Patriots big board for Day 2 of the 2022 NFL Draft

By drafting Cole Strange in the first round, the Patriots filled one of the most glaring needs on their depth chart at the guard position. As they turn their attention to Day 2, they draft is still deep at a number of other spots where the team has holes.

Thanks to their trade with the Kansas City Chiefs Thursday night, the Patriots enter Day 2 with three more picks in the top-100. They’re currently scheduled to pick once in the second round (54th overall) and twice in the third round (85th overall, 94th overall).

What names should Patriots fans know leading up to those picks? It’s time to reset the draft board heading into Day 2.

Defensive line

Oct 9, 2021; Dallas, Texas, USA; Oklahoma Sooners defensive lineman Perrion Winfrey (8) pressures Texas Longhorns quarterback Casey Thompson (11) during the game at the Cotton Bowl. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports

The Patriots have taken defensive linemen on Day 2 of the draft in two of the last three years and six of the last eight. After they ranked 25th against the run last year, there’s no reason to think that trend won’t continue.

Last year, the Patriots traded up in the second round to take Christian Barmore 38th overall. Will they do something similar this year, or wait to see who falls in a deeper draft? Here’s the top names heading into Day 2, and which pick the Patriots may need to use to get them.

–NT Travis Jones, UConn (trade up)
–DL Logan Hall, Houston (54)
–DL Perrion Winfrey, Oklahoma (54)
–DL Phidarian Mathis, Alabama (54)
–DL Josh Paschal, Kentucky (trade between 54 and 85)
–DT DeMarvin Leal, Texas A&M (trade between 54 and 85)
–DE Cameron Thomas, San Diego State (trade between 54 and 85)
–DE Kingsley Enagbare (trade between 54 and 85)

Linebacker

Jan 10, 2022; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Georgia Bulldogs quarterback Stetson Bennett (13) is pressured by Alabama Crimson Tide linebacker Christian Harris (8) in the fourth quarter during the 2022 CFP college football national championship game at Lucas Oil Stadium. Credit: Marc Lebryk-USA TODAY Sports

Linebacker was viewed as one of the Patriots’ biggest needs heading into this year’s draft. It also happens to be one of the deepest positions in this class.

The board played out slightly unexpected on Thursday night, with projected second round pick Quay Walker being the first player selected 22nd overall. Only one other player – Devin Lloyd – went in the first round, leaving plenty of talent available.

–MLB Nakobe Dean, Georgia (trade up)
–OLB David Ojabo, Michigan (trade up)
–OLB Arnold Ebiketie, Penn State (trade up)
–OLB Boye Mafe, Minnesota (trade up)
–MLB Christian Harris, Alabama (54)
–MLB Leo Chenal, Wisconsin (54)
–MLB Chad Muma, Wyoming (54)
–OLB Nik Bonnito, Oklahoma (54)
–OLB Drake Jackson, USC (trade between 54 and 85)
–MLB Troy Andersen, Montana State (85)
–MLB Channing Tindall, Georgia (85)
–MLB Brian Asamoah, Oklahoma (85 or 94)
–OLB Myjai Sanders, Cincinnati (85 or 94)
–MLB Darian Beavers, Cincinnati (94)

Cornerback

Dec 4, 2021; Cincinnati, Ohio, USA; Houston Cougars cornerback Marcus Jones (8) prior to the game against the Cincinnati Bearcats during the American Athletic Conference championship at Nippert Stadium. Credit: Katie Stratman-USA TODAY Sports

The Patriots passed on a number of top cornerbacks in the first round. Is it because they like the Day 2 options at the position? Here’s who they’ll be looking at on the board tomorrow.

–Andrew Booth Jr., Clemson (trade up)
–Kyler Gordon, Washington (trade up)
–Roger McCreary, Auburn (54)
–Tariq Woolen, UTSA (trade between 54 and 85)
–Coby Bryant, Cincinnati (85)
–Cam Taylor-Britt, Nebraska (85)
–Marcus Jones, Houston (85 or 94)
–Zyon McCollum, Sam Houston State (85 or 94)
–Martin Emerson, Mississippi State (85 or 94)
–Alontae Taylor, Tennessee (85 or 94)
–Jalyn Armour-Davis, Alabama (94)

Safety

Oct 23, 2021; University Park, Pennsylvania, USA; Penn State Nittany Lions safety Jaquan Brisker (1) reacts to a defensive play against the Illinois Fighting Illini during overtime at Beaver Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Rich Barnes-USA TODAY Sports

There was a run on safeties late in the first round, but there are still players who project as fits for the Patriots still on the board. Along with defensive line, the safety position is one the Patriots have historically focused on on Day 2.

–FS Jaquan Brisker, Penn State (trade up)
–SS Jalen Pitre, Baylor (trade up)
–FS Nick Cross, Maryland (85 or 94)
–SS Bryan Cook, Cincinnati (94)
–FS Kerby Joseph, Illinois (94)

Wide receiver

TUSCALOOSA, ALABAMA – SEPTEMBER 25: John Metchie III #8 of the Alabama Crimson Tide pulls in this reception as he is tackled by Camron Harrell #29 of the Southern Miss Golden Eagles during the first half at Bryant-Denny Stadium on September 25, 2021 in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

As wild as the first round was at times, the wide receiver position ended up being chalk. The six players expected to go in the top 32 picks all went, albeit in a slightly different order.

While wide receiver projects mainly as a luxury need for the Patriots overall, Jakobi Meyers’ expiring contract could make things a little more pressing at the slot receiver positions. There are some top-tier slot options among the players expected to be taken at the position on Day 2.

–Skyy Moore, Western Michigan (trade up)
–George Pickens, Georgia (trade up)
–Christian Watson, North Dakota State (54)
–John Metchie, Alabama (54)
–Alec Pierce, Cincinnati (trade between 54 and 85)
–Calvin Austin, Memphis (trade between 54 and 85)
–Jalen Tolbert, South Alabama (85)
–Wan’Dale Robinson, Kentucky (85)
–Khalil Shakir, Boise State (85 or 94)
–David Bell, Purdue (85 or 94)
–Justyn Ross, Clemson (94)
–Romeo Doubs, Nevada (94)

Running back

Sep 25, 2021; Arlington, Texas, USA; Texas A&M Aggies running back Isaiah Spiller (28) in action during the game between the Arkansas Razorbacks and the Texas A&M Aggies at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports

So far, no running backs have been taken in this draft. That’s not much of a surprise, as none of the players at the position had consensus first round grades heading in.

Will the Patriots be involved as the top backs start coming off the board? It’s a position of need – both short and long term. Their early-down back duo of Damien Harris and Rhamondre Stevenson is one of the best in the league, but there’s not much depth behind them and Harris is in a contract year. There’s also a potential opening for the pass catching back job, with James White returning from injury and Brandon Bolden now is Las Vegas.

–Breece Hall, Iowa State (trade up)
–Kenneth Walker, Michigan State (trade up)
–Isaiah Spiller, Texas A&M (54)
–James Cook, Georgia  (85 or 94)
–Brian Robinson, Alabama (94)
–Dameon Pierce, Florida (94)
–Zamir White, Georgia (94)

Offensive line

LEXINGTON, KENTUCKY – SEPTEMBER 18: Darian Kinnard #70 of the Kentucky Wildcats against Chattanooga Mocs at Kroger Field on September 18, 2021 in Lexington, Kentucky. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)

Would the Patriots double up on offensive line picks in the top-100? They generally attack the position in the draft – they’ve taken multiple offensive linemen in 14 of the 22 drafts overseen by Bill Belichick.

Cole Strange fills the hole at guard, but there’s still a more long-term need at tackle with Isaiah Wynn entering a contract year. There are also some versatile offensive expected to go late on Day 3 who could offer multi-positional depth.

–OT Bernhard Raimann, Central Michigan (trade up)
–OT Daniel Faalele, Minnesota (54)
–OT Nicholas Petit-Frere, Ohio State (trade between 54 and 85)
–OL Darian Kinnard, Kentucky (trade between 54 and 85)
–G Dylan Parham (trade between 54 and 85)
–OL Jamaree Salyer, Georgia (trade between 54 and 85)
–OT Abraham Lucas, Washington State (85)
–IOL Cameron Jurgens, Nebraska (85 or 94)
–OL Luke Goedeke, Central Michigan (85 or 94)
–OL Zach Tom, Wake Forest (94)
–OT Max Mitchell, Louisiana (94)
–OT Rasheed Walker (94)