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An ESPN draft analyst says the New England Patriots’ decision Tuesday to deal wide receiver Brandin Cooks to the Los Angeles Rams increases the likelihood that they draft Mike McGlinchey during the 2018 NFL Draft.
The Patriots received the Rams’ 23rd overall pick as part of the Cooks deal, which gives the AFC champions two selections in the first round later this month.
Todd McShay, ESPN’s draft analyst, paired the former Notre Dame Fighting Irish offensive tackle with the Patriots in his newest mock draft, released this morning, writing:
This deal gets New England in the position to take a left tackle. McGlinchey’s NFL comp is Nate Solder, so he’d make sense here.
Solder, a left tackle, signed a four-year, $62 million contract with the New York Giants on March 14.
It’s not a sure thing that McGlinchey will be available at No. 23. Mel Kiper, McShay’s counterpart, has the Baltimore Ravens picking McGlinchey seven spots before the Patriots’ current pick. McGlinchey is also connected to the Los Angeles Chargers in 17 of the 140 mocks I’m tracking for One Foot Down. The Chargers pick at No. 17, although they may be considering taking a quarterback.
One team doing under-the-radar QB work for the draft: The #Chargers. They’ve met with or privately worked out #Wyoming QB Josh Allen, #OU QB Baker Mayfield, and #Louisville QB Lamar Jackson. They’ve done similarly over the past 2-3 years.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) April 4, 2018
The Patriots did have any Notre Dame alumni on their roster when they played the Philadelphia Eagles in this year’s Super Bowl, but they signed one today — Troy Niklas, who overlapped McGlinchey’s time in South Bend by one year: 2013.
The #Patriots have agreed to terms with former #AZCardinals TE Troy Niklas on a 1-year deal, source said. The 2014 2nd round draft pick recently visited New England.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) April 4, 2018
McGlinchey worked out for the Cincinnati Bengals — who currently hold pick No. 21 — on March 27 and visited the Minnesota Vikings -- who have pick No. 30 — today.
Big visit day for the #Vikings: Along with #UT OT Connor Williams, they have #ND OT Mike McGlinchey, #Stanford S Justin Reid, and #UGA LB Lorenzo Carter in today. #Memphis WR Anthony Miller is there tomorrow.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) April 4, 2018
McShay’s updated mock paired former Notre Dame Fighting Irish offensive guard Quenton Nelson with the Chicago Bears, just as Kiper had done one week ago.
The draft analyst wrote:
“Josh Sitton is gone, and Nelson would represent a big upgrade. This continues a promising off-season trend of Chicago giving [Mitch] Trubisky what he needs to succeed.”