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A few leftover thoughts from the NFL Combine ...
• As always, there is a lot of talk about the QBs. C.J. Stroud (Ohio St) was really smooth throwing the ball. Will Levis (Kentucky) has a great arm and it showed. Anthony Richardson (Florida) is a rare physical prospect for the QB position. The team that drafts him will need to be patient, but his upside is obvious (so is the downside). Someone will fall in love and place a big bet early. Bryce Young (Alabama) didn’t throw but he didn’t really need to.
I think there’s a realistic chance that four QBs will be drafted before the Patriots pick. This is good news for the franchise because this isn’t a deep class of top-tier first-round prospects. Of the top 4 QBs (Young, Stroud, Richardson, and Levis), I think the only one that could drop would be Levis. That’s unlikely, but something to watch that wouldn’t benefit the Patriots (unless they used their pick to get a haul and move back). I think Hendon Hooker (Tennessee) will go higher (Day 2) than people expect. I don’t think the Patriots will invest in a backup that early. The late-round target for Patriots fans to watch is Dorian Thompson-Robinson (UCLA). He brings something to their QB room that they don’t have (athleticism), has lots of play experience under an NFL coach, and played for the Patriots staff at the Shrine Bowl. He’s not perfect but they will need to add to their QB room anyway.
• WR Jaxon Smith-Njigba (Ohio St) reminded everyone why he’s going to be the first WR taken. Really smooth player and his change of direction is elite. I think the Patriots will be lucky if he’s still on the board at 14. He’d be a stud in their offense.
• CB Devon Witherspoon (Illinois) didn’t test at the Combine due to a hamstring injury. If he runs a good 40 at his pro day, I don’t expect him to be there. The other top corners Christian Gonzalez (Oregon) and Joey Porter Jr. (Penn St) had good days. Porter should probably run again at this pro day, but he did break 4.5. The top corners in the NFL run in the low 4.4’s (and average 6-foot-1).
• The other corners that impressed were Julius Brents (Kansas St) and Deonte Banks (Maryland). Jakorian Bennett (Maryland) is a prospect I like (he has the most PBUs in college football over the last 2 years) but I see him as more of a nickel. Patriots seemingly have enough nickels.
• LB Jack Campbell (Iowa) had an elite 3-cone and a top broad jump. His production has been great but for a bigger player (6-5, 249 pounds) the question has always been his athleticism. Well, he ran fast enough, showed great agility, and the broad jump is a good indicator of athleticism. There’s a lot of talk about Drew Sanders (Arkansas) as a potential first-rounder. I like Campbell better.
• I thought TE Sam LaPorta (Iowa) was very good. I had him #2 on my preseason positional rankings but he was hindered by a stagnant Hawkeye offense. He’d be a good target for the Patriots in the third round. Brenton Strange (Penn St) also looked good. He’s a Day 3 pick but if he had stayed in school another year he would go higher. It’s a deep class with a bunch of options.
• Lastly, on the Iowa Hawkeye front, DE Lukas Van Ness had a strong combine. Good mix of power and potential. I didn’t drill into him during the season because I expected him to return but he’s likely a first-rounder. You’ll see a lot of comments about how he didn’t even start at Iowa. Don’t worry about it, that’s how Kirk Ferentz runs the program. Upperclassmen get the start.
• DE Adetomiwa Adebawore (Northwestern) and DT Calijah Kancey (Pitt) had incredible testing performances. It’s unfair to compare anyone to Aaron Donald but Kancey’s testing, measurements, and track record for the Panthers are in the same ballpark. Both would be exceptions to the Patriots scheme.
• WR Charlie Jones (Purdue) is an intriguing Day 3 pick. Reliable hands and good after-the-catch (excellent return ability). The Patriots need players who can make things happen after the catch.
• Broderick Jones (Georgia), Paris Johnson Jr. (Ohio St), Darnell Wright (Tennessee), and Blake Freeland (BYU) were the most impressive tackles.
LT Blake Freeland, who I compared to Solder earlier in the year, but struggled at the Senior Bowl, tested at an elite level. He broke the vertical record (held by Buccaneers LT Tristan Wirfs) and had the best broad (explosiveness) in the last 20 years. He also ran the fastest 40 time. Not a huge surprise given his athletic background. Ultimately his pad level and strike accuracy, not measured at the Combine, will determine his success.
OL Peter Skoronski (Northwestern) is technically sound and athletic. Unfortunately, his arm length is likely going to necessitate a move to guard. Good chance he’s there for the Patriots at 14 if they want him. Zach Martin (Cowboys) is a good comp.
TE Darnell Washington (Georgia) made an incredible one-handed catch on a red zone fade drill and showed off his functional strength in the blocking drills. I was hoping he’d be an option for the Patriots in Round 2, but he may have tested himself into the first round.
Top 40 times
Michigan CB DJ Turner II - 4.26
Maryland CB Jakorian Bennett - 4.30
Texas A&M RB Devon Achane - 4.32
Nebraska WR Trey Palmer - 4.33
Maryland CB Deonte Banks - 4.35
Mississippi State CB Emmanuel Forbes - 4.35