2020 NFL Draft: Patriots 7-round mock following playoff exit
By Randy Gurzi
After sitting out the fifth round, the Patriots are back on the clock with the first of their two sixth-round selections. They continue to add to the offense here, landing an explosive playmaker in Denzel Mims from Baylor. A 6-foot-3, 215-pound receiver with a giant catch radius, Mims has twice hit the 1,000-yard mark for the Bears, including this season when he had 1,020 yards and a career-high 12 touchdowns.
In addition to his long arms, he has excellent speed. Averaging nearly 16-yards per catch in his career, Mims can get deep on teams and make them pay. However, he has a lot of questions when it comes to his route-running and ability to play through contact.
Add to that the fact that Baylor receivers usually don’t translate to the NFL and Mims ends up sliding quite a bit in this mock. But the Patriots are more than willing to give him a shot to catch on.
Another solid pick here as New England uses their second selection in this round on Wake Forst linebacker Justin Strnad. A hard-hitting linebacker, Strnad can get in trouble when going for the big hits.
However, he has a good nose for the ball and another player known for his relentless motor. He won’t get the attention he deserves and has ‘steal’ written all over him.