As we count down to the 2021 NFL Draft, might I ask how many times have you sat on the edge of the sofa/bed/chair/kitchen counter top and willed a pick into existence?
And IF your pick came true, please get in touch so that we can bottle your magic! (Okay I jest).
Mock drafting is like the new sugar addiction around this time. Even as someone that barely knows anything about most of the college players, I too fell down that mock draft simulator rabbit hole.
Why not? It’s just for fun right?
But, here we go again getting emotionally invested.
Is there anything as mentally taxing as being a fan? (Okay yes… but you get my point here.) The relationships we form are extensive, and oh so one sided.
Last year, I was hoping the Patriots picked Adam Trautman from Dayton. I will admit that with this one I was not fully emotionally invested. I was more interested in just drafting a good tight end. When they did not choose Trautman, I got over it pretty quickly. However, he put down some decent numbers in 2020 playing 15 games for the New Orleans Saints with 16 targets and 15 receptions 171 receiving yards 1 touchdown and zero drops. (Statistics courtesy of ESPN)
Stings juuust a little bit, huh?
And although I have nothing against the guy, and think he is due a successful NFL career (perhaps on a different team, though) the N’Keal Harry first round pick has not gone down too well in Patriots Nation fan base.
Shall I mention the fifth-round kicker pick?
Okay maybe not, let’s not stir tempers shall we…
Will Coach Belichick use another first round pick on a wide receiver? Once bitten, twice shy? Then again, with the high draft price of a potentially needed quarterback is that really something we have to worry about?
How many of you think Bill sits laughing when they have to announce a Division-II draft choice and fans all have that ‘confused puppy, head cocked to one side’ look about them.
- Ep. 197: Fields to Pittsburgh, Still Available Free Agentsby Full Press Coverage on March 18, 2024 at 8:00 pm
Okay not really but you know, I’m sure he has a great sense of humour.
I know several fans are crushing hard on Justin Fields. Personally I don’t see the Patriots getting him (gasp!) It is for a multitude of reasons; and not because I think they shouldn’t, more that they won’t. (but hey, what do I know?) Just to be supportive, I have already made sure these dudes have their freezers stocked with draft pick consoling ice cream. (Sorry guys, couldn’t help myself.)
And don’t worry Patriots fans, they will get the last laugh when Pat Freiermuth of Penn State (yes, my current draft crush) gets snatched up and I’m crying into my 2am (that U.S./U.K time difference is such a ...) bowl of peanut butter and chocolate melting sweet and lushness…
Now, those of you reading this who are clued in and educated in the college football way, will possibly mock me (see what I did there.. haha) as not knowing much but hey I freely admit my shortcomings. To be honest, we could analyze for years and still not get the full ‘Belichickian list’ correct, but that doesn’t matter does it?
This is all part of the experience, as some like to call it. Get away from the rat race, or no race, or whatever it is you are doing to survive at the moment and wish for the next big thing to become scooped up by the Patriots in the 2021 NFL draft.
Now where did I put that big board print out…
-Clare L Cooper is a special contributor and columnist for Full Press Coverage Patriots and a writer for Pats Propoganda(.com). Her New England Patriots insight can be found @FPC_Patriots and her podcast ‘A Clare Perspective’ can be found on Apple podcasts, Spotify, Spreaker and most places from which you download your podcasts.