The New England Patriots have started bringing players into their facility on pre-draft visits, including a safety projected to come off the board as early as the first round.
Emmanuel McNeil-Warren, who spent his four-year college career at Toledo, visited the team recently. He talked about his experience on a new episode of Up & Adams.
“I had [a visit] a couple of weeks ago with the Patriots. It went well,” McNeil-Warren said. “I liked their facility, the whole coaching staff. I met the whole coaching staff. Just
being able to meet them, it was cool. It’s just cold down there too. The weather’s cold down there too.”
A former three-star recruit out of Lakewood High School in St. Petersburg, FL, McNeil-Warren appeared in 48 games during his time at Toledo. Along the way, the 6-foot-4, 201-pound safety registered 214 total tackles, nine forced fumbles and two recoveries, and intercepted five passes, one of which was returned for a touchdown.
Named first-team All-MAC to cap off his 2025 senior season, McNeil-Warren was later invited to the Senior Bowl as well as the Scouting Combine. He posted a Relative Athletic Score 0f 9.13 in Indianapolis, ranking seventh among his position group.
The Patriots’ interest in McNeil-Warren comes in the aftermath of some turnover at the safety position. Just last week, the team saw 2026 starter Jaylinn Hawkins depart for the Baltimore Ravens and signed Kevin Byard to a one-year, $9 million contract. Besides Byard, New England also has 2025 fourth-round draft pick Craig Woodson on the roster as a projected starter.
Adding McNeil-Warren to the mix as a potential long-term replacement for the 32-year-old Byard might make some sense from the Patriots’ point of view.
Besides the Toledo safety, the Patriots also had reported 30 visits with offensive tackle Travis Burke out of Memphis and running back Adam Randall of Clemson. Burke projects as a late-round pick or potential rookie free agent, with the receiver-turned-back Randall likely to come off the board in the middle rounds.
The Patriots previously had reported visits with edge defenders R. Mason Thomas (Oklahoma) and Romello Height (Texas Tech).
