
The Patriots are on a mission to rejoin the playoffs in 2021. That means they need to nail the 2021 NFL Draft to replenish their roster talent.Ā
Seeing Tom Brady reach the Super Bowl with his new team has to give everyone associated with the Patriots mixed feelings. It also will inspire Bill Belichick to make sure New England doesnāt miss the postseason for a second consecutive year.
A big part of the Patriotsā rebuilding process will need to occur through the 2021 NFL Draft. New England doesnāt have a third rounder as a result of their video fiasco with the Bengals. The organization does have picks in every other round with the addition of an extra selection in Round 6.
As usual, itās safe to expect the Patriots to conduct their draft business purely based on their own board. No other franchise in the NFL is more willing to go against conventional wisdom than New England. Predicting Belichickās behavior is difficult, but the following 7-round mock gives fans a roadmap of where the Patriots might be heading.
Patriots fans want to see a franchise quarterback selected at this spot, but that would likely require an expensive trade. Instead, look for Belichick to add arguably the most explosive playmaker in this yearās class to his receiver ranks in 2021.
Toney isnāt getting the same love from draft experts as guys like Devonta Smith, JaāMarr Chase, and even Jaylen Waddle. Thatās largely because he lacks the size to thrive as an outside receiver in the NFL.
The Patriots are going to focus on what Toney can do for their offense. Namely, he can step right in and be a dangerous weapon in the slot. New England needs more guys who can turn mundane plays into explosive touchdowns. That makes Toney a great fit for them in Round 1.