New England Patriots 7-round 2021 NFL mock draft builds new-look offense

Late in the NFL Draft, the Patriots have traditionally been great at identifying prospects who don’t necessarily fit a traditional mold for the position and are thus being undervalued for what they offer. That description fits Ar’Darius Washington perfectly.

At only 5-8, 179 pounds, Washington is substantially smaller than a traditional safety. However, he plays the position much bigger than he’s listed with plenty of pop in his game. Moreover, while he does need to be coached on his eye discipline, he has the athleticism to make plays and be a valuable piece on defense but, at the very least, a strong special teams player.

We’re not done with the offense just yet as the Patriots simply need as many quality options in the passing game as they can get their hands on. So they look to UNC’s Dyami Brown here. While not a nuanced route-runner, Brown is an effective downfield threat with the ability to take the top off of a defense and break off big plays. New England doesn’t have that consistently on the roster right now, so Brown could be a huge asset as a vertical threat.

Admittedly, there’s a good chance we don’t see Palaie Gaoteote IV in the 2021 NFL Draft. He made the decision to enter the NCAA transfer portal early in December, which seemingly indicates his plans to play another year of college football. But if he were to declare, he could be a great late-round pickup. He’s a highly explosive player who needs to be honed in and coached discipline in his angles and moments to attack but that’s the type of coachable asset you want in the sixth round.

Last but not least, we have another addition to the offensive line. It remains to be seen if the Patriots will keep Joe Thuney after slapping the franchise tag on him this season and Robert Hainsey wouldn’t be a replacement. He would, however, give the team depth where they need it.

Hainsey has performed well at Notre Dame and has received some of the best college coaching possible at the position. While he needs to get into an NFL strength and conditioning program, he has upside to be a potential backup guard at the next level.