Welcome to first and 10, a roundup of all the (mostly) Patriots-related news you need to start your Monday. Grab your coffee and let’s get to it.
Good to be back in the saddle after an eventful weekend. A few quick notes before we jump into things.
•Wrote about some of this in my weekend notebook, but this is one of my favorite weeks of the year. Been lucky enough to sit on the nominating committee for the Patriots Hall of Fame, and the annual meeting is set for Thursday. A TON of really good names are up for nomination this year ... here are just a few: Rodney Harrison, Richard Seymour, Mike Vrabel, Lawyer Milloy, Randy Moss, Ty Warren, Dan Koppen, Asante Samuel, Julius Adams, Irving Fryar, Fred Marion, Raymond Berry, Bill Parcells, Chuck Fairbanks, Corey Dillon, Leon Gray, Russ Francis, Ted Johnson, Bill Lenkaitis, Pete Brock and John Smith. We had a good thread in the weekend notebook, but let me know your thoughts in the comments.
•Twenty-four days until the NFL draft.
•Pro Day slate for Monday -- Indiana State and Washington.
Now, on with the links...
1. My weekend notebook looks at a bunch of different stuff, including the fact that there's been so much coaching turnover on the defensive side of the ball, 2019 sets up to be a big year for defensive veterans like Dont'a Hightower and Devin McCourty.
2. The name T.J. Hockenson has been front-and-center during the draft process for a lot of people, but in the post-Rob Gronkowski era, his name has taken on a lot more importance for New England football fans. Is he the future for the Patriots? The answer to that question could end up defining draft weekend for New England.
3. Miguel's newest mailbag hits on multiple topics, including a possible Tom Brady extension, cap space, dead money and more.
4. Spent some quality time Friday morning with my buddies Miller & Moulton from WFSX Radio in Florida talking Patriots and Gronkowski.
5. As we have said before, you always take pre-draft visits with a grain of salt, but it looks like Arizona State wide receiver N'Keal Harry will visit Foxborough. The 6-foot-4, 213-pounder had 213 catches for 2,889 yards and 22 touchdowns in his three seasons with the Sun Devils. Looking more and more like a first-round guy -- do you go after him if he's there at 32?
6. And Ole Miss receiver A.J. Brown has already met with he Patriots, according to this report. A 6-foot-1, 230-pounder, he's touted by many as a possible first-round prospect. In three years as a collegian, he had 189 catches for 2,984 yards and 19 touchdowns.
Countless incredible @RobGronkowski plays to choose from...
We narrowed it down to 10. pic.twitter.com/UKHrjdkCla
— New England Patriots (@Patriots) March 29, 2019