The New England Patriots have had a rough offseason so far, losing Tom Brady, Kyle Van Noy, and Jamie Collins. It will not be easy for them to re-tool in a way that will help them remain a Super Bowl contender. In order to do so, Bill Belichick will have to get creative in free agency and the 2020 NFL Draft.
Replacing Brady won’t be easy, but the loss of two starting linebackers is going to be a rough blow as well. New England currently holds the No. 23 overall pick in the draft. They could very well choose to go linebacker with that selection.
NFL.com’s new mock draft has the Patriots taking LSU linebacker Patrick Queen with the No. 23 overall pick. Here is their explanation for why Belichick should go that direction.
Figuring out what Bill Belichick is going to do isn’t getting any easier. However, Queen is tough and fast. He could become the new leader of the defense by next year.
Queen would be a massive addition for the Patriots. He was a stud in the LSU defense and could provide the team with an immediate starter and an immediate impact player. There is no question that he is NFL ready.
Last season with the Tigers, Queen racked up 85 total tackles to go along with three sacks, one interception, and two defended passes. Those numbers would look really good in the Patriots’ defense.
At this point in time, many are comparing him to former Carolina Panthers star and current Washington Redskins linebacker Thomas Davis. While Davis may not be a star anymore, he was an absolute monster at one point in time. If he reaches that comparison, Queen would be the perfect pick for the Patriots.
Standing in at 6-foot-0 and 230 pounds, Queen brings athleticism and speed to the field. New England would be upgrading their defense with this move. Belichick could go offense, but going with a guy like Queen to help replace Van Noy and Collins would make even more sense for the Patriots.
Expect to see Patrick Queen be a consideration for the Patriots at No. 23. He may end up being drafted before then, but if he is available, it wouldn’t be shocking to see him end up in New England.
