The Patriots managed to figure out their early season defensive woes in the second half, but they should still spend their first pick addressing this side of the ball.
Cornerback could be a top priority, especially if Malcolm Smith leaves in free agency. But one could make the argument a true edge-bending pass-rusher is more important.
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I’ve seen some big boards listing Oklahoma EDGE Ogbonnia Okoronkwo as a top-20 prospect, which would make this pick at No. 31 quite valuable. Indeed, Okoronkwo’s 17 sacks the last two seasons, including eight this year, would be a nice addition to a Pats team lacking a pure pass-rusher.
In turn, this would ease any pressure off New England’s secondary, allowing head coach Bill Belichick to target lesser-known corners later in the NFL Draft.
We hope you enjoyed Niner Noise’s latest NFL Draft mock. And if you’re not sure of the selection or think the draft will go differently, please chime in on the comments section.
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