Dipping our toe in some early draft waters to bring you an all-Patriots Senior Bowl team featuring players that would be good additions for what they like to do, and then we'll get into some tidbits on new offensive assistant Jedd Fisch...
OFFENSE
QB Jordan Love, Utah State (6-4, 223): Obviously Justin Herbert is the higher-rated player and is closer to being game-ready if Tom Brady should move on to another team, but Love has the better tools ... he just needs a lot more polish. Very good arm and a good athlete, you'll hear Patrick Mahomes comparisons that will be way off base.
RB Joshua Kelly, UCLA (5-11, 214): The Senior Bowl is a tough place for backs to standout in the running game but Kelly looked the part of a dual-threat with his ability to separate in coverage.
WR1 Van Jefferson, Florida (6-1.5, 197): One of the most polished route runners I've ever seen at the college level. Not the fastest guy but has enough quick twitch and knowledge (his dad is former NFL WR and current coach Shawn Jefferson) to gain separation. Reminded me of a taller Deion Branch.
https://twitter.com/RussNFLDraft/status/1219711843029192704
WR2 Denzel Mims, Baylor (6-2, 206): Big receiver and doesn't look like the fastest guy but then you see him pulling away from cornerbacks routinely. Very smooth.
https://twitter.com/Marcus_Mosher/status/1220073882796929025
Slot James Proche, SMU (5-10.5, 196): Very quick and gears up and down very quickly. Great hands. Would be excellent on the Patriots' option routes.
https://twitter.com/StatsGuyDaniel/status/1220425180784353280
TE Adam Trautman, Dayton (6-5, 251): Right now he's one of the best all-around TEs in the draft as he's got good quickness on pass routes and is a devastating blocker. But I'm not sure how the latter is going to translate to the next level at this time.
https://twitter.com/DaltonBMiller/status/1221153532004503553
https://twitter.com/CoachPaulAlex/status/1220676894267408384
TE Harrison Bryant, FAU (6-4.5, 242): Really athletic off the ball and is a willing blocker. Isn't too far behind Trautman. Daniel Jeremiah mentioned a Dennis Pitta comp and that sounds fairly accurate to me.
https://twitter.com/JaguarReport/status/1219714226119413760
TE Stephen Sullivan, LSU (6-5, 254): Former receiver is very much a raw prospect but, man, does he have some great athletic ability that I would very much up for trying to teach up if I'm the Patriots. ... Honorable mention to Josiah Deguara, Cincinnati, who is more of a flex TE and can play some FB.
https://twitter.com/BillyM_91/status/1220474291596251136
LT Josh Jones, Houston (6-7, 310): By far the most polished tackle in Mobile. Very quiet feet but loud hands that need some work.
LG Jonah Jackson, Ohio State (6-3.5, 310): Would be plug and play for the Patriots at left guard with some center versatility. Very good base and footwork anchoring.
C Matt Hennessy, Temple (6-4, 295): He's the best of the bunch but I was underwhelmed because I heard good things coming about him. Tough and competes. Good player. LSU's Lloyd Cushenberry is another good prospect here.
RG Ben Bredeson, Michigan (6-4.5, 316): Experienced player with a very strong base and good hands. Will likely be an immediate starter.
RT Ben Bartch, St John's MN (6-5.5, 308): Surprised how polished he was but he has very good feet and doesn't get flustered. Recovers well. He's going to go earlier than expected.
DEFENSE
Edge Kenny Willekes, Michigan State (6-3.5, 252): He's a better run defender than Chase Winovich, and has every bit the passion. Wouldn't mind seeing those guys paired together. Very strong and a good first step
https://twitter.com/ChaseGoodbread/status/1220080568039346182
DE Javon Kinlaw, South Carolina (6-5, 315): The big man showed enough on the first day as a mid-first-round pick that he shut it down after that. Exceptional quickness, power and a variety of moves. ... Honorable mention to Auburn's Marlon Davidson, who can play on my team anytime as an eventual Adam Butler replacement who is better against the run.
https://twitter.com/PFF_AustinGayle/status/1219712398371819524
NT Davon Hamilton, Ohio State (6-4, 327): The big men were in short supply with Utah's Leki Fotu held out with a calf injury, but a stout Hamilton was the best of the rest. He's tough to move and has power.
https://twitter.com/WingfieldNFL/status/1220073039351599104
DE Jason Stowbridge, North Carolina (6-4, 267): Terrific get-off speed along with good playing strength. Would need to add some weight but he should be able to handle it.
Edge Bradley Anae, Utah (6-3, 257): Reminds me a lot of Tully Banta-Cain with a little bit more size. Smart and versatile.
https://twitter.com/BillyM_91/status/1221167763303075841
MLB Malik Harrison, Ohio State (6-3, 246): Not a whole lot of great prospects here for the Patriots but Harrison showed an increased ability to cover, which would help.
https://twitter.com/JrodDraftScout/status/1220431269181501440
WLB Davion Taylor, Colorado (6-1, 224): May be small but he showed an ability to do a little bit of everything. The Patriots need a lot more speed at linebacker. Only played one game in high school and has much room to grow.
S Kyle Dugger, Lenoir Rhyne (6-1, 217): Took him a while to catch up to the competition but he looked the party of a versatile safety/linebacker who can do a variety of things. Showed great coverage against the tight ends. Great blitzer.
https://twitter.com/DaltonBMiller/status/1221180154485133317
S Jalen Elliott, S, Notre Dame (6-1, 205): Great coverage ability, as you can see here against Trautman.
https://twitter.com/JaredStanger/status/1221145015180644353
CB Tony Pride, Notre Dame (5-11, 193): Slim pickings at cornerback down here after some key injuries, but Pride was clearly the best player in coverage and was physical as well.
CB A.J. Green, Oklahoma State (6-1, 199): Patriots don't need this type with JaJuan Williams but Green is a good, physical corner with some versatility.
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A couple of tidbits on new Patriots offensive assistant Jedd Fisch, whose specific position has yet to be determined:
- He came to Patriots camp as a guest for a few days in 2017 when he was the offensive coordinator at UCLA.
- He's been known to be a very creative mind. Can have a little bit of an ego and can come off as a know-it-all, but that's not all that out of the ordinary or anything in this league. He hasn't lasted longer than two years in any job since he was an offensive assistant for the Ravens from 2004-07.
- I just think his presence is a plus because between current offensive assistants Nick Caley, Cole Popovich and Mick Lombardi ... there isn't a whole lot of experience or age. You would think he would step in and be the receivers coach. He coached that position in 2008 with the Broncos.
- Fisch didn't play high school or college football. That's very rare in the NFL for an on-field coach.
- When he was in his first year as offensive coordinator of the Jaguars in 2013, I interviewed him for TheMMQB.com. Pretty hard-hitting stuff: