Patriots 2021 mock draft post-Cam Newton signing

Round 4, Pick 117 – Monty Rice, LB, Georgia

D’Onta Hightower will be a free agent next offseason and how willing Belichick will be to hand out another contract to a 31-year-old linebacker remains to be seen.

It would be a massive ask of a fourth-round pick to step into the void left by a two-time Pro Bowler who was been critical to the Patriots’ recent success if New England does indeed let him go in 2021.

Undersized at 6’1″ and 235 pounds but athletically impressive, Rice fits where the modern-day NFL is going at the linebacker position. He has impressive lateral quickness, can get downhill rapidly as an inside pass rusher and can hold his own in man coverage with running backs.

Rice was 10th in the SEC in total tackles last year with 89 while tallying three passes defensed. The special teams upside he brings would surely be highly valued by Belichick.

The Patriots have had a recent success story with a lower-round linebacker in Elandon Roberts, who blossomed from sixth-round pick to starter before leaving for the Miami Dolphins this offseason.

Kyle van Noy joining Roberts in signing with the Dolphins should see Ja’Whaun Bentley, a fifth-round pick two years ago, promoted to a starting role. Belichick has rarely shown hesitation in thrusting young players into the spotlight and, should Hightower depart, it would be no surprise to see him hand a shot to a rookie like Rice.