This is the Patriots’ selection, so odds are that come draft night, it won’t actually belong to them. Bill Belichick loves to trade draft picks and armed with six selections in the first three rounds, he won’t be afraid to move up and down the board as he pleases.
However, in this mock, we’re not projecting any trades. So, I’m going to have the Patriots take a player that seems like a guy they would love. And that’s Temple’s Rock Ya-Sin.
Ya-Sin only played one year at Temple after transferring from Presbyterian College, but he was excellent in his time with the Owls. He broke up 12 passes and grabbed two picks while playing tough, physical defense. He was a team leader and earned one of the coveted low-digit numbers that the players at Temple give to the top leaders.
Ya-Sin had a good outing at the combine and should be in consideration as a late first-round option. The Patriots will love his intangibles and they could have a need at corner depending on whether or not Jason McCourty comes back. Either way, Ya-Sin makes sense and would continue to give the team great depth in the secondary.
Other options here include a potential safety like Chauncey Gardner-Johnson, an offensive tackle like Greg Little, or a wide receiver if they like a guy like N’Keal Harry or Parris Campbell.