Harrison Smith knows he cannot draft himself, so he will leave the prognosticating to others. But could the former Notre Dame safety and captain be a first-round pick?

Scouts Inc.'s Todd McShay throws the possibility out there in this week's edition of Nickel Package, where he looks at five teams that could shake up the first round of the draft.

The New England Patriots, owners of picks No. 27 and 31, are one of those five teams. And, like his colleague Steve Muench, McShay could see the defending AFC champions drafting a wide receiver like Michael Floyd in the first round. But he also mentions Smith's name.

New England could also solidify its secondary after missing on several recent picks there. The Patriots took CB Devin McCourty in the first round in 2010, but McCourty hit a sophomore slump in 2011-12, and '07 first-round S Brandon Meriweather is no longer with the team. Throw in departed second-round CBs Darius Butler ('09) and Terrence Wheatley ('08), and you have a need there as well. Notre Dame S Harrison Smith would be a candidate, and should Kirkpatrick fall a shared connection with Nick Saban could ease some concerns for Patriots coach Bill Belichick.

Smith checks out as above average or exceptional in each trait Scouts Inc. measures. McShay was high on him during the week of the Senior Bowl, and Mel Kiper has him as his No. 3 safety in his most recent position rankings.