No. 62

Pick by Pats Pulpit Bruce Davis Defensive End UCLA

With the 62nd overall selection in the 2008 SB Nation NFL Mock Draft, the New England Patriots have selected UCLA defensive end Bruce Davis. SB Nation's newest football blogger, MaPatsFan of Pats Pulpit, made the selection and joins us now to explain why he picked Davis:

While it may seem odd to draft an OLB this early, the Patriots are in need of some young blood in the linebacker ranks. Formerly a tight end but considered too small to play that position in the NFL, he is new to OLB and pretty raw, but his combine numbers were very good and predictions are he will add value very quickly.

He is fierce and will be able to keep offensive lines on their toes as well as provide relief for the older Vrabel. Both Mike Vrabel and Adalius Thomas will be there to provide guidance as well as another "small" Patriots LB, the NE icon Tedy Bruschi who made the same switch from TE to LB.

Matt Miller, host of this site as well as owner of New Era Scouting, provides his analysis below:

An interesting pick. I like adding a pass rusher, but Davis is not as good as Shawn Crable, he's also started bulking up and may have gotten too big to play outside linebacker. I think this is a reach, but when you win 16 regular seasons, I guess you can do that..

Grade: C :: Bruce Davis Scouting Report - New Era Scouting :: Matt Miller's Top Five Prospects Remaining: 1. LB Shawn Crable, 2. RB Jamaal Charles, 3. TE Fred Davis, 4. TE Martin Rucker, 5. OT Barry Richardson

One more SB Nation NFL Mock Draft pick to go! That pick, to be made by the on-the-clock New York Giants, coming your way via Big Blue View. Stay tuned!