Welcome to Potential Patriots!
Each day main as much as the NFL Draft on April 28, the Herald will introduce prospects the Patriots are doubtless concentrating on place by place. The Pats have eight picks this yr, beginning at twenty first general, the primary domino to fall in one other essential draft. As for his or her different alternatives, the Patriots may pad their depth just about anyplace, having plugged some roster holes in free company and by way of commerce.
Below is a breakdown of the Patriots’ finest prospect matches on the offensive line:
Day 1
OT Trevor Penning, Northern Iowa
Ht/Wt: 6-7, 325
Projected spherical: 1st
Scouting report: Long, imply and bodily, Penning may very well be lengthy gone by the point the Patriots decide at twenty first general. But if he stays on the board, they could dash to the rostrum to handle considered one of their quieter wants.
At the Senior Bowl, an annual hotbed for future Patriots, Penning proved he belonged with school soccer’s elite by dominating in practices and the sport. He can cross the road at occasions after the whistle, however in any other case checks each field as a franchise left sort out. Not many prospects in any draft class boast his bodily instruments in any yr, not even one as top-heavy as this 2022 group.
OG Zion Johnson, Boston College
Ht/Wt: 6-3, 312
Projected spherical: 1st
Scouting report: One of the most secure prospects in your complete class, Johnson ought to stroll into any NFL locker room as a Day 1 starter.
He’s a strong, athletic lineman who can play anyplace on the inside and in addition began 23 video games at offensive sort out in school. Johnson completed his time at BC as a two-time captain who frequently stonewalled among the finest defensive linemen in school soccer. Considering Johnson’s mature method to the sport and stellar exhibiting on the Senior Bowl, there’s an actual probability the Patriots fill considered one of their vacancies at guard with a child simply up the highway.
Day 2
Patriots 7-round mock draft: Bill Belichick provides No. 1 nook, Alabama extensive receiver
Cole Strange, Chattanooga
Ht/Wt: 6-5, 307
Projected spherical: third
Scouting report: Few offensive linemen match the Patriots’ bodily prototype at guard higher than Strange, an FCS prospect who acquitted himself properly on the Senior Bowl. Strange is considered a very smart and aggressive prospect, who was a senior captain and first-team All-American. With 44 profession begins unfold over three positions (left guard, left sort out and heart) it is all however a assure he is someplace on the Pats’ board.
Sean Rhyan, UCLA
Ht/Wt: 6-5, 321
Projected spherical: third
Scouting report: A 3-year starter, Rhyan efficiently protected the blind aspect from mainly the second he stepped on campus. According to Pro Football Focus, he allowed simply two sacks over greater than 1,000 pass-blocking snaps. Some evaluators see Rhyan as an NFL guard, and whereas that will scare some groups off, such versatility ought to enchantment to the Patriots.
Day 3
Braxton Jones, Southern Utah
Ht/Wt: 6-5, 310
Projected spherical: 4th
Scouting report: An FCS All-American final yr, Jones boasts the prototypical measurement, size and athleticism for a Patriots left sort out. If drafted, he would doubtless take a rookie-year redshirt to develop, however that endurance may repay in a giant method if Isaiah Wynn walks subsequent offseason. Questions about Jones largely pertain to his energy, one thing the Pats may theoretically repair over a yr of their power and conditioning program.
He additionally competed properly on the Senior Bowl.
NFL Notes: Patriots shouldn’t cross on Alabama receiver Jameson Williams
Zach Tom, Wake Forest
Ht/Wt: 6-4, 304
Projected spherical: 4th-Fifth
Scouting report: A uncommon left tackle-center hybrid, Tom is likely one of the most seasoned (three-year starter) and clever (three-time All-ACC tutorial workforce honoree) linemen on this draft. His versatility and smarts will certainly have the Patriots’ consideration, notably with the success they’ve had drafting a swing sort out from Wake Forest (see: Justin Herron in 2020). Tom would supply quick depth at two spots for an offensive line that battled its fair proportion of accidents final yr.
OT Matt Waletzko, North Dakota
Ht/Wt: 6-7, 312
Projected spherical: 4th-Fifth
Scouting report: A developmental prospect, Waletzko carries each instrument evaluators are in search of in a left sort out. The hassle, in fact, is the soar in competitors he’ll face coming from the FCS degree to the NFL. But Waletzko is a former senior captain who’s reputed to be an clever participant with a team-first perspective. That’ll give him a shot.
Source: www.bostonherald.com