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.
It's draft week. Finally.
--Going to have a few draft nuggets for you between now and Thursday to whet your appetite. First one today looks at the Patriots' history at No. 32. Not saying they're sticking at 32 -- I'd be surprised if they did -- but the past shows us they've gotten some quality there in the past. In their history, they've made five selections at No. 32 overall, including back-to-back seasons in 2004 (Ben Watson -- more on him in a second) and 2005 (Logan Mankins). Most recently, they selected Malcom Brown out of Texas in 2015.
--Like I said, I think they're moving off of 32, or they'll at least try to. As for whether they're moving up or down, there are a lot of contingencies. If one of the Iowa tight ends drops for some unexpected reason into the 20s, they call Seattle (No. 21) or Mike Mayock and Oakland (No. 24). I also wouldn't rule out a deal with the Vikings this week (for the reasons Greg outlined here). If they feel they can get someone else in a trade, they might give up 32 to trade back. Bottom line? Whether it's because of a move up or down, I don't think they'll be there at 32.
Now, on with the links...
1. My weekend notebook looks at a bunch of different stuff, including trying to craft a realistic timeline for Demaryius Thomas’ return to action, hearing from NFL Media draft analyst Daniel Jeremiah on some Patriots-related topics, trying to find some common threads when it comes to a typical Bill Belichick draft pick ... and much more.
2. Greg goes deep on seven quarterback prospects the Patriots might be interested in come draft weekend, including Daniel Jones, Will Grier and Clayton Thorson.
3. In his weekly notebook, Mike Reiss looks at some of the reasons why the Patriots have struggled to draft and develop wide receivers, and says New England needs to find another Deion Branch.
4. Watson is apparently thinking about a return, and I really like the idea of him back in Foxborough, at least on a part-time basis. Watson isn't Rob Gronkowski, but he is the very personification of a professional, and he caught 35 passes for 400 yards and a pair of touchdowns last year as a 38-year-old. You pair him with the likes of Noah Fant or another young draft pick, and you have the same sort of situation you had with Alge Crumpler in 2010 -- a respected veteran who can mentor a young talent.
5. Bryce Love -- who has grown into a pre-draft, late-round favorite of mine for the Patriots -- is apparently still suffering from knee stiffness. Tom Pelissero says the Love's knee "creates some concern for teams about whether or not (he) is going to regain his prior movement -- and in terms of his explosiveness -- and even if he does, how long will it take him to get back to 100 percent." Don't care. The more I think about this, the more I like the idea of New England taking him late, stashing him for 2019 and unleashing him in 2020.
7. Nate Davis of USA TODAY looks at all 32 teams and tries to assess their needs when it comes to quarterback. The Patriots are categorized -- along with the Giants, Broncos, Bengals and Chargers -- as "succession plan needed." Davis writes: "I know what you're thinking — it seems like Brian Hoyer, 33, could serve as Tom Brady's caddy forever. But the sad truth is that Hoyer isn't signed for 2020, so New England really needs to start assessing youngsters able to run out of the tunnel to 'Public Service Announcement,' deliver Brady's Gatorade and oversee the first-string offense in April, May, June and some parts of August."
8. South Carolina wide receiver Deebo Samuel said the highlights of his pre-draft tour included stops in Dallas and New England. After he spent some quality time in Foxborough, he posted an Instagram video where he told "Billy" Belichick that he'd see him again in a month. "It was pretty cool. I just thought he was like a really strict guy," Samuel said of meeting Belichick. "But (the video) really wasn't that serious. It was kind of a joke." Ho ho ho.
9. Doug Flutie talks about what he learned from Belichick and Brady when he played for the Patriots late in his career.
10. Got our weekly Q&A lined up for Monday afternoon. Make sure you get your questions in early, because it's going to be epic.
Extra Point: