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New England Patriots full 2018 NFL mock draft

By John Buhler

MOBILE, AL - JANUARY 27: Marcus Davenport No. 93 of the South team rushes during the Reese's Senior Bowl at Ladd-Peebles Stadium on January 27, 2018 in Mobile, Alabama. (Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images)
MOBILE, AL - JANUARY 27: Marcus Davenport No. 93 of the South team rushes during the Reese's Senior Bowl at Ladd-Peebles Stadium on January 27, 2018 in Mobile, Alabama. (Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images) /
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FAYETTEVILLE, AR – NOVEMBER 5: Taven Bryan No. 93 of the Florida Gators looks to the sidelines during a game against the Arkansas Razorbacks at Razorback Stadium on November 5, 2016 in Fayetteville, Arkansas. The Razorbacks defeated the Gators 31-10. (Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images)
FAYETTEVILLE, AR – NOVEMBER 5: Taven Bryan No. 93 of the Florida Gators looks to the sidelines during a game against the Arkansas Razorbacks at Razorback Stadium on November 5, 2016 in Fayetteville, Arkansas. The Razorbacks defeated the Gators 31-10. (Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images) /

Second Round

While it does probably still sting to trade away a budding star quarterback in Jimmy Garoppolo to the San Francisco 49ers, New England does have the 49ers’ second-round pick this year. Should this guy fall out of the first round, it would make a ton of sense for the Patriots to go with a proven SEC player at a position group of need. New England takes Florida Gators defensive tackle Taven Bryan at No. 43.

Bryan is 6-foot-4, 291 pounds, the ideal build for the new era of interior defensive linemen we are seeing across the league. In three years at Florida, Bryan had 62 tackles (30 solo, 32 assists), 10.5 for a loss of yardage, 5.5 quarterback sacks, three fumble recoveries, a pass breakup, an interception and a force fumble. After playing in a chaotic environment in Florida the last few years, Bryan would certainly welcome the addition of playing for the best system in the NFL in New England.

One offensive tackle prospect that is sure to go in the first two days of the draft is Martinis Rankin of the Mississippi State Bulldogs. Given on what the Patriots do about left tackle Nate Solder in his impending free agency, the Patriots may want to look for a long-term solution at that position. Rankin grades out as a long-time NFL starter in this league. He’s the pick at No. 63 at the end of round two.

Rankin is 6-foot-4, 308 pounds. While he is a bit undersized for a prototypical left tackle, Rankin could at worst be a swing tackle or kick in to guard if need be at the next level. He has played for a highly motivating coach in Dan Mullen in three years in Starkville. Mullen knows how to coach up his players. This is a guy that Patriots offensive line coach Dante Scarnecchia would definitely like to work with these next few years.

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