2018 NFL Draft: New England Patriots 7-round mock
By Conor Dorney
Round 3 (Pick 95): Akrum Wadley, RB, Iowa
With Rex Burkhead and Dion Lewis scheduled to hit free agency this offseason, running back seems to be one of the most likely positions of need for the Pats heading into the draft. Luckily for New England, the 2018 running backs class is one of the strongest in recent memory. Depending on how the board falls, it’s also possible that the Patriots address running back even earlier than the third round.
One name that makes a lot of sense at this spot is the teammate of first-round mock selection Josh Jackson, Iowa’s Akrum Wadley. Wadley was a star in the backfield over the past two seasons for the Hawkeyes, amassing over 1,300 yards from scrimmage in both 2016 and 2017. At just 5-foot-9 and 188 pounds, what Wadley lacks in size, he makes up for in outstanding shiftiness and agility.
A star performer in practice at the Senior Bowl, it even appears that the Patriots already have an interest in adding Wadley to the fold, according to WalterFootball’s Charlie Campbell.
Iowa RB Akrum Wadley says the Bucs, Patriots, Seahawks, Chargers, Rams, Giants and Jets have shown the most interest in him thus far https://t.co/3fmZ4JXEpw
— Charlie Campbell (@DraftCampbell) January 24, 2018
Tacklers rarely get a clean look at Wadley, even in the backfield, as he regularly makes the first defender miss with his explosive lateral agility. Outside the tackles, Wadley can turn the corner on a defense with ease and displays a keen awareness for setting up blocks on long runs. He gets to top speed quickly and despite little power, he displays enough of it, with some balance, to break through arm tackles.
Wadley doesn’t have great patience or vision in between the tackles and is pretty easily dominated in pass protection due to his slight frame, but his pass catching ability and home run threat potential could make him a great weapon in the Pats’ offensive attack.