Ole Miss Football 2018 Mock Draft: Where will the Rebels go?
47. Round 3, No. 95 overall. LB. Ole Miss. Marquis Haynes. 3. player
The Patriots are fresh off a Super Bowl appearance, but their defense needs some shoring up. That’s particularly true of their pass rush, which included the late addition of veteran James Harrison last season. He provided a quick fix, but the Pats are going to need a long-term option off the edge.
Linebacker Marquis Haynes fits their need for a dominant edge rusher who could take over for Harrison immediately. His explosive first step and max speed off the edge make him a dangerous defender. Haynes has already proven his effectiveness in the trenches against some of the best talent in the country in the SEC. In four seasons at Ole Miss, Haynes racked up 32 sacks, 47.5 tackles for a loss and forced 12 fumbles.
No one finds value in the mid to late rounds better than the New England Patriots. Haynes is a significantly stronger pass rusher than he is run defender, but Bill Belichick always finds a way to put his players in a position to succeed. For Haynes, that’s most likely as a third down specialist, but the potential for an increased role in the future is their for the taking.