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New England Patriots: 5 First-round targets in the 2018 NFL Draft

By Michael Johnson

JACKSONVILLE, FL - DECEMBER 30: Lamar Jackson #8 of the Louisville Cardinals takes the field prior to the TaxSlayer Bowl against the Mississippi State Bulldogs at EverBank Field on December 30, 2017 in Jacksonville, Florida. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
JACKSONVILLE, FL - DECEMBER 30: Lamar Jackson #8 of the Louisville Cardinals takes the field prior to the TaxSlayer Bowl against the Mississippi State Bulldogs at EverBank Field on December 30, 2017 in Jacksonville, Florida. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /
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PULLMAN, WA – SEPTEMBER 09: Leighton Vander Esch #38 and Durrant Miles #91 of the Boise State Broncos apply pressure to quarterback Luke Falk #4 of the Washington State Cougars in the first half at Martin Stadium on September 9, 2017 in Pullman, Washington. (Photo by William Mancebo/Getty Images)
PULLMAN, WA – SEPTEMBER 09: Leighton Vander Esch #38 and Durrant Miles #91 of the Boise State Broncos apply pressure to quarterback Luke Falk #4 of the Washington State Cougars in the first half at Martin Stadium on September 9, 2017 in Pullman, Washington. (Photo by William Mancebo/Getty Images) /

3. Leighton Vander Esch, LB, Boise State

The front office did a great job beefing up their front seven by trading for Danny Shelton. However, there’s a huge void at linebacker for the Patriots, and a player like Boise State’s Leighton Vander Esch is ideally suited for the Patriots. Vander Esch is a truck playing linebacker with enough speed and power to mow down anyone in his path.

The 6-4, 256-pound backer does more than just take on guards and eat running backs, however. He brings versatility as a player who drop into coverage smoothly while having the ability to line up on the edge and rush the quarterback. With so many tools in his arsenal it’s like he was born to play for the Patriots.

There’s no reason to believe that the Mountain West Defensive Player of the Year isn’t on the board for the Patriots at No. 23. What’s more intriguing about Vander Esch is that he’s still raw, so his ceiling has yet to be reached. Given time, Vander Esch could become the type of impact player Jerod Mayo was for them. 

2. Harold Landry, EDGE, Boston College

It’s hard to imagine that the Patriots don’t miss Chandler Jones, who has looked like a Hall of Fame player since being traded to the Arizona Cardinals. Well, with an underrated prospect who has top-10 talent potentially falling to them in Harold Landry, they won’t have to miss him anymore.

With the signing of Adrian Clayborn it may not seem like the need for a defensive end is pressing, but it is. Their Super Bowl LII loss had a lot to do with the lack of pass rush which allowed Nick Foles to look more like Tom Brady than Tom Brady.

Landry has been compared to both Vic Beasley and Von Miller thanks to his ability to get to the passer. The latter may seem like a far fetched comparison, but with the way Landry jets off the ball and with his relentless pursuit, there’s no reason to believe he isn’t a double-digit sack guy. For the Patriots, there’s Trey Flowers and Clayborn already in-tow, so Landry can be used as a specialist, which would give the Patriots depth at the position. 

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