Eighty-Nine Of My One Hundred Thirty Patriots Prospects Were Invited To The NFL Combine.

68 percent of the 130 NFL draft prospects I compiled as fits for the New England Patriots team needs were invited to the NFL combine. That's after majority of them were invited to the various all-star bowl games. Here they are with a bonus prospect as the team may finally be ready to move on from a player. Click the name to be taken to a scouting report for the prospect.

QB an emergency backup is always good.

Jake Haener, Fresno State

Clayton Tune, Houston 

RB need a pass catching back and a fullback.

Devon Achane, Texas A&M

Zach Charbonnet, UCLA

Jahmyr Gibbs, Alabama

Evan Hull, Northwestern

Hunter Luepke, North Dakota State

TE gotta get Jonnu's replacement ready.

Davis Allen, Clemson

Tucker Kraft, South Dakota State

Zack Kuntz, Old Dominion

Michael Mayer, Notre Dame

Luke Musgrave, Oregon State

Leonard Taylor, Cincinnati

Josh Whyle, Cincinnati

WR need a small slot and an outside stretcher.

Jordan Addison, USC

Ronnie Bell, Michigan

Jake Bobo, UCLA

Kayshon Boutte, LSU

Demario Douglas, Liberty

Josh Downs, North Carolina

Zay Flowers, Boston College

Jalin Hyatt, Tennessee

Xavier Hutchinson, Iowa State

Rakim Jarrett, Maryland

Charlie Jones, Purdue

Quentin Johnston, TCU

Andrei Iosivas, Princeton

Marvin Mims Jr., Oklahoma

Jonathan Mingo, Mississippi

Trey Palmer, Nebraska

A.T. Perry, Wake Forest

Rashee Rice, SMU

Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Ohio State

Tre Tucker, Cincinnati

OL need two tackles and an interior guy.

Steve Avila, TCU

TJ Bass, Oregon

Matthew Bergeron, Syracuse

Nick Broeker, Mississippi

Braeden Daniels, Utah

Jaelyn Duncan, Maryland

Mark Evans II, Arkansas-Pine Bluff

Anton Harrison, Oklahoma

Ryan Hayes, Michigan

Paris Johnson Jr., Ohio State

Broderick Jones, Georgia

Dawand Jones, Ohio State

Brent Laing, Minnesota-Duluth

Cody Mauch, North Dakota State

Olu Oluwatimi, Michigan

John Michael Schmitz, Minnesota

Juice Scruggs, Penn State

Peter Skoronski, Northwestern

O’Cyrus Torrence, Florida

Andrew Vorhees, USC

Carter Warren, Pittsburgh

Darnell Wright, Tennessee

DL need a pocket disrupting nose.

Keeanu Benton, Wisconsin

Jalen Carter, Georgia

Gervon Dexter, Florida

Siaki Ika, Baylor

Moro Ojomo, Texas

Zacch Pickens, South Carolina

Tuli Tuipulotu, USC

DB need a number 1 corner and a free safety.

Jordan Battle, Alabama

Brian Branch, Alabama

Emmanuel Forbes, Mississippi State

Mekhi Garner, LSU

Christian Gonzalez, Oregon

Ronnie Hickman Jr., Ohio State

Tre’Vius Hodges-Tomlinson, TCU

Antonio Johnson, Texas A&M

Kyu Blu Kelly, Stanford

Riley Moss, Iowa

Clark Phillips III, Utah

Joey Porter Jr., Penn State

Eli Ricks, Alabama

Kelee Ringo, Georgia

Jammie Robinson, Florida State

Daniel Scott, Cal

JL Skinner III, Boise State

Cam Smith, South Carolina

Christopher Smith II, Georgia

Tyrique Stevenson, Miami

Cory Trice Jr., Purdue

DJ Turner II, Michigan

Garrett Williams, Syracuse

Devon Witherspoon, Illinois

ST time to get guys to compete for the jobs.

Alex Ward, UCF

Jake Moody, Michigan

Chad Ryland, Maryland

I have been asked since I released my prospect list and 15 bonus prospects list, where are the linebackers. My answer is look at the safeties and defensive linemen on the list that are hybrids. They will take on the duties of linebacker if drafted or acquired in the UDFA period. I do not see the position as big of a need as others. In fact I think a practice squad - emergency quarterback is more important to the team then linebacker help as at one point all the team had was Zappe.

Also every year I find one player that catches my eye. This year that prospect was not invited to the combine, pay attention to David Durden x-receiver from West Florida. He is my sleeper or draft diamond this season. And pay attention to Will Rogers from Mississippi State as a potential day three - undrafted free agent. Rogers is strongly comparable to the two quarterbacks listed above and his NFL comp is Mac Jones.

Zappe Is A Similar Style Not Similar Talent Level

Mac Jones and Bailey Zappe are both intelligent pocket passers with questionable arm strength and limited mobility. They come from the same mold, so there is some room to compare the two. The question is how close are they. 

Zappe started two of four games in his rookie season, completing 70.7 of his 92 passes for 781 yards with 5 touchdowns and 3 interceptions. Bailey won both starts and fans called for him to remain the starter. Claiming he ran the offense better than Mac.

Football experts challenged this. Bailey played against two of the worst teams at the time. He ran an ultra conservative offense and when he played Chicago, he had a good competition percentage but also turned it over twice when they needed to rely on his arm.

Over Mac Jones's last seven games he threw 10 touchdowns and 4 interceptions, three in the final game against the AFC conference favorites. And during that span, the Patriots running game that carried Zappe, had basically fizzled. Offering Mac Jones little help.

Is it possible the Patriots view Mac and Zappe as close in talent? It's possible. After all this is the same coaxh that decided Brady was better than Bledsoe and stuck with Brady before he even won a superbowl. Do I think that's the case, no but it's not improbable.

Zappe is like Hoyer. He Cam come in. He can start a few games. You might even win a few with him managing the game. He's not going to carry a team. And unlike Mac, Zappe is not a guy one builds around. Zappe however, is good enough to use to push Mac Jones by bluffing and making Mac think his career is in jeopardy. 

Give Me Mac Jones Over Reckless Abandonment

The Patriots tried to break away from the McDaniels offense and to implement the Shanahan offense during Mac Jones's second season and things didn't go well.

Sports media people bitch that before Mac's injury, the Patriots were aggressive and he couldn't handle it. And that after his return that the Patriots returned to a conservative version of McDaniels offense and that Mac still could perform but people are leaving out a major detail.

The Patriots lacked offensive intelligence from the coaching staff. Say all one wants how about how aggressive the offense is, throwing deep to covered receivers, forcing the ball, they were asking for failure. Call it aggressive but you could also call it coaching offense with reckless abandonment before Mac got hurt. 

Then Mac came back and the offense went so conservative that other teams were making fun of the play calling because it was so conservative that they knew what the Patriots were going to do. Who needs spygate when you're giving the opponents the answers. Mac failed when he returned because Patricia didn't have the knowledge needed to make adjustments as needed.

I have defended Patricia because the Patriots should've been dead last in both rushing and passing stats but weren't. He can learn to be a better play caller but blaming Mac Jones for the dysfunction brought on by the coaching staff is ludicrous. 

Mac Jones should look like an I proved version of the 2021 rookie season under Bill O'Brien in 2023. Fans and media won't be happy because they would rather watch the Patriots quarterback play of 2020. At this point and time, Prime Tom Brady could return to the Patriots and fans and media alike would call for his departure.

If you want Madden, go play Madden. I'd rather have smart football. That's what the Patriots under Belichick have given us and that's what they should continue to give us. I'll take Mac Jones's mind over Lamar Jackson's legs any day of the week and twice on Sunday. Because I prefer intelligent quarterback play to reckless abandonment. Sorry not sorry.

The Patriots Need To Address Tackle But Corner, Right Tackle And Left Tackle Are The Patriots Top Three Needs.

I respect the Patriots media. However, I occasionally find myself in disagreement with it. And I have recently found myself in disagreement with Pats media over the team's top three needs.

In the top three the media says the Patriots need a number one corner. I fully agree and give them no arguements. It's the number three position that I disagree with.

See the media has been saying the other position is tackle and I agree. The reason being that Trent Brown doesn't play consistently and they screwed Isaiah Wynn by making him a right tackle and now Wynn is a free agent.

Here's where I disagree. They list another position for top need. Another postion in the top three. Tackle is two positions and Isaiah Wynn showed not every tackle can play across the line. So the Patriots need a Right Tackle, Left Tackle and number one Corner Back. That is three positions. And that is their top three needs. 

Now recently, I have heard some media members say that they don't care about offensive linemen. Those are guys that I do not full respect their opinions of because I think they have played too much Madden. In Madden, offensive line doesn't really matter. Anyone who has seen Patriots football going back to 2019 knows that linemen matter, just mention Marshall Newhouse.

So next time someone lists the top three positions of need for the Patriots this offseason, and they talk about tackle like they only need one, know that what ever position outside of corner, right tackle and left tackle they mention is actually the team's fourth need. It's a secondary need. Remind them if possible of that.

The Patriots didn't have the best pass catchers in 2021 but their offense was better than in 2022 part because of the OC and part because of the line. A line buys time, it doesn't matter how good the pass catchers are if the quarterback doesn't have time to throw. And look how often athletic quarterbacks get hurt from lack of offensive line protection.

Patriots Need to Acquire One Starting Receiver In Free Agency.

The Patriots should consider signing a free agent as long as they don't break the bank. Jakobi Meyers is the Patriots number one but he’s a free agent and the Patriots probably won't pay him. If they don't, they will need more than one receiver as Meyers was the closest thing to a true slot receiver that they had. Thorton is a deep slot not an outside burner and that's what they need.

Fans come at me all the time when I say that the Patriots cannot develop receivers. Chicago is quarterback purgatory and for rookie wideouts, so is new england. Tyquan Thornton is still in development but look at their last decade of receiver draft picks.

Tre Nixon 2021 no career stats

N'Keal Harry 2019 40 games, 64 catches, 714 yards, 5 touchdowns 

Braxton Berrios 2018 no Patriots stats

Malcolm Mitchell 2016 14 games, 32 catches, 401 yards, 4 touchdowns

Devin Lucien 2016 no career stats

Jeremy Gallon 2014 no career stats

Aaron Dobson 2013 24 games, 54 catches 698 yards, 4 touchdowns 

Josh Boyce 2013 10 games, 9 catches, 121 yards

Jeremy Ebert 2012 5 games, 3 catches, 18 yards

Taylor Price 2010 4 games, 3 catches, 41 yards.

Both Harry and Dobson were high draft picks, and although the Patriots gave up a year sooner on Dobson, they put up near equal productivity. And we're bust due to their high draft selections. Price being a third round pick is also a big failure.

Malcolm Mitchell like Dobson had one good season, however his knees were shot. And one can only speculate the trajectory of his career. He could've followed the career path of Dobson for all we know. 

Now the Patriots did develop Jakobi Meyers but here's the thing. Meyers wasn't a draft pick and that matters. When the Patriots are supposed to be acquiring talent, they fail and need free agency. And that's how Meyers started his career. An undrafted free agent.

I liked Agholor but fans had too high of expectations for him. I would love to see how Bill O'Brien would use him. However, I do not see him being the threat fans want. If the Patriots can acquire an outside deep threat at receiver they need to do so without sacrificing all of their cap or their future in terms of picks.

I wish the Patriots could go into their 2023 season with the same receiving core they entered 2022 with but I don't see that happening. Currently they have a slow bug body X in Parker, a gadget Z in Bourne and a thin body utility / deep slot receiver in Thorton. What they're missing is a better version of Agholor and Meyers or a quicker version of him. And odds are they ain't developing their needs if they draft it.

Offensive Linemen Matter

There are defenders that can get to a quarterback in under three seconds. It takes some starting quarterbacks three seconds or longer to do a three step drop. Yet there are media personalities and NFL analysts that say they don't care about the offensive line. That they only care about the quarterback and having a number one receiver.

Look at the Patriots 2019 and 2022 teams. Blocking matters and anyone who doesn't care about offensive linemen is living in the world of madden football.

In 2019 the team couldn't run to the left side of the field and Brady was sacked 27 times. The only reason Brady wasn't sacked more was because he had the mind to read the defense and the ability to throw the ball as soon as he hiked it.

Due to the Patriots dysfunctional offensive line, in 2022 Mac Jones was sacked 34 times. The Patriots were also ranked 24th in rushing yardage, down from 8th and majority of that was from offensive line play. 

While teams need good pass catchers, an offensive line is more important. A good offensive line can open up as much opportunity as most quarterbacks trying to scramble around the backfield. 

I'm sure those people who get paid to talk football know something but they're not using their heads when they say they don't care about linemen.

Even With The Sixth Best Salary Cap, The Patriots Don't Have Enough To Fill Their Holes adequately Via Free Agency.

The 2023 New England Patriots are expected to have approximately $34 million dollars once free agency hits. Typically the team would like to keep about four million dollars for draft picks. And the team has 22 free agents, receiver, corner, safety, tackle, long snapper, Gunner (slater). This is why drafting is soo important.

Jonathan Jones, Devon McCourty and Jacoby Meyers should all be getting double digit contracts. Unless players wanna take discounts, They're going to be down grading from those players and it will have a negative impact on the team.

Then there's Joe Cardona and Matthew Slater, two guys that have been some of the best special teamers for the past several years. Replacing special teamers is not always a plug and play. Especially players of their caliber.

And them there's replacing Wynn who should've never been moved from left tackle. I know what people are thinking. Anyone can replace Wynn. Let's call Marshall Newhouse because that mindset led to him being an open freeway to the 2019 backfield.

The Patriots need to trade the number 14 pick back to a team like the Giants at 25, where they can acquire another top 100 selection by getting the Giant's second and fourth round picks. I don't know what they're getting in compensation picks but that would give the team four top 100 selections and they need to hit on all four of them. 

The Patriots than need to hit on their day three picks. The team used to be able to find misused talent and resurrect it. The Patriots have shown that they cannot stay consistent with offseason moves. They have also shown that they cannot be counted on to develop all positions. Even with Bill O'Brien, 2023 is going to be a long year. Patriots Nation, hope for the best and prepare for the worst.

Five Possible Draft Day Trades The Patriots Could Make

Using the NFL draft pick point chart I wanted to see what types of trades the Patriots could get. I made five trades back and as long as the Patriots are waiting to get called and not begging teams to trade up, they will have the power. All these trades were basically even trades. I screen shot the trades but if the draft falls right, this would play into the Patriots hands and set them up for the future.

The first Trade I did has the Bengals dipping into their future. The Bengals would need to be in a win now scenario.

The Jaguars would need to receive the round four pick to even things out but trading a second for a fourth benefits the Patriots who need some help in a few key areas.

The Eagles came calling. Their not as valuable as the Bengals. And holding the power, the Patriots can really capitalize here.

The Rams are like the Jaguars. The Patriots will have to surrender a fourth but get a second in return.

The Giants give up a second and a fourth to move up. This trade is ideal for the Patriots. I don't know what the Giants need but if they wanna move up. The Patriots should pounce on this.

Respecting The Draft Board Starts With Respecting The Simulator

It's mock draft season and people are going to be doing their own. There's nothing wrong with media members doing mock drafts as long as they respect the simulator they're using. Unfortunately not everyone respects the simulator they use.

Patriots press pass did their first mock draft. They talked about respecting the board. Saying if a player they don't think will be there is there, they will pretend he's not. Showing not respect for their own simulator. 

There's a flaw to that logic. They don't say okay we're going to pretend Mr. Irrelevant is still available here and we're going to take him. Thus they eliminate more players than necessary and screw up the board to respect the board. 

If you don't trust the simulator, you don't use it. There are plenty of draft simulators out there. It's one thing to make sure you have the proper draft picks to Starr but it's another to ignore the boars.

I went through and there are 55 players thought of as potential first round selections and approximately 170 players viewed as day one or day two selections according to the concensus board from nfl mock draft database. First round prospects making it to round three is very realistic and Third round prospects being taken in round five is also realistic. 

There are only 103 draft picks in the first two days. Do the math, that's 67 players that are going to be selected way past their projected round. The average is two rounds past their projection but going three or four rounds past is not impossible regardless of the improbability.

Respecting the board means respecting the simulator. If you don't respect the simulator, your mock is screwed. Take players where they fall. Imagine if Minnesota said they couldn't draft Andrew Booth Jr because he was a first round prospect and he shouldn't be there. It doesn't happen. People get passed on for different reasons but BPA picks eventually happen. Respect the board and take your guy.

Concensus Numbers Say Anyone Can Fall From The Top 10.

NFL Mock Draft Databass looks at almost 75 draft boards and hundreds of first round Mock drafts to compile a concensus list. They list the concensus top 10 and the concensus top 32 or first round picks. They also show where people peaked. 23 players peaked in the top 10 and a whopping 55 players peaked in the first round. 

QB potential top 10: 4, potential first rounders: 6

CJ Stroud*

Bryce Young*

Will levis*

Anthony Richards

Hendon Hooker

Tanner McKee

RB potential top 10: 1 Potential first rounders: 4

Bijan Robinson

Jhmyr Gibbs

Devon Achane

Taxiing Thomas

WR Potential top 10: 4, Potential first Rounders: 8

Quentin Robinson

Jordan Addison

Jaxon Smith Njigba

Jalin Hyatt

Josh Downs

Kayshon Boutte

Rashee Rice

Cedric Tillman

TE potential top 10: 0, Potential first rounders: 3

Michael Mayer

Darnell Washington

Luke Musgrave 

T potential top 10: 2, potential first rounders: 6

Paris Johnson

Peter Skoronski

Broderick Jones

Anton Harrison

Dawand Jones

Jaelyn Duncan

OOL potential top 10: 0, potential first rounders: 1

O’Cyrus Torrence

DL potential top 10: 2, Potential first rounders: 4

Bryan Breese

Jalen Carter

Siaka Ika

Gervon Dexter

Edge potential top 10: 5, potential first rounders: 10

Will Anderson

Three Wilson

Miles Murphy

Lukas Van Ness

Nolan Smith

Isaiah Foskey

Bj Ojulari

Felix Anudike-Uzomah

Derrick Hall

Andre Carter

LB potential top 10: 0, potential first rounders: 4

Trenton Simpson

Drew Sanders

Noah Sewell

Henry To'oto'o

CB potential top 10: 4, Potential first rounders: 8

Christian Gonzalez

Joey Porter Jr

Devon Witherspoon

Cam Smith

Kelee Ringo

Clark Phillips III

Emmanuel Forbes

Eli Ricks

S potential top 10: 0, Potential first rounders: 3

Brian Branch

Antonio Johnson

Jordan Battle

Although improbable, almost every team could have two first round talents and to top it off, 118 players either had a day two ranking or peaked in day two, meaning teams could be picking top 100 talent in round five. It's low odds for first round talent because there's going to be a percentage of busts but it shows not to say anyone will not be there. It also goes to show that day three talents really don't get drafted until the last two rounds. No wonder so many good players get drafted late or end up undrafted free agents.

Most Probably Draft Prospects For The Patriots.

I do not plan on changing this. Out of the near 150 prospects for the 2023 nfl draft, these are the guys I believe the Patriots will have on their board that will have the best and most probably chance at being part of the Patriots organization at some point during 2023. I am one of the fans that believe the team is fine at linebacker and so I did not dive into that position because the safeties maybe able to also assist there.

They are listed in the order I would take them based off where I know their draft value to be.

Quarterbacks (Backup)

Will Rogers, Mississippi State

Jake Haener, Fresno State

Clayton Tune, Houston

Running Backs (pass catcher)

Devon Achane, Texas A&M

Evan Hull, Northwestern

Toa Taua, Nevada

Fullbacks 

Hunter Luepke, North Dakota State

Jack Colletto, Oregon State

Johnny Langan, Rutgers

Demetrius Battle, West Alabama

Justin Pope, Davenport

Receivers

Jalin Hyatt, Tennessee 

Andrei Iosivas, Princeton 

Demario Douglas, Liberty

David Durden, West Florida 

Tight Ends

Tucker Kraft, South Dakota State

Zack Kuntz, Old Dominion

Leonard Taylor, Cincinnati

Tackles

Paris Johnson Jr, Ohio State 

Dawand Jones, Ohio State

Jaelyn Duncan, Maryland 

McClendon Curtis, Chattanooga 

BJ Wilson, Quincy 

Interior Offensive Linemen

John Michael Schmitz, Minnesota

O’Cyrus Torrence, Florida

Carter Warren, Pitt

Dalton Simpler, West Florida

Brent Laing, Minnesota Duluth

Defensive Linemen (Primarily DT 1st)

Tuli Tuipulotu, USC

Siaki Ika, Baylor

Robert Cooper, Florida State

J-Min Pelley, Calgary

Johan Tavai, San Diego State

Corners

Joey Porter Jr., Penn State

Emmanuel Forbes, Mississippi State 

Quavian White, Georgia State

Safeties

Christopher Smith, Georgia

JL Skinner, Boise State

Ronnie Hickman, Ohio State

Benny Sapp III, Northern Iowa

Daniel Scott, California

Kicker

Chad Ryland

Linebackers (honorable mention position)

Penei Pavihi, Hawaii

Isaiah Tufaga, Hawaii

Hugh Nelson II, Safety, Hawaii, Honorable mention 

15 Bonus Prospects From the 2023 Draft Class

I did a list of 113 prospects that fill the Patriots needs. Here is a list of players that are luxury or best player available picks to keep an eye on. They could improve depth or be future pieces but in 2023, they are nor what I would call needed. There are 15 prospects. I may add ends and linebackers at a later date bur unlike many in Patriots Nation, I do not think they're a need.

3 Quarterbacks to watch

Will Rogers, Mississippi State

Jake Haener, Fresno State

Clayton Tune, Houston

5 Running Backs to watch

Jahmyr Gibbs, Alabama

Devon Achane, Texas A&M

Zach Charbonnet, UCLA

Evan Hull, Northwestern

Toa Taua, Nevada

7 Tight Ends to watch 

Michael Mayer, Notre Dame

Tucker Kraft, South Dakota State 

Luke Musgrave, Oregon State 

Zack Kuntz, Old Dominion

Josh Whyle, Cincinnati 

Davis Allen, Clemson

Leonard Taylor, Cincinnati

Seven Speedy Prospects The Patriots Should Be Eyeing For Their X Receiver.

On my draft board, I have 30 receiver prospects for the Patriots. And although I would like a quick Edelman type slot receiver, I think they really need a deep outside guy and it's not Thorton, whom I think is a deep slot / flex receiver in development. Nelson Agholor didn't put up the stats but he still caused defenses to give some cushion to the underneath routes. Only seven of my prospects can replace him as a true deep X.

David Durden, West Florida, 6'2" 200 pounds

In 43 games, 151 catches for 2969 and 32 touchdowns. 3.2 yard average on 5 carries, 24.09 yard average on 42 kickoff returns and 17.71 on 14 punt returns 

A two sport athlete that reportedly started playing like he didn't need football. A true number one X receiver with Z potential. Has a limited route tree but has shown he understands how to read a defense. Has the size and breakaway speed and agility teams covet in a number one. Projected as a day three selection pre combine.

Andrei Iosivas, Princeton, 6'4" 215 pounds

In 29 games, averaged 3.4 yards on 17 carries. Had 1909 yards and 16 touchdowns on 125 catches

Fast and agile with second gear for yac. Can climb to get the ball and has a huge catch radius. Can fill any role which will allow which will allow the Patriots to scheme. Not a good blocker, needs a lot of work in that department. Needs to improve first step and do a better job of getting seperation at the line.

Trey Palmer, Nebraska, 6'1" 190 pounds

34 games, 112 catches for 1501 yards with 12 touchdowns. 10.7 yard average on 7 carries. 8.3 yards average on 27 punts and a 25.3 on 18 kickoff returns. 

Track speed with hands and returner vision. Can fill a variety of receiver duties. Not a physical receiver, won't win contested catches or pick up much after the catch and his blocking is said to be lacking. Is a little raw and may drop the ball in order to protect self from impact. His route tree maybe limited but he can read a defense pre snap. 

Kayshon Boutte, LSU, 6'0" 205 pounds

Played in 27 games, catching 131 passes for 1782 yards and 16 touchdowns. 16 yard average on 5 kickoffs, all in 2022. And ripped a 41 yard run in his only carry.

Versatile player who creates yac. Let's defenders slow him down. Doesn't win contested catches enough. Can catch in traffic without issues. Makes sideline catches. Is a willing run blocker. Has an injury history which hampered development. Has some areas where he needs minor developing and also has show some inconsistencies in his play but has the tools to be a number one. Would go a bit of a way towards improving Belichick's drafting history and development if he could finish polishing off this guy's edges.

Jalin Hyatt, Tennessee, 6'0" 185 pounds

In 29 games, 108 catches for 1769 yards with 19 touchdowns. Averaged 4.3 yards on 3 carries. 

Ideal blend of speed, agility and quickness for the position. Knows how to use it to create seperation and to also get yac. He can also go up and get the jump balls. Decent run blocking ability. Concerns on if he can play in tight coverage due to Tennessee's offense. He was also used similar to Nelson Agholor in 2021 as he basically just allowed others to get open. Plays at a high pad level. Needs to improve release. Will need to put on some weight to fill out his frame. And improve strength as he doesn't win enough contested balls.

Rashee Rice, SMU, 6'3" 205 pounds

In 42 games, 233 catches for 3111 yards with 25 touchdowns. 1 kickoff for 10 yards.

For starters blocks like he's playing tight end. A true receiver who's route running and circus catch ability are sure to get him noticed. Has speed and quickness with ankle breaking agility but he reportedly doesn't 100 on ever play. He goes up and get the ball. And uses intelligence instead of aggression to win contested balls. He creates yac and is a danger in space. His route tree is decent but he needs to perfect his running of them along with learning to use his agility better. He's definitely a number one and probably going to be out of the Patriots range.

Quentin Johnston, TCU, 6'4" 215 pounds

In 30 games, 115 catches for 2190 yards with 14 touchdowns. Rushed for 8 touchdowns but only averaged 1 yard a carry. 

Intelligent, with the speed and quickness one wants in an X but needs to learn to beat man coverage consistently as he occasionally struggles with seperation. He destroys zone coverage. Needs to focus more on making catches than where he's going. He can win contested catches and jump balls. Teams are also going to want to improve his run blocking to help make him more well rounded. He needs to improve his route running and route tree, especially in the short to intermediate areas. He also has a habit of playing too high.