These are the 10 Players Who Fit Best in a Patriots uniform coming out for the 2016 NFL Draft. All of them are likely Day 2 picks with a couple possibly slipping into the 4th round of the draft. The Patriots only have four Day 2 picks, but I'm very confident at least one of them will wind up in New England this weekend.
- Sterling Shepard, WR, Oklahoma: Shepard is a plug and play starter for the Patriots in the slot and can contribute on punt returns, which would take the pressure off of Julian Edelman to do it. Shepard is more of a Z/Slot type receiver, but can run every route in the book effectively. If Shepard is able to slip right to the Patriots, they will have themselves a steal at the position.
- Justin Simmons, S, Boston College: Simmons is right in the Patriots backyard, coming out of Boston College. Simmons is a very athletic defensive back that has below average long speed, which means he's likely going to be a safety/slot corner, which is absolutely perfect for what the Patriots need. Simmons ran a 3.85 shuttle and 6.58 3-cone with a vertical jump of 40" and a standing jump of 10'6". Another one of Simmons strengths is his football intelligence, which is one of the most important traits that is necessary to play a good free safety. With Duron Harmon set to leave after 2016, the Patriots need to find the next backup FS. Simmons can contribute on special teams as a reserve defensive back in 2016.
- Joe Haeg, OT, North Dakota State: Haeg is a very athletic offensive linemen who needs to add weight and strength before he is ready to be a full-time starter. What should appeal to the Patriots is Haeg could play either tackle or guard in the NFL, although it would be a quicker transition for him to be in a Zone Blocking Scheme where his athleticism is accentuated. Coming out of a FCS program at North Dakota State should put him in the Patriots draft range at 60 and 61.
- Jihad Ward, DE, Illinois: Ward can play both inside and outside in the Patriots defense in addition to being able to play a 5-technique defensive end in a 3-4. The Patriots play a hybrid 4-3 "Over" front, which is basically a 3-4 look out of a 4-3 personnel set, and having a guy who can play the 5-technique in both main defensive alignmentsThe type of versatility helps the Patriots depth chart at both defensive tackle and defensive end, although he's a better fit on the edge as a power rusher on base downs and then take advantage of his quickness inside on passing downs. Ward is a very athletic player for his size, although sometimes doesn't have that mean streak in the run game.
- Le'Raven Clark, OT, Texas Tech: Clark is another athletic tackle who has a better chance of sticking at the position than Haeg, although it's also less likely he'll last long enough for the Patriots to draft him. Clark has the athletic tools to be a very effective edge blocker, whether it's at left tackle or right tackle although he could wind up playing both in New England. There is going to be an obvious learning curve here because Clark played exclusively out of a two-point stance at Texas Tech and will have to learn how to play in a three-point stance in the NFL.
- Cyrus Jones, CB, Alabama: Cyrus Jones is the best 4-down CB in the NFL draft pool in terms of value. He offers value as a return man, a slot, or even as a boundary corner. Jones tested well in the speed and agility drills at the Combine, which is no surprise for College Football's best punt returner for the 2015 college season. Jones played for Belichick disciple Nick Saban at Alabama, so you can't rule out that connection either. Jones is someone I could see the Patriots targeting at the end of the 2nd round and perhaps early in the 3rd if they are able to work a trade.
- Hassan Ridgeway, DT, Texas: Ridgeway is the best defensive tackle prospect that is likely to be on the board when the Patriots pick and if the Patriots want to get value with their top pick, a defensive tackle that would be a high 2nd in other years might be it. Ridgeway is more adept than Malcom Brown at taking on blockers coming out of Texas. Even though the Patriots have a lot of bodies at the position, there isn't a lot of long term depth.
- Dan Vitale, FB/TE/RB, Northwestern: Vitale is interesting because he can line up all over the field and catch the ball against linebacker coverage. Vitale is listed as a fullback by some, but he's really a Joker type receiver that can line up at fullback, tailback, the slot, and out wide to create matchup problems against linebackers in coverage. The Patriots don't have a clear need in 2016 for that type of receiver with the acquisitions of Martellus Bennett and Clay Harbor, but after 2016 the Patriots only have Rob Gronkowski sticking around at the position.
- Rashard Higgins, WR, Colorado State: Higgins is a guy from a non-Power 5 school that absolutely dominated the competition. After a big 2014 season, Higgins overall numbers regressed when moving from an NFL caliber arm to a average college QB caliber arm, but still posted 1000 yards and 8 TD. Higgins isn't neither exceptionally big nor is an average athlete at the WR position but is very good at tracking down deep balls and has good football awareness. The hardest part for Higgins' development will be will be getting on the field because he's sitting behind Chris Hogan and Aaron Dobson on the depth chart, although he should pass Dobson fairly quick.
- Jonathan Williams, RB, Arkansas: Williams was cleared by his doctors and put up a 4.63 40 with a 1.57 10-split, a 6.97 3-cone, and 4.29 shuttle on his Pro Day. Williams has value as a plug and play guy at the position and could immediately challenge LeGarrette Blount for the early-down value. Williams is a big body at 5'11" 220 and has very good agility in order to cut into the right rushing lane. His open field speed is average overall but he is quick to the hole. The holes he will play in the NFL will be smaller than the ones he had in college since Arkansas is likely sending 3 OL to the NFL in 2016, but I think his traits are transferrable to the Pro Game overall. Williams is also a better pass blocker and receiver than people give credit for, but for the most part I think he and Dion Lewis could form a solid duo at the position for the next couple years.
Just Missed the Cut: Louisiana Tech RB Kenneth Dixon, Temple DT Matt Ioannidis, Maryland CB/S Sean Davis, BYU DE Bronson Kaufusi, Texas A&M OT Germain Ifedi
Of these 10 players, I believe Dan Vitale, Joe Haeg, Cyrus Jones, Justin Simmons and Hassan Ridgeway have the best shot at getting drafted by the Patriots. The Patriots like versatility, which means having players that can line up in multiple spots in case of injuries or they like a certain look. The Patriots don't need very many contributions from their rookie class given how stacked their current roster looks, but there is a need to acquire players that fill out roster needs in the future. The Patriots are looking at RB, WR, OT, DT, CB, and LB although I suspect they won't take a player for at least one of the positions given how few draft resources they have in the Top 100. For the Patriots, the real draft starts on Friday. As a side note, I think you can assume that the Patriots will draft Navy QB Keenan Reynolds at some point on the 3rd day of the draft.