2019 NFL mock draft: New England Patriots select D’Andre Walker

The New England Patriots find themselves in a familiar position in our Pride of Detroit Community Mock draft: at the end of the first round. Given their unbelievalbe string of success, they have become a mainstay at the end of each round in the NFL Draft... if they don’t trade out of it.

Commenter sterankofan has been waiting patiently for his time on the clock, and to bring the first round of the POD Community Mock to a close, the Patriots have selected Georgie defensive end D’Andre Walker. Here’s sterankofan with the explanation:

“A bit of a no-brainer here, as all Lions fans know the Pats lost Trey Flowers. Walker, the 6-foot-2, 251 pound prospect, continues a run started last year, when Belichick took Kirby Smart’s Sony Michel and Isaiah Wynn in the first round a year ago. Bill loves to take prospects from coaches he respects. When Walker was finally inserted into the starting lineup at Georgia, he delivered 11 tackles for a loss and 7.5 sacks.

Walker is powerfully built with good first three steps and plays low with good leverage. He’s capable of dropping into space or exploding towards the QB. And he’s had excellent production over his last two seasons.

He is not a natural knee bender, more of a waist bender and can be duck footed. He needs to develop better instincts and work on his open field technique. His worst tape was likely the Alabama game.

The Pats may well go with a WR at this spot, but given the one I wanted was off the board, this seemed the next best option.”

Catch up on all of the picks with our Community Mock Draft Tracker