INDIANAPOLIS — As the NFL universe invades Indianapolis for the annual NFL Scouting Combine, here are the latest developments worth monitoring from a Patriots perspective.
New England will keep all options open at quarterback but if they are interested in Jayden Daniels of LSU, they'll have to wait until his pro day to see him let the cannon loose. Daniels announced his intent to bypass the throwing portion of the combine, along with USC star Caleb Williams. Additionally, Ohio State wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr., considered to be in play at No.3, announced that he will only be conducting interviews in Indy and will not workout at the Buckeyes pro day. The unorthodox draft prep approach has been led by his Hall of Fame father, Marvin Harrison, as they have also opted to navigate the process without an agent.
With the latest rumblings that quarterback Russell Wilson could possibly be willing to play for the veteran minimum should he be released by the Denver Broncos, the Patriots would presumably be among the potential suitors. In that scenario, the organization could still pursue a rookie quarterback later in the draft.
One prospect worth considering in the mid-rounds would be South Carolina signal-caller Spencer Rattler. Written off by some many moons ago, Rattler has salvaged his draft stock with a handful of big performances against top-ranked opponents and SEC foes. Blessed with a strong arm and the mobility to extend plays, the one-time heralded Oklahoma recruit appeared to be the best quarterback during Senior Bowl Week. From Dak Prescott (Cowboys) to Aiden O'Connell (Raiders) and Brock Purdy (49ers), there tends to be a wildcard quarterback in the mid-to-late rounds nearly every draft, Rattler could be that find in the Class of 2024.
Not every NFL team made the trek to New Hampshire to check out multi-faceted running back Dylan Laube, who amassed 371 all-purpose yards in a game against Central Michigan this past season, including 295 receiving yards! His performance on the big stage in Mobile was essentially a coming out party, as he dazzled throughout the week, flashing great burst and acceleration, while making the most of his opportunity. Laube, who came in at 5-foot-10, 210 pounds, clocked in at an eye-popping 20.4 mph on the Catapult tracking technology. His measurements and skill set are nearly identical to that of former Patriots running back Danny Woodhead. Don't be surprised to see Laube, a projected Day Three selection, enjoy a similar type of impact at the next level. He will work one final time on March 21st at Holy Cross pro day, with New England expected to be in attendance.
The wide receiver position must be addressed. Is there an echo in the room? Much ado has been made about the wide receiver depth atop the draft but New England also needs to scour the later rounds for additional firepower. Enter USC target Brendan Rice, son of the legendary Jerry Rice. When you talk about lengthy, big body wide receivers who can work the sidelines and play the boundary, Rice fits the bill at 6-foot-2, 212 pounds. He made an extensive amount of impressive catches during Senior Bowl week and looks to be a red zone mismatch, with the upside to develop into a starter down the road. In fact, one of the more impressionable moments in Mobile may have been the younger Rice waiving off his father, the GOAT, as he attempted to coach him up in between practice drills. Of course, New England is no stranger to having selected the son of Hall of Fame inductees; recently retired Matthew Slater could have a chance to join his father Jackie Slater, in Canton.
New Patriots offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt has stated that smarts and toughness are two characteristics that they will seek out in the draft due to the complexity of their offensive scheme and the versatility required. Arizona offensive tackle Jordan Morgan would certainly fit that category. A four-year starter, it was evident to see the great experience on display at the Senior Bowl, as Morgan demonstrated fundamentally sound mechanics, consistent hand placement and superb footwork. He was also one of the more formidable offensive line prospects during one-on-one drills. At 6-foot-5, 312 pounds, Morgan possesses adequate size. However, his arm length came in a shade under 33 inches, which is not ideal (scouting note: Most NFL teams prefer offensive tackles with 34-inch arms). Due to measurables, Morgan could potentially still be on the board for New England at the top of round two and would be viewed as a starting candidate.
With zero veteran tight ends signed to the current roster, it's safe to say the Patriots will be in the market for a tight end via the draft. One ho-hum player who goes about his business in a workman-like fashion is Kansas State tight end Ben Sinnott. While there is nothing flashy on film, Sinnott owns all the traits of a prototypical tight end. Known to be a reliable blocker, he proved more than capable of being an asset in the passing attack at K-State and would be a great fit for New England. He measured at 6-foot-4, 254 pounds at the Senior Bowl and there is talk that Sinnott could run in the mid-4.6 range. Despite a few drops down in Mobile, a strong combine showing could push him into top 100 overall consideration. With his polish, versatility and sneaky athleticism, Sinnott could make a Kevin Boss-type impact on the Patriots offense.
One player whose draft stock would best be described as volatile heading into the combine would be Texas defensive tackle T'Vondre Sweat. Despite being an unblockable force throughout the week of Senior Bowl practice, opinions vary as to just how high NFL teams are willing to draft a two-down plugger; the days of players such as Ted Washington are long gone. On the contrary, it's rare to see a massive man move with such nimble agility, explosive burst and brute strength. Sweat is a true people pusher who pummels opposing linemen and can open up rush lanes for backers to plug. But is he a luxury or a necessity? Standing in at 6-foot-4, Sweat refused to step on the scales in Mobile, so the weigh-ins at Indianapolis could carry heavy influence on his draft stock. If New England trades back and compiles additional picks, they may want to consider this 'One Man Gang.'
When meeting with the assembled media last week, defensive coordinator DeMarcus Covington made sure to emphasize that the team will place a great emphasis on physical, aggressive defenders who can create turnovers. Alabama linebacker Chris Braswell is coming off a season in which he created three forced fumbles, along with a pick-six interception return, while proving to be a formidable pass-rusher, collecting 10.5 tackles for loss and eight sacks. There's a possibility that the 6-foot-3, 257-pound Braswell will still be on the board by time the Patriots' second-round pick rolls around at No.34 overall. It's also true that he may remind Jerod Mayo and Co. of another Crimson Tide alumni and former teammate, current Pats' linebacker coach Dont'a Hightower.
One method of finding draft day value is to seek out highly talented players who have fallen into the 'hybrid' category, which can make certain organizations leery of selecting them early on. That label may apply to Miami safety-turned-linebacker James Williams. The hovering 6-foot-4, 230-pound ball-hawk is a dependable wrap-up tackler who has made his share of bone-jarring hits. Finding a specific role for players such as Williams can reap great dividends for teams willing to roll the dice. The Patriots made such a move in the 2023 NFL Draft when they chose Sacramento State safety Marte Mapu 76th overall and converted him to linebacker. Williams is even bigger, faster and stronger but does not nearly receive the accolades he deserves.
The safety class is strong and 6-foot, 208-pound Maryland defensive back Beau Brade is what you would call a clean prospect due to his fundamentals, footwork, experience and top-notch awareness. His physicality and instincts, along with above average pass coverage skills make him an under the radar prospect entering Indy. Word is he will test in the top percentile, which could continue to propel him up draft boards. With New England forced to make a decision soon on whether to use the franchise tag on Kyle Dugger and Jalen Mills expected to test the open market, New England would benefit from using one of their mid-to-late round selections on a versatile safety.
Make sure you check back at BSJ for exclusive coverage of the 2024 NFL Scouting Combine. New England Patriots executive Eliot Wolf will conduct a podium interview with the national and local media affiliates. Plus, we take you inside Lucas Oil Stadium with the latest whispers from Indianapolis! For more from Ric Serritella be sure to follow him @ricserritella.