The 2022 PFD Pats-Only Mock Draft Contest

April has rolled around and rolling with it is an old friend of PFD (formerly NEPFF - I'm a softie for the old acronym).

It is time to prepare for the 2022 PFD Pats-Only Mock Draft Contest, as you might have guessed from the title.

Scoring and rules remain mostly the same as in prior years, but there are some changes this season. As such, and for the benefit of those new to the contest, here's how it works. (Note that throughout the rest of the post, "select" and "selection" include undrafted free agents.)

• Send me the names of the 12 players you most think the Patriots will add to their roster via the 2022 NFL Draft (and subsequent pool of undrafted players).

• The players should be ranked in order of likelihood, from most likely Patriots addition to least. The first player on your list is worth 15 points for a correct guess, the second 12, the third 10, the fourth 9, the fifth 8, the sixth 7, the seventh 6, the eighth 5, the ninth 4, the tenth 3, the eleventh 2, and the twelfth 1.

• When you send the players, also send the round (or UDFA) in which you think the Patriots will select them. A correct round guess for a Patriots selection is worth an extra 3 points.

  • However, if you guess that the Patriots will draft a player whom they add as a UDFA, or if you guess UDFA and the player is drafted by New England, you will receive half the points for that slot, rounded up. (Example: In 2020, I had Myles Bryant in my first slot, but as a 7th-round selection. Since he signed with the Patriots as a UDFA, I received half of 15 rounded up, or 8 points for that guess.)

• You also receive bonus points if you guess multiple players correctly on your list of 12. For two correct guesses, you receive 1 bonus point; if three correct guesses, you receive 3; if four correct, 6; and so on up the triangle numbers.

  • Note these points are cumulative. If three correct, for instance, you do not receive 1 point for the second correct guess and 3 for the third; you'll receive 3 bonus points, period.

• In addition to your list of 12, please also send the names of the three players you think the Patriots will most likely select in the first round, again ranked as well by likelihood. The first player on your list is worth 5 points if selected by New England, the second is worth 3, and the third is worth 2.

• If the Patriots make multiple first-round selections, you can receive credit for all players picked by the team in the round.

• If the Patriots make no first-round selections, you will receive credit for their first pick made in the draft (e.g. Kyle Dugger in 2020).

• Most importantly, I reserve the right to close any loopholes left open by these rules.

The deadline is one hour before the start of the draft - that is, 7:00 PM Eastern time on Thursday, April 28. You may make changes to your list until that time.

Send your entries to nepatsfootballfans@gmail.com, and please include your guesses and commenting handle in the text of the email.

Have fun!