A quick turnaround from Super Bowl LX to the NFL offseason has the New England Patriot arriving in Indianapolis this week for the Scouting Combine. The Patriots enter the first big event of the NFL offseason in quite a different position than the previous two years as they are scheduled to pick 31st overall, instead of in the top-five, in this year’s draft.
Here are some of the top players and storylines to watch throughout the week for the Patriots.
Leadership speaks
As they did last year, executive vice president
of player personnel Eliot Wolf and head coach Mike Vrabel are set to address the meeting. Wolf will lead things off at 10 a.m. on Tuesday while Vrabel, who’s last press conference of the year came on locker clean-out day two days after the Super Bowl, will hold court Wednesday afternoon at 1 p.m.
Beyond potential draft and free agent storylines some of top potential questions to the men in charge could include the offense’s playoff falloff, Christian Gonzalez’s potential extension, and Jared Wilson’s future on the offensive line among other topics.
Beyond the testing
Much of the attention during the week is focused on the prospects’ on-field measurements and workouts. But with nearly the entire football landscape gathered in one city, it’s a key week to kickstart markets of both upcoming free agents and trade targets.
In Indianapolis, will the Colts actually let wide receiver Alec Pierce test the open market? Or will Las Vegas’ Maxx Crosby, Philadelphia’s A.J. Brown, or any other impact name truly hit the trade block? Dallas’ George Pickens and Atlanta’s Kyle Pitts already received the franchise tag on Monday, now the wait for the next domino begins.
Wide receiver class
As the Patriots will look to continue to upgrade the supporting cast around Drake Maye this offseason, pick No. 31 could go towards a wide receiver if an impact player does not become available/acquired prior to the draft. In another deep wide receiver class, Ohio State’s Carnell Tate, USC’s Makai Lemon, and Arizona State’s Jordyn Tyson (assuming his medicals check out this week) will be long gone by New England’s pick.
Three receivers in the following tier — Washington’s Denzel Boston, Texas A&M’s KC Concepcion, and Indiana’s Omar Cooper Jr. — could begin to separate themselves with their performance this week. Specifically watching how Boston, a big-bodied receiver at 6-foot-4, tests athletically could be atop New England’s watch list.
Other prospects to monitor
- Elsewhere at wide receiver Notre Dame’s Malachi Fields, Tennessee’s Chris Brazzell II (an outstanding athlete at 6-foot-5), Georgia State’s Ted Hurst, Mississippi State’s Brenden Thompson, and Louisville’s Chris Bell, who tore his ACL in Dec., are some of the current day two options to watch.
- Outside of Kenyon Sadiq, no tight end is expected to go in round one as the class relies more on day two and three depth. Among the current favorites is Georgia’s Oscar Delp, who should see his stock rise with a strong athletic testing performance this week.
- As Mike Vrabel plans to keep Will Campbell at left tackle, New England could still address the position with Morgan Moses entering his age 35 season. Arizona State right tackle Max Iheanachor, Alabama left tackle Kadyn Proctor, and Clemson right tackle Blake Miller could be the top options in-play at No. 31.
- A deep edge class will provide the Patriots many options early on. Texas A&M’s Cashius Howell and Clemson’s T.J. Parker are among the top prospects in the back of the first-round, while Miami’s Ahkeem Mesidor’s medicals could be one to watch after the top pass rusher dealt with a foot injury throughout his collegiate career. R Mason Thomas out of Oklahoma is a pure speed rusher projected to come off the board on day two.
- New England’s current roster lacks a starting caliber safety next to Craig Woodson. While that could be taken care of in free agency (perhaps by re-signing Jaylinn Hawkins), adding his replacement or more talent to the room could come in the first round via Toledo’s Emmanuel McNeil-Warren or Oregon’s Dillon Thieneman.
