Over the last five years, the Patriots are eighth in the league in selecting prospects that played in the Senior Bowl (16). The Vikings lead the league with 22 and the Bills are the only team in the AFC East with more (18).
For New England, nearly half (seven) players have come from the last two Senior Bowls: Mac Jones, Rhamondre Stevenson, Joshuah Bledsoe, Kyle Dugger, Josh Uche, Anfernee Jennings and Justin Herron. The Patriots love this game, which is often filled with experienced players who have been captains — traits they typically weigh strongly. So let's take a deeper dive on the players who fit what the Patriots do.
A few caveats around the selections. Only counting guys that played this week and not any of the opt-outs that I like (Devin Lloyd, Cameron Thomas, Marcus Jones, etc.). Secondly, these aren’t necessarily the best players at every position, these are the best fits for the Patriots by position. Lastly, other than QB, I did NOT filter by expected draft round or need.
There were some tough choices, but the good news is that the Patriots got a chance to interview everyone and see all these guys in person against top-tier competition.
OFFENSE
QB Bailey Zappe (Western Kentucky): The Patriots aren’t taking anyone early and Zappe may be the only one available on Day 3 when the Patriots could consider depth. Kenny Pickett (Pitt) would fit their program best, but he’ll be gone in Round 1. Zappe is a really accurate, cerebral player who got better as the week went along. He could be a Case Keenum type, with a long career as a backup.
RB Abram Smith (Baylor): I’ve been a fan of his from the beginning and he showed better hands than I expected. He also does a great job protecting the football. I went with him over Brian Robinson Jr. (Alabama) because Smith will contribute on special teams right away.
Third-Down RB Tyler Badie (Missouri): He was good in the screen game, held onto the football, and was competitive in pass protection.
WR1 Christian Watson (North Dakota): Checks some boxes for the Patriots. He’s 6-4, 211 with good speed, routes, and hands. What impressed me this week is that he wasn’t out of place against better competition. The best part, he was consistent all week.
WR2 Dontario Drummond (Ole Miss): In general, player comparisons to Deebo Samuel will be overused going forward; he’s a top 5 WR this year and they don’t grow on trees. That said, Drummond is built like a RB (6-foot, 217); uses his body effectively, hand catches pretty well, and can be effective with the ball in his hands. Keep in mind, the Patriots were ahead of the curve with their usage of Cordarrelle Patterson.
Slot WR Khalil Shakir (Boise State): He improved as the week moved along and finished as the best slot player. He has good footwork which helps him get off the line and be efficient with his routes. I also considered Bo Melton (Rutgers).
TE Isaiah Likely (Coastal Carolina): Deep position and I went with a move TE to get more weapons on the field to support Jones in the passing game, especially the play action. Likely is dangerous after the catch. He won’t win blocking battles against NFL edge defenders, at least early, but he is willing to mix it up. Grant Dulcich (UCLA) is another candidate who has good speed, is productive up the seam, and good after the catch.
OT Trevor Penning (Northern Iowa): The best offensive lineman in Mobile this week. Played with the physicality that scouts love. He has the size the Patriots prefer (6-6, 330).
OT Max Mitchell (Louisiana): Not an immediate starter, he needs to add more NFL weight (6-5, 299) and anchor to start at LT. But he has the frame, solid footwork and he’s accurate with his hands.
OG Jamaree Salyer (Georgia): Former tackle who will move inside. He’s athletic enough to quickly recover on pass sets and good on the move.
OG Ed Ingram (LSU): When I spoke to interior defensive linemen from the SEC about the best players they faced all year, one of the names I heard was Ingram. He had some great reps this week, even against a really strong lineup. Also considered Marquis Mayes (Oklahoma) who was an impressive combination of size and athleticism.
C Zion Johnson (BC): He’s going to ace his interviews with teams. They love him as a person, teammate, and learner. He has good footwork and a very strong anchor. Teams will love that he entered the week as the top-rated guard in Mobile, but he was willing to move to center and worked the craft after every practice. Luke Fortner (Kentucky) was also considered. Nothing flashy but I expect him to be a good long-term pro.
FSU DE Jermaine Johnson II
DEFENSE
Edge Jermaine Johnson II (Florida St): Perhaps the best player in Mobile this week. He dominated on the field, and he’ll do just as well in interviews. I wrote in November that I thought he was a first-round pick, and he left no doubt after his play against top-tier talent. He may not be there when the Patriots select.
DL Phidarian Mathis (Alabama): We’ll keep the Alabama pipeline going. Mathis can play the run and push a pocket. Very balanced player that has versatility to play a number of techniques. I also considered Logan Hall (Houston), who has the Richard Seymour body type.
NT Travis Jones (UConn): He was the most physically imposing player I saw all week. He would immediately help the Patriots run game. I mentioned him in the Senior Bowl Preview but after the practices this week, he’s going to be on everyone’s radar. Neil Farrell Jr. (LSU) would be a good backup option although he carries more “bad weight”.
Edge Kingsley Enagbare (South Carolina): Physical player with enough size to set the edge. He takes a good first step and was effective at getting by blockers to the QB this week. Another player who impressed was Boye Mafe (Minnesota).
ILB Chad Muma (Wyoming): He did a good job taking coaching and he’s a tackling machine. Not flashy but I think he’ll be a long-term pro. Aaron Hansford (Texas A&M) was also considered but I wouldn’t expect him to make as much of an impact as a rookie.
ILB Damone Clark (LSU): He wears the fabled “18” at LSU, given to the defensive leader within the program. Still needs to improve getting off blocks but he was a good combination of speed, physicality, and athleticism. D’Marco Jackson (App State) plays with good speed and intensity but he’s smaller than their traditional middle linebacker.
OLB Darrin Beavers (Cincinnati): Patriots like players with versatility, experience, and smarts. He checks all those boxes. He can play traditional LB, but I think his role at the next level is on the Edge. Very smart, physical, and he would obviously be athletic enough to play that role; a future replacement for Kyle Van Noy.
CB Roger McCreary (Auburn): His height (5-11, 189) and arm length (29 inches) will be a topic going forward but he was the best corner. He’s smooth and competitive in coverage.
CB Coby Bryant (Cincinnati): He’s a competitor who challenges every football. He wasn’t always flashy, but he was effective. I also considered Tariq Woolen (UTSA) who was the biggest and the fastest corner in Mobile. He’ll run a 4.3 at the Combine but I’ll be interested in agility drills. While speed and size are important, loose hips and footwork are more important in that position, at least in man coverage.
FS Alontae Taylor (Tennessee): Cheating a bit here as Taylor technically plays corner but I think his speed and experience playing in a zone scheme would better translate to safety within the Pats defense. I also considered Leon O’Neal (Texas A&M), who was more fluid than I expected and is seen as a leader within that Aggie program.
SS Jalen Pitre (Baylor): I've been talking about Jalen all year and the best way to describe him is as an instinctive football player. The size is definitely a concern (5-10, 196) as a safety, but he held up well this week. Essentially a bigger Myles Bryant (I mean that as a compliment) with the hope that he could turn into a player like Tyrann Mathieu.