Welcome to Potential Patriots!
Each day main as much as the NFL Draft on April 27, the Herald will introduce prospects the Patriots are probably focusing on place by place. The Pats have 11 picks this 12 months, beginning at 14th total, their highest choice in additional than a decade. As for his or her different picks, the Patriots might pad their depth at nearly any place.
Below is a breakdown of the Patriots’ finest prospect suits at large receiver:
Day 1
Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Ohio State
Ht/Wt: 6-1, 196
Projected spherical: 1st
Scouting report: Smith-Njigba is a perfect match for the Patriots’ previous prototype at receiver which relied closely on 3-cone efficiency. His 6.57-second time led all individuals on the NFL mix and mirrored his capability to instantly uncover as a slot receiver. Smith-Njigba is efficient in any respect three ranges, ranks among the many smoothest route-runners within the class and may create yards after the catch.
If the Patriots desire a burner — no workforce has drafted sooner receivers by 10-yard splits within the 40-yard sprint since 2011 — Smith-Njigba isn’t it. But he checks each different field for a workforce that will have swung and missed with 2022 second-rounder Tyquan Thornton, a speedster’s speedster.
Zay Flowers, Boston College
Ht/Wt: 5-9, 182
Projected spherical: 1st-2nd
Scouting report: Experts venture Flowers to come back off the board within the mid-20s, although it’s attainable he slides out of the primary spherical solely. In both situation, he could be accessible to the Patriots by way of commerce, ought to they transfer again from No. 14 total or up from forty sixth. In that case, they’d be touchdown one of the sudden athletes within the draft.
Flowers is an undersized dynamo who carved up defenses together with his quickness and lengthy velocity because the Eagles’ No. 1 receiver for years. He’s extraordinarily elusive and productive downfield regardless of his small stature, averaging 13.8 yards per catch and gaining 500 yards on deep throws alone final season, per Pro Football Focus. Flowers does carry issues about his catch radius and historical past of drops, however he’s already visited the Patriots and could be an on the spot impression participant.
Quentin Johnson, TCU
Ht/Wt: 6-2, 208
Projected spherical: 1st-2nd
Scouting report: The Patriots love freak athletes at large receiver, and few receivers on this class — if any — are as explosive as Johnson. His elite marks within the broad leap and vertical leap matched the burst he exhibits off the road and working after the catch. In the open area, Johnson units up defenders for whiffs and bowls by way of half-hearted tackles. He’s additionally a workforce captain, a significant plus with the Patriots, who lately haven’t dinged receivers like him for having unimpressive instances within the 3-cone drill and quick shuttle.
Day 2
Tyler Scott, Cincinnati
Ht/Wt: 5-10, 177
Projected spherical: 2nd-Third
Scouting report: A poor man’s Flowers?
As a former Junior Olympic sprinter, Scott possesses the identical lengthy velocity and short-area quickness because the undersized Boston College product. On the flip aspect, he’s solely performed receiver for 3 years, indicating there’s ample potential for his subsequent workforce to develop within the NFL. Scott additionally served as a gunner on Cincinnati’s punt workforce, expertise that all the time appeals to the Patriots. Scott has drawn comparisons to T.Y. Hilton and Tyler Lockett, and may play each the slot and outdoors.
NFL Notes: Robert Kraft expects Patriots to make hay within the draft
Jonathan Mingo, Ole Miss
Ht/Wt: 6-2, 220
Projected spherical: Third
Scouting report: An enormous-bodied X receiver, Mingo broke out final season with plus power, physique management and a bevy of huge performs. He initiatives as a possession receiver on the subsequent stage and is a reputed high-character participant. Mingo was voted a workforce captain and completed with 861 yards and 5 touchdowns final 12 months.
Nathaniel “Tank” Dell, Houston
Ht/Wt: 5-8, 168
Projected spherical: Third
Scouting report: A 12 months after deciding on cornerback/returner man Marcus Jones, one other undersized firecracker out of Houston, the Patriots may have an opportunity to draft his offensive counterpart. Dell is devastatingly fast, elusive and fluid in his actions. He led main faculty soccer with 17 touchdowns final 12 months and 1,398 yards. Dell is a risk to attain anytime he has the ball, however dimension issues might scare groups away.
A.T. Perry, Wake Forest
Ht/Wt: 6-3, 198
Projected spherical: Third-4th
Scouting report: The Patriots received an up-close have a look at Perry on the East-West Shrine Bowl, the place he personified all of the traits that make him a boom-or-bust prospect. He is tall, quick (4.47 within the 40), agile (6.81 3-cone) and easy in his routes. Perry can be coming off back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons with double-digit touchdowns, however has a historical past of drops and may wrestle with contact.
Day 3
Michael Wilson, Stanford
Ht/Wt: 6-2, 208
Projected spherical: 4th
Scouting report: Injuries restricted Wilson to 10 video games the previous two years, however when he did see the sector he flashed NFL potential on offense and particular groups. He’s robust and fast, and scouts think about him one of many smartest and best-blocking receivers on this class. As a former workforce captain who made an impression on particular groups, Wilson is all however a lock to be someplace on the Patriots’ board.
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Tre Tucker, Cincinnati
Ht/Wt: 5-9, 182
Projected spherical: 4th-Fifth
Scouting report: Another sudden slot possibility, Tucker shall be restricted to a profession over the center and on kick and punt protection groups, however his velocity is particular. He clocked a 4.37 within the 40-yard sprint at his Pro Day, and logged nearly 500 snaps on particular groups, per The Athletic. He’s one other former workforce captain with loads of expertise and a clear projection on the subsequent stage.
Rakim Jarrett, Maryland
Ht/Wt: 6-0, 192
Projected spherical: Fifth-Sixth
Scouting report: Jarrett is a high-effort, developmental prospect who checks most testing bins for the Patriots. He has enough bodily instruments, however by no means broke out at Maryland, regardless of beginning 20 of 24 video games over the pat two seasons. As a former five-star highschool recruit with untapped potential, Jarrett is the kind of participant the Pats have taken a flier on within the later rounds.
Source: www.bostonherald.com