Our staff has compiled what the top 'experts' are predicting the Patriots will do in the first round of the 2021 NFL Draft where New England holds the 15th pick.

EXPERT: Ryan Wilson, CBS Sports Writer

PICK: GREGORY ROUSSEAU, EDGE, MIAMI

LAST UPDATED: March 2

Wilson's Analysis:
"Rousseau opted out in 2020 but registered 15.5 sacks in 2019. He's still relatively new to the position and will only get better, but it's important to remember that he's not close to a finished product."

Click here for Ryan Wilson's full mock draft.

EXPERT: Charley Casserly, NFL.com Analyst

PICK: KYLE PITTS, TE, FLORIDA

LAST UPDATED: February 26

Morgan's Analysis:
"Pitts is too good of a talent to pass on, especially for an offense lacking playmakers."

Click here for Charley Casserly's full mock draft.

EXPERT: Mel Kiper Jr., ESPN Senior Writer

PICK: TREY LANCE, QB, NORTH DAKOTA STATE

LAST UPDATED: February 25

NOTES: Projects a trade with the Denver Broncos to move up to the ninth pick of the NFL Draft.

Kiper's Analysis:
"Belichick and the Patriots have been quiet this offseason, but that should change soon. They have money to spend in free agency, and they need to find a quarterback. It doesn't appear likely that Cam Newton will return. The veteran QB trade market has dwindled. I could see a Jimmy Garoppolo return to New England, but I'm not sold that he'd be the long-term answer. Lance could be. He started only 17 career games in college -- all against FCS competition -- but he's only 20, and he has all the tools to be a great dual-threat quarterback. Remember that the Patriots have a few players returning after opting out of last season, too, so they could contend in the AFC East again."

Click here for Mel Kiper Jr's full mock draft.

EXPERT: Josh Edwards, CBS Sports NFL Draft Writer

PICK: MAC JONES, QB, ALABAMA

LAST UPDATED: February 25

Edward's Analysis:
"I do not think Bill Belichick is going to sit around and allow other teams to make decisions at the quarterback position before he gets his opportunity; especially after watching Tom Brady win a Super Bowl elsewhere. Mac Jones is not the ideal quarterback, but he is a substantial upgrade over what the franchise received a year ago."

Click here for Josh Edwards full mock draft.

EXPERT: Chris Trapasso, CBS Sports NFL Writer

PICK: JEREMIAH OWUSU-KORAMOAH, LB, NOTRE DAME

LAST UPDATED: February 24

Trapasso's Analysis:
"Unless Bill Belichick signs a linebacker in free agency, I assume he'll have his sights set on 'The JOKer.'"

Click here for Chris Trapasso's full mock draft.

EXPERT: Phil Perry, NBC Sports Boston

PICK: ZACH WILSON, QB, BYU

LAST UPDATED: February 16

NOTES: Projects a trade with the Atlanta Falcons to move up to the fourth pick in the NFL Draft.

Perry's Analysis:
"For the Patriots, giving away their first two picks and a future second is a lot to move up 11 slots; it's a bit of an overpay, according to Rich Hill's trade value chart. But for Wilson? A quarterback who can make any throw on the field, from any platform? And accurately? Worth it. Plus, the Patriots have a way of replacing the 2021 second-round pick they lost in the trade ."

Click here for Phil Perry's full mock draft.

EXPERT: Pete Prisco, CBS Sports Senior Writer

PICK: KYLE PITTS, TE, FLORIDA

LAST UPDATED: February 16

Prisco's Analysis:
"He would give whoever plays quarterback a big-time weapon in the passing game. Josh McDaniels will have a lot of fun creating matchup issues with Pitts."

Click here to view Pete Prisco's full mock draft.

EXPERT: Daniel Jeremiah, NFL Media Analyst

PICK: JAYCEE HORN, CB, SOUTH CAROLINA

LAST UPDATED: February 16

Jeremiah's Analysis:
"There's been a lot of scuttlebutt about the Patriots potentially trading Stephon Gilmore, whose contract expires after the 2021 season. In this scenario, New England looks to his alma mater to find the player who'll replace him."

Click here to view Daniel Jeremiah's full mock draft.

EXPERT: Jason McIntyre, Fox Sports Analyst

PICK: MAC JONES, QB, ALABAMA

LAST UPDATED: February 12

McIntyre's Analysis:
"I've held off on putting Jones in a mock draft. He has only 16 college starts, and this season, the SEC was terrible, and Alabama had by far the most talent. Jones will be 23 years old by Week 1, and he showed well at the Senior Bowl. Belichick probably goes big in free agency, but Jones is not a bad fallback option, allowing Belichick to spend elsewhere."

Click here for Jason McIntyre's full mock draft.

EXPERT: DANE BRUGLER, THE ATHLETIC

PICK: MICAH PARSONS, LB, PENN STATE

LAST UPDATED: February 11

Brugler's Analysis:
"The Patriots are another team that will be running through various quarterback scenarios this offseason, including a possible trade up into the top-10 picks. But if that doesn't materialize, Parsons would be a logical choice if he is still on the board. As long as the Patriots are comfortable with his character, he would give Bill Belichick a versatile athlete with All-Pro potential."

Click here for Dane Brugler's full mock draft.

EXPERT: Todd McShay, ESPN Senior Writer

PICK: MICAH PARSONS, LB, PENN STATE

LAST UPDATED: February 10

McShay's Analysis:
"Not one of the top five quarterbacks are available, but this isn't a bad consolation prize for coach Bill Belichick. Parsons -- my No. 4 prospect overall -- slides to the No. 15 pick here because of unique circumstances following a rush on QBs and wide receivers. Dont'a Hightower will be back after opting out of the 2020 season and Chase Winovich has been disruptive off the edge, but Parsons gives Belichick a true sideline-to-sideline linebacker who can do a little bit of everything. And if the team moves on from Hightower after the 2021 season when he is set to be a free agent, Parsons would be the QB of this defense going forward. As for QB of the offense, it doesn't seem to be in New England's nature to trade up for one. Watch the free-agent market closely and keep an eye on what happens with former Patriot Jimmy Garoppolo, but if it comes down to the draft, the Patriots might have to look to Day 2 if all five QBs are indeed off the board."

Click here to view Todd McShay's full mock draft.

EXPERT: Chad Reuter, NFL Draft Analyst

PICK: JAYCEE HORN, CB, SOUTH CAROLINA

LAST UPDATED: February 8

NOTES: Projects a trade with the Jacksonville Jaguars to move back to the 25th pick in the first round.

Reuter's Analysis:
"If the Patriots can't get the quarterback they want in the first round, they could trade back, add some assets and then probably address their defense. With Jason McCourty a free agent this year, and Stephon Gilmore potentially on the market in 2022, picking up another former Gamecock in Horn makes sense."

Click here for Chad Reuter's full mock draft.

EXPERT: Michael Renner, Pro Football Focus

PICK: JAYLEN WADDLE, WR, ALABAMA

LAST UPDATED: Feburary 8

Renner's Analysis:
"This would be a dream scenario for the wide receiver-needy Patriots. Waddle not only brings some much-needed speed to the table; he's also someone who can just flat-out get open.."

Click here for Michael Renner's full mock draft.

EXPERT: Mike Dussault, Patriots.com Staff Writer

PICK: MICAH PARSONS, LB, PENN STATE

LAST UPDATED: February 8

Dussault's Analysis:
"At 15th overall, the Patriots should see a run on quarterbacks, receivers and offensive tackles clean out all the top prospects at those positions before their first selection. That leaves Penn State linebacker Parsons falling to them and he is just the kind of big and versatile defender that the Patriots' defense needs. A four-down impact player with impressive length and athleticism, they could deploy Parsons in a variety of ways in their defense."

EXPERT: Lance Zierlein, NFL Media Draft Analyst

PICK: JUSTIN FIELDS, QB, OHIO STATE

LAST UPDATED: February 4

Renner's Analysis:
"It's hard to project where the QBs will land this year, as I expect grades to vary greatly by team. But Fields is a talented quarterback with big-game experience who will have a chance to compete for snaps immediately in New England."

Click here for Lance Zierlein's full mock draft.

EXPERT: Bucky Brooks, NFL Analyst

PICK: MICAH PARSONS, LB, PENN STATE

LAST UPDATED: February 1

Brooks' Analysis:
"The Patriots add a versatile defender with big-play potential to the lineup. The big-bodied 'backer is a dynamic player with the capacity to blitz from inside or rush off the edges."

Click here for Bucky Brooks full mock draft.