Our staff has compiled what the top 'experts' are predicting the Patriots will do in the first round of the 2022 NFL Draft where New England holds the 21st pick.

• Most Popular Pick by Experts: Devin Lloyd, LB, Utah
• Second Most Popular: Daxton Hill, DB, Michigan

EXPERT: Mel Kiper Jr., ESPN

PICK: DAXTON HILL, DB, MICHIGAN

LAST UPDATED: April 28

Kiper's Analysis:
"What does Bill Belichick want from his defenders? Versatility. Hall played mostly as a slot corner last season and could help there for the Patriots. He ran a 4.38 40 at the combine and has long arms. This is a great fit. I also thought about cornerback Kaiir Elam, who would be more of a straight replacement for J.C. Jackson."

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

EXPERT: Rob Rang, Fox Sports NFL Draft Analyst

PICK: DAXTON HILL, DB, MICHIGAN

LAST UPDATED: April 28

Rang's Analysis:
"On paper, linebacker is a greater concern for the Patriots, so no one should be surprised if the club goes in that direction with several talented candidates available. But there's not another defensive back in this class who offers Hill's versatility as a nickel corner and safety. Bill Belichick has always prioritized smart, speedy defensive backs, and that need might be even more critical, given the dynamic offenses sprouting up throughout the AFC East."

Click here for Rob Rang's full mock draft.

EXPERT: Josh Edwards, CBS Sports NFL Draft Writer

PICK: DAXTON HILL, DB, MICHIGAN

LAST UPDATED: April 28

Edward's Analysis:
"Hill is a versatile defender who can line up in the slot or drop back to safety. New England has lost a lot in the secondary in the past two years and it is difficult to imagine that comforts Bill Belichick. They add a piece to the secondary and it is probably not the last time over the course of these three days."

Click here for Josh Edwards full mock draft.

EXPERT: Todd McShay, ESPN

PICK: DEVIN LLOYD, LB, UTAH

LAST UPDATED: April 28

McShay's Analysis:
"Bill Belichick could use a player like this in the middle of his defense. Lloyd is a safety-turned-linebacker who will make an impact against the run (111 tackles last season), in coverage (four interceptions) and as a pass-rusher (eight sacks)."

Click here for Todd McShay's full mock draft.

EXPERT: Pete Prisco, CBS Sports Senior Writer

PICK: DEVIN LLOYD, LB, UTAH

LAST UPDATED: April 28

Prisco's Analysis:
"They need speed at linebacker and Lloyd is the type of player to bring it. He can also rush at times, and we know how Bill Belichick loves versatility."

Click here for Pete Prisco's full mock draft.

EXPERT: Vinnie Iyer, Sporting News

PICK: DEVIN LLOYD, LB, UTAH

LAST UPDATED: April 28

Iyer's Analysis:
"Lloyd is slipping a bit because of his position and how his skill set relates to Georgia's Nakobe Dean, also a strong second-half first-round prospect. Given their shaky interior situation without Dont'a Hightower and also moving on from Kyle Van Noy, the Patriots can plug Lloyd in to become an immediate impact playmaker and leader for Bill Belichick's defense."

Click here for Vinnie Iyer's full mock draft.

EXPERT: Lance Zierlein, NFL Media Draft Analyst

PICK: DEVIN LLOYD, LB, UTAH

LAST UPDATED: April 28

Zierlein's Analysis:
"There are always a few players who just feel like Patriots, and this speedy, physical linebacker is one of them."

Click here for Lance Zierlein's full mock draft.

EXPERT: Bucky Brooks, NFL.com

PICK: DEVIN LLOYD, LB, UTAH

LAST UPDATED: April 28

Brooks' Analysis:
"Lloyd adds more speed and athleticism to a linebacker corps that has been one of the slowest in the league."

Click here for Bucky Brooks' full mock draft.

EXPERT: Ryan Wilson, CBS Sports Writer

PICK: DEVIN LLOYD, LB, UTAH

LAST UPDATED: April 28

Wilson's Analysis:
"The Patriots have needs at cornerback and defensive line and those could be the targets here, but Lloyd (and Nakobe Dean) is a special player who could go higher than this. He's the next iteration of the linebacker position and in some ways feels like a natural progression from Dont'a Hightower, who played at 260, some 25 pounds heavier than Lloyd. A Pats defense that includes Lloyd and Kyle Dugger feels like a step in the right direction to combat Josh Allen at least twice a season."

Click here for Ryan Wilson's full mock draft.

EXPERT: Charles Davis, NFL Media Analyst

PICK: DEVIN LLOYD, LB, UTAH

LAST UPDATED: April 28

Davis's Analysis:
"With a few options available here for the Patriots, I focused on the defensive side. CB is a possibility, and I see Washington's Kyler Gordon as a great fit, but New England has always had that dominant leader at linebacker (think Tedy Bruschi and Jerod Mayo). Lloyd could be Dont'a Hightower's replacement as a leader and playmaker."

Click here for Charles Davis's full mock draft.

EXPERT: Danny Kelly, The Ringer

PICK: DEVIN LLOYD, LB, UTAH

LAST UPDATED: April 28

Danny Kelly's Analysis:
"Lloyd is one of the most versatile linebackers in the draft, which makes him a logical fit for the ultra-adaptable Patriots. The Utah playmaker can wear a number of hats for his new defense, lining up off the ball on one play and on the edge on another."

Click here for Danny Kelly's full mock draft.

EXPERT: Chris Trapasso, CBS Sports NFL Writer

PICK: QUAY WALKER, LB, GEORGIA

LAST UPDATED: April 28

Trapasso's Analysis:
"No one loves tall, oversized linebackers more than Bill Belichick, and he has a connection to Kirby Smart through Nick Saban."

Click here for Chris Trapasso's full mock draft.

EXPERT: Peter Schrager, Good Morning Football Host

PICK: QUAY WALKER, LB, GEORGIA

LAST UPDATED: April 28

Schrager's Analysis:
"The Patriots get a freakish athlete with a versatile skill set that allows him to play all over the field. Bill Belichick (and offensive assistant Joe Judge) love Kirby Smart-coached players."

Click here for Peter Schrager's full mock draft.

EXPERT: Jason McIntyre, Fox Sports

PICK: CHRISTIAN WATSON, WR, NORTH DAKOTA STATE

LAST UPDATED: April 28

McIntyre's Analysis:
"The Patriots have drafted one wide receiver in the first round in the past 22 years, and that player (N'Keal Harry) is looking like a bust. "

Click here for Jason McIntyre's full mock draft.

EXPERT: Daniel Jeremiah, NFL Analyst

PICK: ZION JOHNSON, OL, BOSTON COLLEGE

LAST UPDATED: April 28

Jeremiah's Analysis:
"Johnson just feels like a New England fit. He's smart, versatile and tough. "

Click here for Daniel Jeremiah's full mock draft.

EXPERT: Phil Perry, NBC Sports Boston

PICK: DEVIN LLOYD, LB, UTAH

LAST UPDATED: April 28

Perry's Analysis:
"Lloyd isn't for everyone. His athleticism is good but not freaky. He's a productive tackler but not an explosive hitter. Still, he looks like he could be a Fred Warner type as an impact player in coverage who has a nose for the football. For a team that is looking to get more speed on the field, he'd certainly be an upgrade at the second level."

Click here for Phil Perry's full mock draft.

EXPERT: Walter Cherepinsky, WalterFootball.com

PICK: DEVIN LLOYD, LB, UTAH

LAST UPDATED: April 28

Cherepinsky's Analysis:
"Dont'a Hightower is a free agent, while Kyle Van Noy was just released. Bill Belichick may want a young linebacker. Devin Lloyd can be used outside or inside in a 3-4 (or at linebacker in the 4-3), as he's an athletic defender who has impressed as both a pass rusher and a coverage linebacker this year.

Click here for Walter Cherepinsky's full mock draft.

EXPERT: Peter King, NBC Sports

PICK: BERNHARD RAIMANN, OT, CENTRAL MICHIGAN

LAST UPDATED: April 26

King's Analysis:
"Raimann is one of the best stories in this draft, by far. Austrian kid who first played football on a club team in Vienna at 14. As a high school exchange student, he played receiver on his Michigan high school team for a year. Back to Austria to finish high school. Bitten by the football bug. Committed to Central Michigan for the 2017 season—but had to fulfill a six-month Austrian military commitment, so he didn't start working with the team till 2018. Tight end for two years. Then the pandemic. When football practice began again, Raimann was moved to tackle as a 290-pound player, and he started 18 games at left tackle in the last 1.5 seasons. Big, big upside—and the Patriots can likely use 2022 as a developmental year if they pick him."

Click here for Peter King's full mock draft.

EXPERT: Albert Breer, SI.com

PICK: KAIIR ELAM, CB, FLORIDA

LAST UPDATED: April 26

Breer's Analysis:
"I've been eyeing McDuffie as a New England fit for a month and see Zion Johnson much the same way. With both gone, here's another heady player at a need spot who tested really well. I liked the idea of Quay Walker here, too. But Elam would make a lot of sense."

Click here for Albert Breer's full mock draft.

EXPERT: Austin Gayle, NFL Draft Analyst, Pro Football Focus

PICK: DEVIN LLOYD, LB, UTAH

LAST UPDATED: April 26

Gayle's Analysis:
"Lloyd feels like a Patriots-type of player due to his size, length, versatility, intelligence and leadership skills — everything screams Patriots. He's an every-down impact player and head coach Bill Belichick would be able to use him in a number of different ways. His age (24 years old in September) is a concern for some. McDuffie would also make some sense if he were still on the board here."

Click here for Austin Gayle's full mock draft.

EXPERT: Paul Perillo, Patriots.com / Patriots Unfiltered

PICK: NAKOBE DEAN, LB, GEORGIA

LAST UPDATED: April 28

Perillo's Analysis:
"Bill Belichick will likely try to move this pick but otherwise comes away with a sideline-to-sideline playmaker in Georgia's Dean."

Click here for Paul Perillo's full mock draft.

EXPERT: Luke Easterling, USA Today / DraftWire

PICK: DEVIN LLOYD, LB, UTAH

LAST UPDATED: April 26

Easterling's Analysis:
"This is the quintessential Patriots pick, getting fantastic value at a key position of need on defense. Lloyd has an impressive combination of mental and physical tools that make him one of this year's most versatile defenders, and a perfect fit at the heart of Bill Belichick's defense.

Click here for Luke Easterling's full mock draft.

EXPERT: Evan Lazar, CLNS Media

PICK: KYLER GORDON, CB, WASHINGTON

LAST UPDATED: April 25

NOTE: Projects a trade back to the 32nd pick. In this scenario New England trades No. 21 to Detroit for No. 32 and No. 66.

Lazar's Analysis:
"Although he isn't rated as highly as teammate Trent McDuffie, Gordon has a little more length and still possesses an elite athletic profile to play outside corner. He has the movement skills, coverage instincts, and physicality as a tackler that the Pats covet. Plus, he has experience in multiple coverages in Washington's system that will help him transition into a game plan defense (cover-1, cover-3, quarters). Although Gordon needs to harness his playmaking energy and develop better technique playing the football from press-man, he projects as a starting outside corner at the next level."

Click here for Evan Lazar's full Patriots mock draft.

EXPERT: Chad Reuter, NFL Draft Analyst

PICK: ZION JOHNSON, OL, BOSTON COLLEGE

LAST UPDATED: April 22

NOTE: Projects a trade with the Dallas Cowboys. In this scenario New England moves back to pick 24 and Cowboys send fourth- and fifth-round picks (Nos. 129 & 178) to New England.

Reuter's Analysis:
"The Patriots need help in the interior of their offensive line after trading Shaq Mason to Miami and losing Ted Karras in free agency. Johnson's savvy play and mobility gives him the capability to step into the lineup right away, probably at guard for now and potentially at the pivot when David Andrews retires. The BC product also has experience at left tackle, which could come in handy if Isaiah Wynn misses time due to injury again."

Click here for Chad Reuter's full mock draft.

EXPERT: Mike Dussault, Patriots.com Staff Writer

PICK: TRENT MCDUFFIE, CB, WASHINGTON

LAST UPDATED: April 28

Dussault's Analysis:
"Ideally I'd love to add an impact edge defender at 21st overall but there's a bit of a void for that position at the end of the first round, so instead I'm going with a cornerback for the final mock pick of the draft. Simply put, I think McDuffie is the cleanest first round fit for the Patriots, a nice intersection of ability, value and need, and he would give the Patriots secondary a needed influx of things they like for their defense – smarts, aggressiveness, and versatility. He would push for significant snaps out of the gate and be another fluid defender that could be moved around to make plays."

EXPERT: Maurice Jones-Drew, NFL.com Analyst

PICK: DEVIN LLOYD, LB, UTAH

LAST UPDATED: April 21

Jones-Drew's Analysis:
"Lloyd's leadership traits and skill set scream NEW ENGLAND PATRIOT. He fits like a glove at linebacker alongside veteran Matthew Judon."

Click here for Maurice Jones-Drew's full mock draft.

EXPERT: Conor Orr, SI.com

PICK: DEVIN LLOYD, LB, UTAH

LAST UPDATED: April 20

Orr's Analysis:
"There isn't a coach who could better serve the Utah star than Bill Belichick. Lloyd would help the Patriots create all kinds of legal defensive confusion. He can shoot upfield and take down backs, which is essential in a division with two teams regularly running outside zone. He can also take away intermediate targets, which seriously hampers the progression for two younger quarterbacks in the division."

Click here for Conor Orr's full mock draft.

EXPERT: Dane Brugler, The Athletic

PICK: DAXTON HILL, DB, MICHIGAN

LAST UPDATED: April 14

Brugler's Analysis:
"This is where we might see the first interior offensive lineman off the board, but Hill offers the position versatility and athleticism that will really appeal to Bill Belichick. Hill can step in at corner or nickel from day one and possibly be a long-term answer at safety. That versatility is a luxury in Belichick's secondary."

Click here for Dane Brugler's full mock draft.