2016 NFL mock draft: New England Patriots pick Sterling Shepard
Even though New England didn’t get to pick until the 60th overall selection in the draft, they managed to get a steal with the Oklahoma star receiver.
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Hill: The Patriots seemingly have a need at wide receiver every offseason, but this is the year to take advantage of a good class of prospects. Julian Edelman and Danny Amendola will be in their 30s after 2016, and the newly acquired Chris Hogan has yet to prove his worth. The team also has a backup for Edelman in Keshawn Martin, and former Texans and Titans receiver Nate Washington.
It was a tough decision with Rutgers WR Leonte Carroo and Notre Dame WR Will Fuller on the board, but Oklahoma WR Sterling Shepard makes the most sense for the Patriots. Hogan and Washington will compete with 2013 second-round pick Aaron Dobson for the outside wide receiver role, while Edelman and Martin will serve as the flankers.
Amendola is alone as the slot receiver, though, and he has a massive $5 million base salary and is not considered a roster lock. Shepard is not only the best slot receiver in the draft, he is arguably the best route runner of any prospect and could immediately slide into the Patriots offense as a productive receiver.
While Carroo and Fuller would have an uphill battle for a role in the offense, Shepard could have an immediate impact and become Tom Brady’s new best friend.
Analysis: Shepard may not fill a gigantic need in New England, but the value and scheme fit can’t be ignored. Shepard is one of the best route runners in the draft and has good hands. Although the addition of a wideout like this does spell doom for Amendola, Shepard has the potential to be New England’s top wideout in short order.
Dan’s Top 5 players remaining
- 43. Will Fuller, WR, Notre Dame
- 46. Le’Raven Clark, OT, Texas Tech
- 51. Tyler Boyd, WR, Pittsburgh
- 53. Xavien Howard, CB, Baylor
- 57. Alex Collins, RB, Arkansas
Patriots picks
- 2-60: Sterling Shepard, WR, Oklahoma
- 2-61: Coming Friday
Tomorrow we finish off this year’s SB Nation NFL writers mock draft with the Patriots back up before the Denver Broncos close things out.
Complete draft results:
First round
1. Tennessee Titans - Laremy Tunsil, OT, Ole Miss (Link)
2. Cleveland Browns - Jared Goff, QB, Cal (Link)
3. San Diego Chargers - Jalen Ramsey, DB, Florida State (Link)
4. Dallas Cowboys - Carson Wentz, QB, North Dakota State (Link)
5. Jacksonville Jaguars - Myles Jack, LB, UCLA (Link)
6. Baltimore Ravens - Joey Bosa, DE, Ohio State (Link)
7. San Francisco 49ers - DeForest Buckner, DE, Oregon (Link)
8. Philadelphia Eagles - Ezekiel Elliott, RB, Ohio State (Link)
9. Tampa Bay Buccaneers - Noah Spence, DE, Eastern Kentucky (Link)
10. New York Giants - Ronnie Stanley, OT, Notre Dame (Link)
11. Chicago Bears - Vernon Hargreaves, CB, Florida (Link)
12. New Orleans Saints - A'Shawn Robinson, DT, Alabama (Link)
13. Miami Dolphins - Eli Apple, CB, Ohio State (Link)
14. Oakland Raiders - Jack Conklin, OT, Michigan State (Link)
15. Los Angeles Rams - Mackensie Alexander, CB, Clemson (Link)
16. Detroit Lions - Taylor Decker, OT, Ohio State (Link)
17. Atlanta Falcons - Shaq Lawson, DE, Clemson (Link)
18. Indianapolis Colts - Ryan Kelly, C, Alabama (Link)
19. Buffalo Bills - Reggie Ragland, MLB, Alabama (Link)
20. New York Jets - Darron Lee, LB, Ohio State (Link)
21. Washington - Andrew Billings, DT, Baylor (Link)
22. Houston Texans - Corey Coleman, WR, Baylor (Link)
23. Minnesota Vikings - Josh Doctson, WR, TCU (Link)
24. Cincinnati Bengals - Laquon Treadwell, WR, Ole Miss (Link)
25. Pittsburgh Steelers - William Jackson, CB, Houston (Link)
26. Seattle Seahawks - Jonathan Bullard, DL, Florida (Link)
27. Green Bay Packers - Jarran Reed, DT, Alabama (Link)
28. Kansas City Chiefs - Vernon Butler, DT, Louisiana Tech (Link)
29. Arizona Cardinals - Robert Nkemdiche, DT, Ole Miss (Link)
30. Carolina Panthers - Kevin Dodd, DE, Clemson (Link)
31. Denver Broncos - Paxton Lynch, QB, Memphis (Link)
Second round
32. Cleveland Browns - Michael Thomas, WR, Ohio State (Link)
33. Tennessee Titans - Chris Jones, DT, Mississippi State (Link)
34. Dallas Cowboys - Sheldon Rankins, DT, Louisville (Link)
35. San Diego Chargers- Cody Whitehair, G, Kansas State (Link)
36. Baltimore Ravens - Kendall Fuller, CB, Virginia Tech (Link)
37. San Francisco 49ers - Jason Spriggs, OT, Indiana (Link)
38. Jacksonville Jaguars - Leonard Floyd, OLB, Georgia (Link)
39. Tampa Bay Buccaneers - Emmanuel Ogbah, DE, Oklahoma State (Link)
40. New York Giants - Karl Joseph, S, West Virginia (Link)
41. Chicago Bears - Derrick Henry, RB, Alabama (Link)
42. Miami Dolphins - Jaylon Smith, LB, Notre Dame (Link)
43. Los Angeles Rams - Vonn Bell, S, Ohio State (Link)
44. Oakland Raiders - Darian Thompson, S, Boise State (Link)
45. Los Angeles Rams - Connor Cook, QB, Michigan State (Link)
46. Detroit Lions - Jeremy Cash, S, Duke (Link)
47. New Orleans Saints - Joshua Garnett, G, Stanford (Link)
48. Indianapolis Colts - Austin Johnson, DT, Penn State (Link)
49. Buffalo Bills - Kamalei Correa, DE/OLB, Boise State (Link)
50. Atlanta Falcons - Keanu Neal, S, Florida (Link)
51. New York Jets - Shon Coleman, OT, Auburn (Link)
52. Houston Texans - Hunter Henry, TE, Arkansas (Link)
53. Washington - Nick Martin, C, Notre Dame (Link)
54. Minnesota Vikings - Su'a Cravens, LB/S, USC (Link)
55. Cincinnati Bengals - Kenny Clark, DT, UCLA (Link)
56. Seattle Seahawks - Germain Ifedi, OT, Texas A&M (Link)
57. Green Bay Packers - Joshua Perry, LB, Ohio State (Link)
58. Pittsburgh Steelers - Javon Hargrave, DT, South Carolina State
59. Kansas City Chiefs - Artie Burns, CB, Miami
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