:
"There's plenty of chatter about the Pats trading up for a QB, and they might have to in order to secure Jones' services. In this scenario, they stick and pick this ultra-accurate thrower."

Click here for Charles Davis's full mock draft.

EXPERT: Chris Trapasso, CBS Sports NFL Writer

PICK: MAC JONES, QB, ALABAMA

LAST UPDATED: April 29

NOTE: Projects a trade with the Dallas Cowboys to move up to the 10th pick.

Trapasso's Analysis:
"Bill Belichick makes somewhat of an aggressive move to climb five spots to take the Alabama quarterback. New England trades its third-round pick, a fifth-round pick, and a future sixth-rounder to swing this deal."

Click here for Chris Trapasso's full mock draft.

EXPERT: Bucky Brooks, NFL Analyst

PICK: JUSTIN FIELDS, QB, OHIO STATE

LAST UPDATED: April 29

Brooks' Analysis:
"Perhaps Bill Belichick changes his ways and selects a quarterback in the first round. Fields is a five-star talent who offers big-play potential in both the run and pass games."

Click here for Bucky Brooks full mock draft.

EXPERT: Josh Edwards, CBS Sports NFL Draft Writer

PICK: MAC JONES, QB, ALABAMA

LAST UPDATED: April 29

NOTES: Projects a trade with the Detroit Lions to move up to the 7th pick.

Edward's Analysis:
"If Atlanta stays put at No. 4 overall and takes a quarterback, then Detroit and Carolina become the most likely destinations in a potential trade up. New England agrees to a deal with the former and moves up to take Mac Jones. It will cost them a first-round pick in 2022."

Click here for Josh Edwards full mock draft.

EXPERT: Pete Prisco, CBS Sports Senior Writer

PICK: TREY LANCE, QB, NORTH DAKOTA STATE

LAST UPDATED: April 29

Prisco's Analysis:
"The Patriots stay put in this mock and end up with a quarterback for the future. Lance could sit behind Cam Newton for a year and then take over."

Click here to view Pete Prisco's full mock draft.

EXPERT: Peter King, Pro Football Talk / NBC Sports

PICK: DEVONTA SMITH, WR, ALABAMA

LAST UPDATED: April 26

King's Analysis:
"The draft capital needed to move up to seven (never mind four) would likely include next year's first-round pick and something else, and I can't see Belichick loving Lance or Fields enough to do that. What good fortune for New England if it plays out this way, getting a competitive game-breaker at 15."

Click here for Peter King's full mock draft.

EXPERT: Chad Reuter, NFL Draft Analyst

PICK: JAYLEN WADDLE, WR, ALABAMA

LAST UPDATED: April 25

Reuter's Analysis:
"Last month, I projected this pairing, anticipating the departure of Julian Edelman. Now that Edelman has announced his retirement, Waddle's placement in the slot -- and as a returner -- makes even more sense."

Click here for Chad Reuter's full mock draft.

EXPERT: Jason McIntyre, Fox Sports Analyst

PICK: MAC JONES, QB, ALABAMA

LAST UPDATED: April 23

McIntyre's Analysis:
"No change. The draft cycle has pumped up QBs and WRs, but as we get closer, you'll see them 'slip' in favor of impact edge rushers and cornerbacks."

Click here for Jason McIntyre's full mock draft.

EXPERT: Peter Schrager, NFL Network's 'Good Morning Football'

PICK: DEVONTA SMITH, WR, ALABAMA

LAST UPDATED: April 20

NOTE: Projects New England moving up to the 12th pick via a trade with the Philadelphia Eagles

Schrager's Analysis:
"Everyone seems to think Philadelphia is looking to trade up into the top 10, but I believe the Eagles are a prime team to trade down, looking to squeeze out another first-round pick for next year -- giving them potentially four in 2022 -- or an additional second-rounder in 2021. New England gives up its second-round pick (No. 46) to move up three spots for the Heisman-winning, Nick Saban-endorsed star WR1."

Click here for Peter Schrager's full mock draft.

EXPERT: Jenny Vrentas, Sports Illustrated

PICK: TREY LANCE, QB, NORTH DAKOTA STATE

LAST UPDATED: April 20

NOTE: Projects a trade with the Carolina Panthers to move up to the 8th pick

Vrentas's Analysis:
"That 'It's happening!' GIF would be the universal reaction if Belichick traded into the top 10 for a QB after never drafting one higher than pick No. 62 (a stat that sounds more significant than it is, given that Tom Brady was his starter for 19 of Belichick's seasons as a head coach). But this has been an offseason unlike any other for the Patriots. Weeks after Brady won a Super Bowl elsewhere, they went on a free-agency spending spree, in part to make up for their accrued draft misses. Now, could they be so bold to move up for a QB? It's never wise to read too much into something Belichick says to the media, but in his pre-draft press conference he brought up the idea of moving up for a player, saying, "Maybe at 12, 13, he's still on the board and you really thought that he'd be gone in the top six, seven picks. Then the question comes, do you move up and try to get that player that's fallen a little bit?" In this scenario we have New England moving up a bit further than that, leapfrogging the QB-needy Broncos to snag Lance, an intriguing prospect who would have time to develop behind Cam Newton."

Click here for Jenny Vrentas' full mock draft.

EXPERT: Steve Palazzolo, Pro Football Focus

PICK: TREY LANCE, QB, NORTH DAKOTA STATE

LAST UPDATED: April 19

Palazzolo's Analysis:
"New England is primed to move up for a quarterback on draft night, but the more I let this draft play out, the more comfortable I am with Lance in the middle of the first. He's a dynamic runner who's flashed the arm to hit every throw, but his accuracy is a notch below the other four first-round prospects. It's a good play for New England, who have Cam Newton for one year, and they can take their time with Lance or throw him right into the mix when he's ready. Lance did his best work as a redshirt freshman in 2019 when he graded at 90.7 overall, but there's some risk with a quarterback who has only 371 career dropbacks."

Click here for Steve Palazzolo's full mock draft.

EXPERT: Dane Brugler, The Athletic

PICK: ZAVEN COLLINS, LB, TULSA

LAST UPDATED: April 16

Brugler's Analysis:
"With his athletic versatility at 6-foot-5 and 260 pounds, Collins is a very Patriots-like prospect and a great match in New England's scheme. His value as a cover man, blitzer and run-and-chase pursuit player has Bill Belichick written all over it."

Click here for Dane Brugler's full mock draft.

EXPERT: Rob Rang, FOX Sports NFL Draft Analyst

PICK: MAC JONES, QB, ALABAMA

LAST UPDATED: April 16

Rang's Analysis:
"For all of the buzz about Jones and the 49ers, his game is much better suited to the up-tempo passing attack New England playcaller Josh McDaniels prefers. With Cam Newton retained (but only a one-year deal) and Jarrett Stidham showing little thus far (two TDs and four INTs since being drafted 113th overall in 2019), the Patriots could use help at the position."

Click here for Rob Rang's full mock draft.

EXPERT: Charley Casserly, NFL.com Analyst

PICK: JAYCEE HORN, CB, SOUTH CAROLINA

LAST UPDATED: April 15

Casserly's Analysis:
"With starting cornerbacks J.C. Jackson and Stephon Gilmore set to hit free agency next offseason, Bill Belichick begins planning for the future with a young player possessing plenty of upside, especially in New England's scheme."

Click here for Charley Casserly's full mock draft.

EXPERT: Evan Silva, EstablishtheRun.com

PICK: DEVONTA SMITH, WR, ALABAMA

LAST UPDATED: April 12

Perry's Analysis:
"Having long struggled to draft wide receivers, Bill Belichick can rely on his relationship with Nick Saban here. Wideouts in Smith's size range (6'0/170) have a small track record of big-league success, but 2020's Heisman Trophy and Biletnikoff Award winner's production speaks for itself. A superb route runner, Smith reminds me of Marvin Harrison."

Click here for Evan Silva's full mock draft.

EXPERT: Daniel Jeremiah, NFL Media Analyst

PICK: MICAH PARSONS, LB, PENN STATE

LAST UPDATED: April 6

Jeremiah's Analysis:
"The Patriots have been bold this offseason, so I won't be shocked if they decide to trade up for a quarterback. If they stay put, Parsons has the versatility to fit in New England."

Click here to view Daniel Jeremiah's full mock draft.

EXPERT: Lance Zierlein, NFL Media Draft Analyst

PICK: MICAH PARSONS, LB, PENN STATE

LAST UPDATED: March 29

Renner's Analysis:
"Parsons could slip due to character concerns, but he's super talented and Bill Belichick's "Patriots Way" might be a good fit for the young linebacker."

Click here for Lance Zierlein's full mock draft.

EXPERT: Mike Dussault, Patriots.com Staff Writer

PICK: JAYCEE HORN, CB, SOUTH CAROLINA

LAST UPDATED: April 27

Dussault's Analysis:
"Horn had an off-the-charts Pro Day this week and it helped offset his lack of 2020 game film. He has the length, speed and physicality to do everything the Patriots ask of their cornerbacks playing predominantly man coverage, not to mention NFL pedigree as the son of Joe Horn. With a likely run on quarterbacks it should give the Patriots a prime shot at one of the three top cornerbacks at 15, all of whom are great fits in New England. With long-term questions around Stephon Gilmore and J.C. Jackson, Horn is the perfect replacement to groom this season and gives them a potential long-term number one cornerback."