The New England Patriots have the 31st pick in the upcoming NFL Draft, and MassLive's Mark Daniels is projecting them to make a pick that could surprise fans.
Daniels predicted the Patriots would select University of Georgia linebacker CJ Allen with their first-round pick. The Patriots already have Robert Spillane and Christian Elliss, who had a strong season, starting 13 games. The Patriots also signed K.J. Britt this offseason, so linebacker does not seem like a priority.
"If the Patriots want to upgrade their linebacker unit, they could add one of the best prospects in this draft," wrote Daniels on Friday. "An All-American, Allen finished with 88 tackles, 2.5 sacks and four pass breakups last season. He’s your prototypical green-dot linebacker, capable of setting up the defense before each play. A captain and leader, Allen would make the Patriots’ linebacker depth better, along with Robert Spillane and Christian Elliss. The team lost two backup linebackers, Jack Gibbens and Jahlani Tavai, this offseason."
Allen is a great prospect who has the talent to be a star in the NFL, but he may not be able to make a huge impact right away for the Patriots, simply because the Patriots already have players at the position. However, the pick makes a ton of sense when given some thought.
Elliss will be a free agent after next season, as will Britt. Spillane will be 32 after next season, and the Patriots could move on from him after the season without a huge dead cap hit. Even if they hang on to him for 2027, he will be a free agent after. Drafting Allen would give the Patriots a long-term option to command their defense.
Mike Vrabel has already made it clear that he does not believe in drafting for need. Instead, he wants the Patriots to select the best player available. Allen plays a valuable position, and it's one that the Patriots will need to fill soon. Drafting Allen now assures the Patriots will have a plan at linebacker after this season.
Not only would Allen prevent the Patriots from having a hole at linebacker soon, but he could be an upgrade over current options when his time comes. He was a finalist for the Butkus Award and had a great season at the University of Georgia. The Patriots are not going to draft for need, and if Allen is the best player available, he could be a great addition for the Patriots.
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