The New England Patriots continue to scour the pro day trails, leaving no stone unturned, as several local area schools conducted workouts this past week. It began at Boston College, where the Eagles and head coach Bill O’Brien set the stage for a big week ahead. New England was sure to send a large contingent from the front office and coaching staff to Chestnut Hill, led by head coach Mike Vrabel.
From there, it was a busy week for Patriots personnel coordinator Brian Smith, whose reputation as a grinder has led to numerous under-the-radar selections for the organization over the past two decades. As he has done on numerous occasions, Smith took the lead role amongst NFL scouts in attendance to conduct pro day workouts at Holy Cross, Central Connecticut State (CCSU), and UConn.
While UConn drew representatives from 27 NFL teams, New England was one of the few teams on-site for Holy Cross and CCSU workouts. Quarterback Brady Olson was the main attraction at CCSU. However, he was also invited to participate at the UConn pro day, so the Patriots were forced to wait to see the 6-foot-3, 207-pound signal-caller up close.
Once they did, they were impressed with what they saw from Olson, who demonstrated a quick release, excellent zip on his ball velocity and a very strong arm to air the ball out deep downfield. There were a few hiccups in his intermediate accuracy, and Olson poses as a traditional pocket-passer who doesn’t own much mobility (timed in the 4.8 range on his forty-yard dash runs). However, New England was satisfied enough to invite him to the local rookie pro day on April 7th. “This opportunity means so much,” Olson said. “Especially growing up as a Pats fan, it’s pretty surreal.”
The Patriots recently announced the release of backup quarterback Joshua Dobbs, bumping up four-year veteran Tommy DeVito as the immediate fill-in behind starter Drake Maye. That leaves the door open for the Patriots to possibly bring in a developmental third-string quarterback. Should Olson land with New England, it would not be the first time that the organization has signed a signal-caller from CCSU. Backup Jacob Dolegala had a brief stint with the organization as an undrafted free agent in 2020.
Olson played two seasons for the Blue Devils after spending three years at UMass. This past season, he re-wrote the school’s record books, establishing new single-season marks for completions (271), passing yards (3,123), and touchdowns (25), becoming the first quarterback in the history of the program to lead CCSU to back-to-back NEC Championships. Earlier in the season, he set a new single-game school record with 423 passing yards. He certainly carries a lethal arm, along with prototype size and production that is hard to ignore.
Throwing alongside Olson was UConn signal-caller Joe Fagnano, a potential late-round prospect in the upcoming draft. Measuring in at 6-foot-3 and 226 pounds, Fagnano looked very smooth working the short-to-intermediate throws, while showcasing nice touch on his deep balls and also highlighted his ability to throw on the move with several rollout throws.
“This is something you dream about since you started playing football,” Fagnano said following the workout. “Right when we got on the field and we started doing some drills, all that went away. Just the reps and the stuff that I had with these guys just makes it go that much smoother.” Fagnano was most comfortable when targeting his top wideout, Skyler Bell, a connection that Huskies fans had become accustomed to hearing over the past two years.
It was an arousing overall workout for Bell, who stated a strong case amongst the NFL decision-makers in attendance that he is worthy of a top pick next month. The 5-foot-11, 192-pound wideout is considered a bit undersized but brings extreme speed, registering a 4.40 forty-yard dash time at the combine. He proceeded to lay down some more impressive marks at pro day timing 4.11 in the short shuttle and 6.65 in the three-cone, a testament to his sudden burst and change of direction capability.
A precision route runner, Bell became the first player in UConn history to record 12 receiving touchdowns in a single season, surpassing the previous record of 11 set by Carl Bond in 1998. He admitted to having an in-season text exchange with former Patriots wideout Stefon Diggs, a player he said that he resembles from a playing style. His quick feet, shiftiness and top-end speed were on full display throughout the day.
“It’s football, at the end of the day,” Bell said post-workout. “I come out here, I did my shuttles, and after that, I’m just running routes, man. It is what I have been doing for a while now, so I am just trying to put my skills on display, stay smooth, look fast and catch everything.” The Bronx native has impressed every step of the way throughout the draft performance. With solid showings at the East-West Shrine Bowl, NFL Combine and pro day, Bell has now positioned himself to be a possible Day 2 selection.
Another potential Patriots target participating at UConn pro day was tight end Louis Hansen. An astute blocker who was originally recruited by Jim Harbaugh at Michigan, Hansen was showcased more as a pass-catcher this past year for the Huskies. The Dover, Massachusetts, all-state standout from St. Sebastian’s School measured in at 6-foot-4 and 248 pounds, while posting 22 bench press reps of 225 pounds, a 31” vertical jump, and 9-foot-7 broad jump. In addition, he showed surprising speed, testing in the mid-4.5-range in the forty-yard dash. This is one player worth monitoring following the draft.
One last notable from the Huskies pro day featured linebacker Byrun Parham, who set career-highs in tackles (126), tackles for loss (15.5), sacks (10.5), forced fumbles (three) and fumble recoveries (three). The 5-foot-11, 221-pound heartbeat of the Huskies' defense lacks size and speed (4.78 on both forty-yard dash attempts) but compensates with superb instincts as a read-and-react instinctual linebacker. He would later add a 28” vertical jump, 9-foot-7 broad jump and 16 bench press reps of 225 pounds. During positional drills Parham displayed fluid lateral movement and sticky hands for a defender. He too, also projects as an undrafted free agent.
While Vrabel didn’t make the round for the remainder of the regional workouts, he capped off the big pro day week with an appearance at Arizona State on Friday, offering a glimpse into the Patriots' possible thinking at No.31 overall. The headliner for the Sun Devils is none other than offensive tackle Max Iheanachor, a player who has often been linked to the Patriots in round one, including our most recent Patriots seven-round mock draft.
The Patriots head coach might as well have brought his shoulder pads to the workout, as he locked horns with Iheanachor on numerous occasions, taking him through some hand placement drills and getting a feel for his strength. "It was definitely fun," Iheanachor told reporters after the pro day, also noting that he had an upcoming ‘30-visit’ with the organization. "He had some keys for me. It's really a big blessing for me to learn from him and him being hands-on and telling me what I need to work on."
It would be a great selection to add a high-caliber prospect such as Iheanachor with their first round draft choice, but New England shouldn’t necessarily hold their breath, as an early run on offensive tackles is expected to occur on Day 1 of the draft, and the Arizona State product is a plug-and-play type talent. Clearly, the Patriots are at least considering going ‘big’ in round one.
Be sure to keep it locked to Boston Sports Journal for our continued Patriots draft coverage, leading up to the April 23rd festivities in Pittsburgh. Our next column will elaborate more on Iheanachor, along wth other players that the Patriots have lined up for official ‘30 visits.’
PLAYERS MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
OLSON, BRADY | Central Connecticut State | QB | Sr | #12 | Bellingham, MA | PFA
Evaluation: An experienced starter of tall stature, Olson is razor-sharp when scanning the field and taking what the defense gives him in his progressions. Making the transition to the next level, he will need to firm up his command of the huddle, as he sometimes struggles to lead his receivers. Olson gets the ball out quickly with zip and accuracy. He excels in the pocket, buying enough time to keep his eyes downfield. However, his footwork is choppy on short passes. Olson demonstrates the attributes of a dependable practice squad member, working to address areas for improvement and showing potential to become a reliable long-term backup.
Background: College Gridiron Showcase participant. Transferred from UMass, where he played in 19 games. A three-star prospect from Milford High School.
Stats: Played 13 games in 2025, completed 271-of-458 passes (59.2%), 3,132 yards, 25 touchdowns, seven interceptions, 131.6 rating; ran 75 times, 203 yards (2.7 average), two touchdowns. In 26 games at CCSU, completed 456-of-820 passes (55.6%), 5,371 yards, 42 touchdowns, 19 interceptions; ran 136 times, for 343 yards (2.5 average), five touchdowns.
JOE FAGNANO | UConn | QB | rSr | #2 | Williamsport, PA | Day 3
Evaluation: A smooth operator, Fagnano is a well-coached player who maintains a calm, cool and collective demeanor, while demonstrating keen pre-snap awareness, plus poise in the pocket. He owns a true command of the offense, displaying great anticipation and getting of the ball quickly. Fagnano has showcased toughness on his willingness to hang in the pocket and absorb big hits. However, he can also throw on the move and run when needed. One of the best attributes regarding Fagnano is his calm, cool demeanor, especially in two-minute and late-game situations. To say that Fagnano is accurate might be an understatement, as he went 346 pass attempts without an interception in 2025. There is some past medical history that could result in a variance of his draft stock. However, there are plenty of tools that could translate well to the next level and Fagnano could be worth a late round roll of the dice, as one of the more polished quarterback prospects.
Background: Last name pronounced (fin-YAN-oh). A seventh-year senior and former walk-on at Maine (2019-22), where he played three seasons under UConn offensive coordinator Nick Charlton. In addition to getting an extra year of eligibility because of the COVID season, he also played in only four games during the 2021 season at the University of Maine. Then, after transferring to UConn in the 2023 season, he suffered a season-ending shoulder injury. During his first season at UConn in 2023, he suffered a season-ending shoulder injury in the second game of the year. An All-State Wyoming Area Offensive Player of the Year coming out of high school.
Stats: Played 12 games in 2025, completed 285-of-413 passes (69%), 3,448 Yards, 28 touchdowns, one interception, 161.0 rating; ran 47 times, 131 yards (2.8 average), three touchdowns. In 24 career games at UConn, completed 423-of-654 passes (64.7%), 5,252 yards, 48 touchdowns, six interceptions, 154.5 rating; ran 93 times, 223 yards (2.4 average), four touchdowns.
BELL, SKYLER | UConn | WR | #1 | rSr | Bronx, NY | Day 3
Evaluation: A route-running technician, the UConn offense ran through Bell, who blends crisp footwork with fluid hips and movement skills, along with immense athleticism. A versatile player who can be a matchup problem when lining up out wide, or in the slot, he gets a quick release off the snap of the ball and can create separation against tight-man coverage. Bell is adept at running the complete route tree, especially when finding soft spots in zone coverage. In addition, the Bronx native flashes superb sideline awareness, especially when it comes to keeping his feet in bounds. Bell possesses superb elusiveness and speed when the ball is in his hands, unlocking his yards-after-catch prowess but he needs to keep the ball high and tight in closed quarters. Another area of development for Bell is as a pass-catcher, adjusting his catch radius. Bell struggles to get high on the ball when adjusting, leading to inconsistent hands. The main area of development is blocking, as Bell needs to put more effort into blocking downfield, while keeping his hands inside. Overall, Bell projects as one of the more explosive wideouts in the draft and should provide ultimate value on his projected Day 2 draft status.
Background: Combine and Senior Bowl invite. Appeared in 39 games (27 starts) at UConn (2024-25) and Wisconsin (2021-23). Named consensus All-American (2025). A three-star recruit from The Taft School.
Stats: Played 13 games, had 101 catches, 1,278 yards (12.7 average), 13 touchdowns. In 52 career games, had 220 catches, 2,893 yards (13.2 average), 24 touchdowns.
HANSEN, LOUIS | UConn | TE | Sr | #81 | Dover, MA | HPFA
Evaluation: Known for his stout blocking, Hansen was featured more prominently as a pass-catcher this year in Storrs. His quickness and change of direction are evident, as witnessed at his pro day, where he recorded marks of 4.19 in the short shuttle and 6.99 in the three-cone drill, both of which would have ranked first amongst tight ends invited to the combine. As a blocker, Hansen displays versatile skills, allowing him to be used in-line or on the perimeter. In run-blocking situations, he is highly physical at the point of attack, exploding off the ball with his first two steps. The Massachusetts native is relentless, especially when pushing the pile to help spring extra yardage. Hansen demonstrates an excellent second-level track, latching onto defenders with his hands inside their breastplates and remaining active as he re-wraps his hands. However, he must maintain leverage, as his pad level creeps up when delivering a blow. On the inside zone, he gives a jolting pop on wham blocks but sometimes struggles to recognize spillers down the line. In pass protection, he brings a nice, wide base when asked to chip, in order to buy more time for the quarterback. Areas for development in pass protection include a cleaner punch and continuing to look for work when uncovered, though he is one of the better tight ends in this area of the draft. As a pass-catcher, Hansen is a bit heavy-footed on his initial step, causing him to false-step at release, while gaining ground on second and third steps, as he compensates. He is a precise route runner in the short game but does tend to drift at the top of routes during intermediate and deep passes. The main concern is his ability to gain separation at the top of his route against man coverage. Hansen catches the ball with strong hands and shows a keen ability to churn yardage after the catch and adjusts his catch radius fairly well when finding soft spots in zone coverage. Lastly, Hansen has shown that he can ascend levels effectively, yet he struggles to adapt his catch radius in jump-ball situations. Heading into the draft, Hansen isn’t expected to hear his name called but owns enough traits to earn his way onto a 53-man roster.
Background: A transfer from Michigan, where he played in three games from 2021 to 2022, while earning Academic All-Big Ten honors. His last year of high school football was canceled due to COVID-19. A four-star recruit from St. Sebastian's School, he was a four-year letterman at tight end and defensive end, earning spots on the Super 26 All-State Football Team, All-ISL first team, and the Boston Herald/Boston Globe All-Scholastic Teams (2018 & 2019). He was also a 2020 team captain. In addition to football, he was a four-year letterman on the basketball team and was named team captain in 2020. He is the son of Michael and Cindy Hansen.
Stats: Played 13 games in 2025, had 20 catches, 194 yards (9.7 average). In 40 career games, caught 46 balls, 463 yards (10.1 average), four touchdowns.
PARHAM, BYRUN | UConn | LB | rSr | #6 | Long Beach, CA | PFA
Evaluation: A highly productive member of the Huskies defense, Parham is a versatile thumper who can play both off and on-ball linebacker. He possesses great play speed and range to fly around the field. In addition, the California native owns fluid hips, which enable him to change direction smoothly. Parham is known as a vicious tackler who closes in on the ball-carrier with ferocity. As an off-ball backer, Parham reads his keys instinctively as a blitzer, as wel as in the run game, shooting the gap immediately when seeing holes develop. Parham displays adequate hand usage in block destruction, extending to bench press his opponent. In pass coverage, he has super read-and-react ability to reach his landmarks, along with the eye discipline to manipulate the opposing quarterback’s movements. However, Parham needs to refine his ball skills to make more plays in coverage. As an on-ball backer, he has an explosive first two steps, followed by a quick upfield burst. His best pass-rush move is speed-to-power but he needs a concrete pass-rush plan that incorporates counter moves into his toolbox. The areas he needs to improve are taking a more leadership role by commanding the huddle and ensuring teammates are lined up. However, the main areas of development are in his pursuit effort and tackling angles. Lastly, Parham measures a shade under six feet tall, which could be the biggest hindrance to his pursuit of sticking at the next level. Look for him to find his way into a rookie minicamp, where he will really need to earn his keep as a special teams contributor.
Background: He is a double transfer from San Jose State via Washington. At San Jose State, he received All-Mountain West honors in 2023. A three-star recruit out of Long Beach Poly in California, he was a two-time CalHiSports all-state honoree, a first-team all-state player in 2021, the 2021 Moore League MVP, an All-CIF Division II Southern Section pick, and a 2019 first-team All-Moore League selection.
Stats: Played 13 games in 2025, had 126 tackles 15.5 tackles for loss, 10.5 sacks, three forced fumbles, three fumble recoveries, one pass deflection, one interception. In 49 career games, made 336 tackles, 26.5 tackles for loss, 16 sacks, seven forced fumbles, five fumble recoveries, seven pass deflections, two interceptions.
IHEANACHOR, MAX | Arizona State | OT | rSr | Los Angeles, CA | Day 2
Evaluation: Iheanachor embodies one of the more contrasting offensive tackle evaluations in the upcoming draft class, as he presents a high ceiling with excellent athleticism but also a very low floor due to his raw technique. Well-suited for more athletic-oriented blocking schemes at the next level, the Sun Devils protector possesses elite movement skills and elasticity for a blocker of his stature. His most transferable skills directly relate to the swiftness in his feet. The larger-bodied offensive lineman inherits “dancer’s feet” that allows him to effortlessly mirror defenders in the pass game with quick lateral movements, but also makes him capable of reaching the second level of a defense and getting out in open space when run blocking. His efforts in pass protection are often highlighted by his consistent understanding of maintaining a wide base that supports the blocker’s balance and enables him to control his lateral speed. However, much of Iheanachor’s efficiency in pass pro stems from his surplus athleticism, granting him an advantage against slower defenders. The redshirt senior displays a need for significant growth in his hand placement and striking ability as he repeatedly fails to dictate the engagement with defenders. Furthermore, the veteran tackle may be a giant, but his stature is more “high-waisted,” which often hurts his chances against more powerful edge rushers, as his anchor is not the most stable. The athletic bookend is generally a better run blocker than a pass blocker. With his athleticism, he effortlessly reaches any assignment while maintaining a mauler mindset. Occasionally, there will be plays that Iheanachor will have a mental lapse and miss a block, but when he locks onto his target, they usually end up on the ground. His biggest struggle in the run game returns to his “high-wasted” stature, which will often result in him raising his pad levels too high and limiting his power to drive defenders out of their gaps. The best chance for Iheanachor to achieve high-level success at the professional level is to land with a team that deploys a wide zone scheme but also has a proven offensive line coach to work on his deficiencies. Given his lack of refinement but his sought-after athleticism, the ASU product presents himself as a high-risk, high-reward player that garners a late Day 2 grade.
Background: Last name pronounced (ee-HAW-nuh-chore). Senior Bowl participant. Still relatively new to the position, 2025 marked his second full year as a starter for the young lineman. During the 2024 season, he helped pave the way for Cam Skattebo and an ASU rushing attack that was able to record 200 yards per game. Iheanachor was thrust into the lineup to start five games during the 2023 season, primarily due to a bucket list of injuries; however, he allowed no sacks on over 200 blocking attempts that season. Prior to Arizona State, he encountered his first experience playing organized football at East Los Angeles College, where he built himself into a four-star JUCO product and one of the more highly sought-after tackles. After moving to Los Angeles from Nigeria at the age of 13, the multi-sport athlete attended King Drew Medical High School, which did not field a football team, but instead he participated in both soccer and basketball.
*A certified draftnik, Ric Serritella has been covering the NFL Draft for the past 24 cycles. For year-round draft coverage be sure to follow @NFLDraftBible.