FanPost

The Totally Awesome Mock Draft - April

Though Free Agency was over by the time of the last mock draft, a few more things have sorted themselves out between now and then. With draft day nearing, this will likely be the final TAMD of 2014. Enjoy!

1st Round, Pick 29: Dee Ford, DE, Auburn

With Wilfork back, the question marks at DT are suddenly far smaller. Flaws at TE and interior offensive line can be solved later, so the focus of the draft should turn to getting the greatest value and best player available. Considering the demand for pass rushers and our own need at said position, the first round is the ideal place to go after a DE.

Dee Ford is the third ranked DE in the draft, and the first that we'll have a legitimate shot at. He is a bit small for his position, and will likely be used in an almost exclusively pass rushing as opposed to run stopping roll. Like Chandler Jones, Ford has long arms and a great combination of burst, strength and speed. Drafting Ford will reduce the snap counts of Jones and Ninkovitch, increasing their effectiveness when they are on the field. In his rookie season, I would expect Ford to line up primarily at OLB and play a majority of his snaps during pass-rushing downs.

With an already elite group of DBs backing them up, adding Ford would give the defense three (four?) capable pass rushers. Wilfork, Kelly, Siliga and the starters of last year would combine to create a solid interior with strong depth, lacking only in the realm of capable youth. The LB unit would continue to be held down by Mayo, while the addition of pass rushers would allow Collins to focus more on coverage.

2nd Round, Top-50: Austin Seferian-Jenkins, TE, Washington

This was my original second round choice, both in February and March. Here's the description, copied and pasted with a small edit, from those months:

The top-50 pick itself will likely come as a result of a Mallet trade. When you consider both that the Patriots already turned down multiple offers of second-round picks and that most QB needy teams will be drafting at the top, I expect this to be a high pick. Though there are concerns about the foot injury he suffered and a "failed interview," these things will merely help to seal the deal and ensure he falls into the lap of New England.

At six feet six inches tall, his size is similar to that of Gronk. With him, Gronk and Dobson on the team, Brady would have three targets over six feet tall on the field at almost all times. The three of them have the potential to be a trio of elite players, similar to what Denver was last year but with greater toughness and flexibility when it comes to run blocking. Add in LaFell, Amendola, the speed of Boyce and strong depth players such as Thompkins, and it's entirely possible the offense Brady retires with will be the best of his career.

2nd Round, Pick 62: Cyril Richardson, OG, Baylor

With the positions of higher demand addressed, the Patriots are free to shift focus to their own biggest needs. Pressure up the middle is arguably the single most dangerous thing for any offense, and has been a problem for the Patriots for years. In seemingly the worst possible moments, our offensive line has collapsed against superior talent or seemingly greater desire from the opposition. Though the outside is more then solid with Vollmer and Solder holding down the tackle spots, Mankins has lacked ideal consistency for years and those next to him are even worse. If we are to expect Brady to continue playing at a high level into his late 30s and possibly early 40s, then having a strong line will be a must.

Drafting Cyril Richardson will be the first step in the right direction. At 6'5, 320 pounds, Richardson already has the size to compete with the best NFL defensive tackles. This size combined with strength makes him a true brute in the middle, and exactly the type of player the Patriots would want playing alongside Mankins and the tackles. He is a force in the run game, and brings versatility in the form of having played LT for much of his college career.

3rd Round, Pick 93: Travis Swanson, C, Arkansas

The double-dip on offensive linemen enters its second half, though this time the focus is on the center position. Adding a top-tier center to a line that is already made up of Solder, Vollmer, Mankins and Richardson will leave the Patriots looking formidable at every single position, while the starters of 2013 will become the depth of 2014.

Swanson has everything you would look for in an interior linemen. He can pull for the run game, block defenders out of the play, and explodes off the line. He is known for his leadership on and off the field, and intelligence as it relates to the game itself.

4th Round, Pick 130: Charles Sims, RB, West Virginia

While the Patriots are solid at the RB position with Ridley, Vereen and Bolden, Sims is too good of a prospect to pass up. Though his speed and acceleration are themselves impressive, the area in which he truly shines is in the realm of versatility. His skills catching out of the backfield will likely rival those of Shane Vereen, as will his ability to create miss-matches by splitting out wide. He is also strong in the realm of pass blocking, making him the ideal complete RB.

If drafted, I would expect Sims to split touches with Vereen and do an excellent job filling in for either him or any of the other RBs should they get injured or benched.

4th Round, Pick 140: Christian Kirksey, LB, Iowa

The loss of Dane Fletcher and Brandon Spikes makes depth at LB a minor concern. Christian Kirksey will replace the lost coverage ability of Dane Fletcher, and ideally combine with Collins to make our struggles covering TEs a thing of the past. Kirksey will likely also have an impact on special teams, and was a captain for two years in college.

6th Round, Pick 198: Connor Shaw, QB, South Carolina

Trading Ryan Mallet will leave a major hole at backup QB. Though the Patriots could try filling this with a veteran, Shaw would be a steal in the 6th round that could be developed into a tradable player in the future. And who knows - there's always a chance lighting does end up striking the same place twice.

6th Round, Pick 206: Colt Lyerla, TE, Oregon

If it wasn't for the off-the-field issues and character concerns, Lyerla would easily be one of the top TEs in the draft. Problems from drug use to controversial quotes to quitting on his team contribute to the fall of Lyerla, but at this point the risk is low and the potential high. If Lyerla can behave himself, the Patriots will have solidified the TE position for the better part of the next decade. If not, they can cut ties and lose nothing more then a 7th round pick.

Before voicing your opinion on this selection, please check out the comment section of my mock draft from last month. Considering about 90% of the comments related to Lyerla, there's a good chance whatever you're thinking about saying has already been said.

7th Round, Pick 244: Vinnie Sunsteri, SS, Alabama

Sunsteri will be the perfect SS for an already strong backfield. Opposing WRs and TEs will be locked down by the likes of Revis, Browner and McCourty, allowing Sunsteri to read the eyes of the QB and roam for big hits or interceptions. Like Kirksey, Sunsteri has a reputation of being a leader and will contribute on special teams.

And with that, another season of mock drafts comes to a close. It seems like just yesterday we were watching Peyton stink it up in the Super Bowl, and yet here we are mere weeks before the draft. Regardless of who the Patriots do or do not select, I think we can all be hopeful and optimistic about the coming season. Thanks for reading!

The views expressed in these FanPosts are not necessarily those of the writers or SB Nation.