National Football League

New England Patriots draft preview: Belichick has holes to fill?

Updated Mar. 4, 2020 11:35 p.m. ET

Ross Jones

The New England Patriots hold the No. 32 overall pick in the NFL Draft. In our 32-team preview series, FOXSports.com takes a look at their roster post-free agency and delivers a plan of attack for the last day in April.

The last time head coach Bill Belichick spent a first-round pick on a skill position was in 2006 when he took running back Laurence Maroney.

Since then, he's addressed the offensive side of the ball (offensive tackle Nate Solder, '11) just once in the first round.

The Patriots' first pick last season was spent on defensive tackle Dominique Easley. Easley, who finished the season on the injured reserve, could be counted on to assist on the heels of longtime nose tackle Vince Wilfork's departure. Aside from Easley, the Patriots have defensive tackles Alan Branch, Sealver Siliga and Joe Vellano on the roster.

While some the core of the Patriots' offensive line remains intact (Solder, Bryan Stork and Sebastian Vollmer), the guard position is up in the air.

Furthermore, the departures of cornerbacks Darrelle Revis and Brandon Browner leave some believing that the team might want to add a premier prospect alongside Kyle Arrington, Logan Ryan and Super Bowl hero Malcolm Butler.

The Patriots made a savvy offseason acquisition last season, signing wide receiver Brandon LaFell. LaFell, who had 74 receptions for, 953 yards and 7 touchdowns in 2014, will play alongside Julian Edelman, Danny Amendola, Bryan Tims and Josh Boyce.

Though, it seems like a longshot, the Patriots could draft a wide receiver in the first round as they used top-30 visits on Louisville's DeVante Parker, USC's Nelson Agholor and five other players at the position.

Positions of need: DL, OG, CB

Three options to consider at No. 32

Eddie Goldman, DT, Florida State: Goldman might still be pretty raw as a prospect, but the 6-foot-4, 325-pound defensive lineman's ceiling is towering. Goldman is a versatile defensive linemen, who played in three different schemes in three years at Tallahassee. Goldman is athletic for a big man, clocking a ridiculous 4.51 in the 40-yard-dash.

Eric Rowe, CB, Utah: A four-year starter for Kyle Whittingham's Utes, Rowe possesses a 6-foot-1, 205-pound frame and the ability to disrupt receivers off the line of scrimmage. Several talent evaluators praise Rowe for his versatility as he played both safety and cornerback at Utah.

Nelson Agholor, WR, USC: Agholor, a big-play threat, could fit the brand of Patriots' football. The 6-foot-1, 198-pound wide receiver has drawn comparisons to Reggie Wayne and his former wide receivers coach Tee Martin raves about Agholor's obsession for perfection. Agholor also presents great value as he was a superb punt and kick returner at Southern California.