Combine Recap: Patriots Meet With Top Prospects at Positions of Need in Indianapolis

A significant informational piece to the 2023 NFL Draft is now within the books with the conclusion of the scouting mix in Indianapolis.

Though many storylines from Indy heart across the conversations that spark motion within the veteran market, the mix nonetheless has worth for groups to fulfill face-to-face with prospects, get medical evaluations, and collect athletic testing numbers throughout on-field exercises.

It is also a possibility for the media to interview prospects and compile athletic testing knowledge, making it simpler to investigate the category precisely. Groups meet with dozens of gamers all through the pre-draft course of. Though it makes for an fascinating nugget, we should additionally maintain the knowledge gathered under in perspective.

Listed here are our ultimate Patriots takeaways to place a bow on mix week:

1. Patriots Meet With Prime Extensive Receivers in Indy

The Patriots are anticipated to be close to the beginning line for when this yr’s broad receiver class will start coming off the board at 14. Needing a high pass-catcher who places worry into opposing defenses, New England is understandably doing its due diligence on the broad receiver market this offseason, together with within the draft.

For instance, TCU broad receiver Quentin Johnston informed Patriots.com that he had his greatest assembly of the week with the Pats. Johnston was “feeling the love” from New England’s contingent and loved his quick time with the Patriots. The TCU wideout is a big-play machine with glorious vertical pace. He additionally has excellent contact stability and flashes of quickness to choose up yards after the catch. There are considerations about creating beneath separation and making catches outdoors his body. Regardless of his measurement (6-3, 208), Johnston would not have the ball-winning fashion of a contested catch receiver. Nonetheless, his profession mark of 19.0 yards per catch exhibits his explosive play capability.

The Patriots additionally met with high wideouts Jordan Addison, who referred to as the assembly “detailed” this week, and Jaxon Smith-Njigba, amongst others.

2. As anticipated, New England is Doing its Homework at Offensive Deal with

It is not stunning to see the Patriots assembly with offensive deal with prospects at this yr’s mix. At present, the Pats solely have three OTs beneath contract for subsequent season, and just one is taken into account a viable NFL starter (Trent Brown). New England is reportedly bringing again backup Conor McDermott and can hopefully have a wholesome Andrew Stueber within the fold after redshirting his rookie season.

With the necessity for a number of our bodies, together with not less than one starter, the Patriots met with high tackles Paris Johnson, Broderick Jones, and Anton Harrison, amongst others. The trio described the conferences as film-oriented, breaking down their very own tape and diagnosing defenses. That is thought-about a robust deal with class on the high, making OT the most-likely place to focus on on day one.

3. Patriots Exhibiting Curiosity in Tight Ends as Nicely as Extensive Receivers

Together with maintaining tabs on the broad receiver market, the Patriots should maintain their choices open in terms of including playmakers on offense. As we have seen previously, you may construct a extremely productive passing offense round an elite pass-catching tight finish. With this tight finish class garnering important consideration across the league as arguably the draft’s greatest place group, there’s an opportunity that the following nice pass-catcher will likely be a good finish quite than a wideout.

Notre Dame tight finish Michael Mayer informed Patriots.com that he had a proper assembly with the Patriots in Indy. Mayer is the consensus high tight finish prospect and is taken into account a lock to go within the first spherical. The Notre Dame product blends a mix of conventional in-line talent with alignment versatility, glorious palms, ball expertise, and is already a plus-blocker from a number of alignments. This draft additionally options Utah’s Dalton Kincaid, Oregon State tight finish Luke Musgrave, hulking Georgia tight finish Darnell Washington, Tucker Kraft, and Sam LaPorta as projected high 100 picks. It is a loaded class that the Pats might dip into this April.

4. Draft Consultants Predicting at Least 15 Cornerbacks Chosen within the Prime 100

Throughout an episode of Patriots Unfiltered on the Mix, ESPN draft professional Jordan Reid stated that evaluators across the league imagine a file variety of cornerbacks might go within the first three rounds this yr. Reid predicted that as many as 15 corners might go within the high 100, and several other of these prospects met with the Patriots brass this week. With that depth within the first two days, New England won’t have to pounce on a first-round nook since they’ll make the most of the draft’s insane wealth of expertise. Though our draft crush, Maryland’s Deonte Banks, possible examined himself into the primary spherical, there are different intriguing day-two choices reminiscent of Julius Brents, Darius Rush, and D.J. Turner. In some unspecified time in the future within the first three rounds, the Patriots ought to take a nook.

5. Kansas State RB Deuce Vaughn Presents an Intriguing Receiving Again Talent Set

Though the Patriots possible will not be within the operating again market on the high of the draft, they’re trying to find a everlasting successor to James White. There’s some help for that to be 2022 fourth-rounder Pierre Sturdy, however Sturdy’s enjoying fashion is much less jitterbug receiver and extra explosive ball provider. If the workforce agrees with that evaluation, one engaging choice is Ok-State operating again Deuce Vaughn. Vaughn’s professional comparability for many is Darren Sproles, whereas the previous Wldcat additionally research Christian McCaffrey. Vaughn lit up speaking a couple of potential match with the Patriots, saying loves “every thing they characterize.” We additionally mentioned Vaughn’s favourite route, a “Fresno” route, which is an choice route the place he can break open primarily based on the protection. Vaughn is projected to land within the fourth or fifth spherical.