With the twenty-eighth pick in the 2011 BGN Mock Draft, JLDawk selects...
J.J. Watt - DE, Wisconsin
The Patriots are a team with very few holes, and they have a history of drafting players that are successful immediately and fill the required holes (i.e. Devin McCourty). In this draft, with the Patriots selecting Ryan Kerrigan at the number 18 spot, who is expected to play OLB in a 3-4 scheme, they still haven't filled the role of a true pass rusher. J.J. Watt can fill this hole.
Watt is a DE from Wisconsin who has great size at 6'6", 290 pounds, and has been described by most scouts as "NFL ready". The Patriots finished 14th in the league in sacks last year with 36.0. Although finishing 14th in sacks isn't too bad, they finished 30th in the league in passing yards given up per game with 258.5 yards, and 19th in yards given up per reception. This is mainly because they couldn't get consistent quarterback pressure because of their lack of a physical and explosive defensive end.
More after the jump...
Watt would create more pressure on the quarterback, resulting in rushed throws and incompletions, and he'd also contribute his fair share of sacks. He has the versatility to thrive as a DE in a 4-3 or 3-4 scheme. The Pats run a 3-4 defense, so Watt would see time at DE almost immediately. In college, he was a 2nd Team All American, 1st Team All Big Ten, and All Big Ten Academic Team. He's also been described as a great person and character, something that is very important to the Patriots organization. His senior year of college, he recorded 62 tackles, 21 TFL, and 7 sacks. And this was while he was being double-teamed and occasionally triple-teamed. He has great explosiveness, which he showcased at the combine by jumping 10 feet in the broad jump and recording a vertical leap of 34 inches. If the saying is true that defense wins championships, then the Patriots are getting back on the right track by making this pick.
I also considered OLB Akeem Ayers, but his stock has been falling and Ryan Kerrigan had been picked earlier which already fills their LB holes. Jonathan Baldwin was another option here, but I felt it was a slight reach. If a DE had been selected at the number 18 pick, I would've looked at RB possibilities as well, because while Danny Woodhead and BenJarvus Green-Ellis were successful last year, I think everyone can agree that they're not a long-term option.
Next on the clock will be Qwest with the Chicago Bears.
Previous Picks: 1 - Nick Fairley 2 - Patrick Peterson 3 - Blaine Gabbert 4 - Cam Newton 5 - Von Miller 6 - Marcell Dareus 7 - Prince Amukamara 8 - A.J. Green 9 - Da'Quan Bowers 10 - Corey Liuget 11 - Robert Quinn 12 - Julio Jones 13 - Tyron Smith 14 - Jimmy Smith 15 - Mark Ingram 16 - Cameron Jordan 17 - Ryan Kerrigan 18 - Anthony Castonzo 19 - Mike Pouncey 20 - Adrian Clayborn 21 - Phil Taylor 22- Stephen Paea 23 - Brandon Harris 24 - Aldon Smith 25 - Gabe Carimi 26 - Torrey Smith 27 - Justin Houston