2015 NFL Mock Draft: New England Patriots Select DT Carl Davis at No. 32

The Patriots are the wildest of wild-cards when it comes to projecting draft activity.  In fact, my gut on this team is that they trade out of the first round, as is their M.O., however as that is not a possibility here I also do not see this team drafting for need - not that they have a great many of those (amazing what a franchise QB can do for you).

Nevertheless, they lost a great team captain this last offseason in the person of Vince Wilfork.  They sort of preemptively took care of this by drafting Dominique Easley last season, so you wouldn't think they'd spend another #1 on a DT this year.

But that's what they want you not to think.  Since they run basically whatever they want to from week to week in terms of 4-3 vs. 3-4, there is always room for a big, strong, talented interior lineman, and Carl Davis certainly fits this mold.

Davis is 6'5'', 320 lbs and every bit a first round talent.  The knock on him is that he doesn't always play inspired, though there were similar question marks surrounding Wilfork back in '04.

The upside is that he is a strong, powerful player who doesn't get moved around very easily.  In the Patriot system where he won't be required to make a critical impact right away, he goes to a place where he has a chance to flourish for a long time...