Welcome to first and 10, a roundup of all the (mostly) Patriots-related news you need to start your Thursday. Grab your coffee and let’s get to it.
We're just going to jump into things this morning, as we've got a lot of good links and other updates. (Pro Day slate for Thursday includes Dartmouth, Florida State, Houston, North Dakota State, Southern Methodist, Utah and Virginia.)
Now, on with the links...
1. While waiting on a call back for a story I'll have on Thursday, I delivered the post-free agency, pre-draft edition of BSJ's NFL Power Rankings. We gave the Patriots the top spot -- to be the man, you've got to beat the man -- but there's been a lot of movement up and down our big board since the end of the season. A must-read to see where your team ends up.
2. The notebook looks at another Mayo Brother joining the New England coaching staff, as well as the news that a possible free agent acquisition has decided to retire.
3. Spent some quality time with the fellas on 1080 The Fan in Portland talking about the Patriots, Rob Gronkowski, and the future. Good times with the guys out west.
4. The Patriots are reportedly one of three teams who are interested in Josh Rosen, a group that apparently includes the Giants and Chargers. In case you've forgotten, Rosen had one of best pre-draft quotes last spring: “I want to be the winningest QB in NFL history. I want to win the most games and most championships. I'd say six titles, but if Tom Brady gets six, I'll say seven.” Shoot your shot, kid.
5. Take these meeting reports with a grain of salt, but reportedly, New England has pre-draft get-togethers set up with Texas A&M tight end Jace Sternberger and Notre Dame wide receiver Miles Boykin.
6. Cam Mellor of Pro Football Focus looks at the most pressing draft needs for all 32 teams. When it comes to New England, he lists wide receiver, tight end and edge defender. "The defending Super Bowl champs have few holes and pass-catchers are on that list in a deep class at receiver and tight end," he writes. "They’ll likely need to address the receiver position early and perhaps often as they return just Phillip Dorsett and Julian Edelman as significant contributors while the retirement of Rob Gronkowski puts them in a bind at the tight end position."
7. Bill Belichick was at Florida Pro Day. Just throwing it out here -- if his foundation sold those visors, it would make a small fortune.
8. With Sweet 16 action kicking off Thursday, Adam Schein of NFL.com takes a look at his 16 teams to spotlight come 2019. He includes the Patriots on his list. "Rob Gronkowski is the best tight end to ever play in the NFL, and the Patriots will miss his clutch play," writes Schein. "But don't get it twisted: With Bill Belichick and Tom Brady in tow, this team is always capable of winning the Super Bowl.
9. Kristopher Knox of Bleacher Report has the worst-case scenario every team must avoid in 2019. The Patriots? It's sticking with the same offensive philosophy. "The New England Patriots are notorious for switching up their offensive and defensive schemes to better suit their personnel," he writes. "It would thus be surprising if the Patriots stick with the same offensive philosophies that helped them win a sixth Lombardi Trophy in 2018, but they must avoid that temptation nevertheless."
10. This has a tenuous connection to the Patriots at best, but it's worth noting that Harry Kane -- one of the world's best soccer players and buddy of Tom Brady -- wants to give the NFL a shot as a kicker. Did we mention he loves Brady, and he was in attendance at Super Bowl LIII? “Not many people thought he’d become that good, or even play in the NFL, and he went on to become the best ever,” Kane says of the Patriots' quarterback. “At the time, it gave me a real boost to say, look, anything is possible. If you have that self-belief and that drive and that hunger, you can do it.”
Extra Point: This was a really well-done tribute to Gronkowski and his career.
All the feels.
There were a lot of special moments over the last nine years, and we enjoyed every single one of them. Thank you, Gronk. pic.twitter.com/GHzbhAOt2t
— New England Patriots (@Patriots) March 27, 2019