After hiring a confirmed offensive coordinator, the Patriots’ surest path to bettering their offense is upgrading their offensive line.
Provide higher safety for Mac Jones and clear vast operating lanes for Rhamondre Stevenson, and they need to attain new heights and carry the staff with them.
After bolstering the offensive line? How about including a good finish?
Like a brand new proper deal with, a starting-caliber tight finish can improve the Patriots’ move safety and run-blocking. Unlike an O-lineman, he can function a big-bodied receiver, most notably in crucial conditions akin to third down and contained in the purple zone. It’s no accident most up-to-date Super Bowl individuals have rostered an upper-echelon tight finish like Travis Kelce, Dallas Goedert and Rob Gronkowski.
Hunter Henry might be that participant, however was too usually requested final season to pass-block subsequent to a leaky offensive line. Henry completed with 41 catches for 509 yards, the bottom single-season numbers of his profession since his rookie season. Henry can be a free agent subsequent spring, doubtlessly leaving the Patriots with Jonnu Smith and Jonnu Smith solely in 2024; all of the extra cause to handle this downside through the draft.
And the timing couldn’t be a lot better. Several draft specialists are calling this yr’s class one of many deeper tight finish teams in years, with 3-4 prospects graded as worthy first-round picks. If the Patriots goal a good finish within the first spherical, it’s possible they are going to commerce again from 14th total given most of those prospects must be accessible just a little later.
However, that doesn’t imply these gamers can’t make an impression from Day 1 and even compete for a beginning spot as quickly as September. Here are the names to know:
Michael Mayer, Notre Dame
Of all of the prospects on this yr’s class, Mayer appears the half.
He’s a standard “Y” tight finish, who operates on the finish of the road of scrimmage at 6-foot-4 and 265 kilos. He’s an impression participant as a blocker and receiver, out-muscling defenders in each roles. Mayer isn’t an elite athlete in house, however he’s robust and competes properly in contested catch conditions. He entered faculty as a five-star recruit and left as a consensus All-American.
Dalton Kincaid, Utah
One of essentially the most athletic gamers on this yr’s class, Kincaid can win 1-on-1 from the slot or work in-line. He’s just a little bit lighter at 240 kilos, however runs sharp routes, strikes properly and possesses glorious ball abilities. Last season, Kincaid racked up 70 passes for 890 yards and eight touchdowns as a third-team All-American.
Kincaid gives extra blocking chops than a Mike Gesicki, however profiles equally as an “F” tight finish. Multiple evaluators have in contrast him to Zach Ertz.
Potential Patriots draft targets: 5 offensive tackles to look at within the 1st spherical
Darnell Washington, Georgia
Six-foot-7 and 270 kilos. Enough stated?
Not fairly, however Washington may provide essentially the most potential on this class due to his uncommon measurement and athleticism. He’s a brick home on the transfer, manhandling defenders as a blocker and steamrolling them after the catch as a receiver. Washington can play excessive at occasions and his manufacturing final season (28 catches for 454 yards) was underwhelming, however the expertise is simple. Washington could possibly be a Pro Bowl downside on the subsequent stage with the correct teaching.
Luke Musgrave, Oregon State
Injury restricted Musgrave to 2 video games final season, however he recovered in time to dominate the Senior Bowl, one of the crucial vital occasions on the Patriots’ draft calendar. At 6-foot-6 and 255 kilos, he cleared 20 MPH in follow, and in accordance with Senior Bowl director Jim Nagy may run a 4.4 on the NFL Combine.
And but there’s extra to love about Musgrave than straight velocity. He’s bodily sufficient as a blocker and a pure in house, in a position to make defenders miss with plus quickness and consciousness. Musgrave is uncooked and questions will linger about his lack of tape, however he ought to land someplace on Bill Belichick’s board. Not to say, he has a lacrosse background, too.
Source: www.bostonherald.com