Receiver John Metchie Scouting Report

John Metchie III was an Alabama wideout who stands 6' tall and breaks the scales at 195 pounds of crimson. He played in 30 games, catching 155 of his targets. He put up 2081 yards and 14 touchdowns during his college career. And he's coming from the Bill Belichick equivalent of the NCAA.

Writer's quick note: He's from Alabama so he's gotta have good chemistry with Mac Jones, right? That's all I hear about him from Patriots nation. Tell me something else. If the Patriots had cut N'keal Harry last season, would we of heard that from Panthers or Buccaneers fans because they had former Patriots quarterbacks? Not saying that Mac and Metchie don't have it, I'm just not a fan of hearing about practice chemistry, which is mainly all I hear. I prefer game day chemistry because it's more reliable. And now on to the report.

Teams may want to wait a year before trying to make him the number one. Having him as a second or third option seems like a better use for him. Especially since there's no guarantee how much of the off-season programs he'll miss.

Metchie had an issue with drops this season but according to Charlie Parent, "everyone there had that issue." He's not known consistently for reaching for passes. Means there shouldn't be a lot of him tipping passes to defenders.

Can make contested catches but that's not his game. And he will make circus catches but prefers safer catches closer to the quarterback. He's usually reliable in traffic. Plus he stays aware to the quarterback and will be a security blanket.

Good route runner with a decent tree, who could use some next level fine tuning. His route running is aided by his acceleration and agility. However, his separation ability was reportedly inconsistent. Sounds like either a mental thing or a lack of effort. When he's on, he gives defenders headaches.

May get jammed by bigger DBs but should win otherwise. And his acceleration should make him a major player in a team's quick passing attack.

Metchie has skills and can get Y.A.C. but that's a receivers job. The question is how good is he? Some look at him and think he's gonna be a beast and others think he left yards on the field.

He doesn't have elite burner speed but he's got enough to play the Z or the slot and can be used in the X. Teams wanting him to play the X may have him put on some pounds. Metchie didn't play in the slot as much as he could've but just like almost every receiver I will be writing about, he can play anywhere. The Patriots might even use him in the backfield the way they used Patterson.

While he doesn't have his size, Metchie may be a better blocker than N'keal Harry. Teams who like their receivers blocking will appreciate him. He'll be a valuable piece on a team that relies on the play action.

One major issue for concern is he's coming off a torn ACL. The Patriots know all about receivers with bad legs. There's still stories about what if with Malcolm Mitchell. Although he could possibly go higher, there's enough predictions of him being a third rounder that I'm saying he will go in the second round.

His reported NFL comparisons are Justin Jefferson and Tyreek Hill. From everything I read, he's nowhere near Hill's speed, so they have to be talking about his game. To everyone talking about his chemistry with Mac, does anyone know if Mac Jones is campaigning for him?

Receiver Garrett Wilson Ohio State Scouting Report

Garrett Wilson Ohio State an average 6' 188 pounds receiver build. The buckeye played in 32 games where he caught 143 passes for 2213 yards and 23 touchdowns. Unlike his teammate, Wilson can be more than just a member of the receiving depth chart, returning 33 punts for a measly 6.2 yard average.

Good route runner who excells in the quick game. He's willing to lay out but will drop the ball when he shouldn't. Might be thinking about contact or running. Whatever the problem, it should be coachable.

Wilson's separation ability is second to none. And good luck catching him in space. He's going to get yac if the defender isn't on his game. To make things worse on defenses, Wilson can be alternated and moved around the field, so he provides game planning nightmares. Plus Wilson can get down dirty and block.

Wilson is occasionally out muscled, especially in press. He also may not have the speed to be a true X. For all the good Wilson brings, he needs to be fine tuned. He may not be a number one in year one as he needs development but he should breakout in his sophomore year with proper coaching.

His NFL comparisons are Mecole Hardman, D.J. Moore and Stefon Diggs. Names that should make Patriots fans happy to add to the roster. Of course any team would do well to add him. He's expected to be gone in the first two rounds. I think his value makes him a better choice than his Ohio State counterpart.

Chris Olave Scouting Report

Chris Olave wide receiver coming from Ohio State stands 6'1" and weights 190 pounds. He played in 38 games, catching 175 passes for 2702 yards with 35 TDs. He has some experience as a return man but not enough to be worth listing, he also has experience on the hands team.

Olave's route tree and route running ability makes him a danger on every blade of grass. It also helps him get separation. While he didn't have drops, don't expect him to layout for the ball like a Welker or Edelman.

The three sport athlete has the agility and acceleration to excel in a quick pass timing offense. Expect a track race once he catches the ball, he's not going to do anything fancy to get y.a.c. yardage. And he may not fight off tackles.

He can play both outside and in the slot. I think he would be a good fit as a Z receiver. He's another plug and play receiver for all 32 teams. Even though he's over six foot, I don't see him as a permanent X receiver, even if he has the ability to play it.

He could use to improve his catch radius on the outside and needs development with high pointing the ball. His blocking is also reportedly under par for a receiver. His physicality and his contested catch abilities have also been called into question. 

His NFL comparisons are Calvin Ridley, Will Fuller, Tyler Lockett, and CeeDee Lamb. He projects as a top 50 pick but there are some who think there is enough concern that he could fall to day three. His combine and what scouts see in tape are going to make for an interesting landing spot.

If you're looking for more reports on him, Bleacher Report, The Draft Network, and Steelers Depot had some more in depth reports on him.

Jerreth Sterns Scouting Report.

Jerreth Sterns Westen Kentucky stands 5'9" and weights 195 LBS. He started at Houston Baptist before transfering in 2020 to WKU. In his 4 years of college he put up a staggering 371 catches for 3907 yards and 35 touchdowns. He also had 28 carries for 73 yards and 2 touchdowns. He also has special teams value returning 44 punts for a 5.6 yard average.

Sterns had a season not seen since the likes of Calvin Johnson. However unlike Megetron, Sterns is being labeled undersized because if his size. Sterns will not be an X receiver at the NFL level, yet his size is perfect for a slot or flanker as a pro.

Sterns has great hands, only dropping 3 catchable passes this season. He's the next level security blanket. He's also an ideal route runner. He's fast but he doesn't have the speed one wants in a burner but he's got the quickness and agility one again wants from a slot or flanker in today's NFL and teams will have to worry about him on every blade of grass.

Sterns is explosive with the ball and knows how to get yards after the catch and he knows how to get separation. He just seems to know where to be. He's another small guy who fights for contested catches and has no issues going across the middle. He has that squirrely menatality.

His blocking isn't that great and he needs to develop some techniques better suited for his size in that department. Anyone looking for N'keal Harry type blocking production are going to be gravely disappointed.

Reports compare him to Cole Beasley, slot receiver from Buffalo and Brandon Cooks from Houston. Some reports said he was a miss in scouting by NCAA teams and thus his college career suffered. Sterns is an "air raid" receiver but that shouldn't be a problem. With a good combine he could see himself being drafted in the third but round five seems like a good place. Arizona or  New England are two teams that he seems like a good fit for.

Jahan Dotson Scouting Report.

The first receiver to really catch my attention was Jahan Dotson Penn State. At 5'11" 184 LBS he played in 42 games and compiled 183 catches for 2757 yards with 25 TDs. He also had 25 punt returns with a 13.5 average and 1 return touchdown.

Dotson is a three sport athlete. Undersized for the X but can play any receiver positions and special teams. His size won't be an issue for the slot or Z. Should be an instant plug in and play for all 32 teams.

Good speed and agility. Can burn a guy deep or at the line. Drops shouldn't be a problem and he excells in getting yards after the catch. Not an ideal contested catch build but he still fights for the ball.

Understands how to read coverage and has no issues about putting his body in harms way to catch a pass. Doesn't have issues getting separation and knows when the quarterback needs help.

So what does he do wrong? He doesn't always play to ability. Blocking is inconsistent and needs to work on cleaning up his route running. And again if you want to play him in the X instead of the slot or Z, then he's undersized.

Dotson could be a late first rounder but most likely he'll go in the second or early third. Reports say his NFL comparisons are Diontae Johnson and Tyler Lockett.

Mac Acknowledged He Needs To Improve His Arm Strength.

The biggest knock on Mac Jones coming into the NFL was his arm strength. It was the reason why many people capped his ceiling. Jones played throughout 2021 and it was clear his arm strength wasn't up to snuff. Some fans wondered if that was why Nelson Agholor had half the targets of Jakobi Meyers.

A name familiar to the Patriots, Mr. Tom House who also worked with Andrew Luck recently spoke about Mac Jones with NBC Boston. House went into specifics about "running backwards," and throwing various weighted baseballs. 

House also said "I don't know the farthest that Mac has ever thrown a football, but I guarantee you we can train him to do it. We can repattern and retrain his delivery to handle consistent 60-yard throws if necessary.

A 60-yard pass isn't completed very often in the NFL. But if Mac was to train to do it, I could look Coach Belichick in the face and say, 'If you need him to throw five 60-yarders this game, he can do it for you.' But Mac would need to go through a retraining."

When many fans including myself heard this, it got us excited. We could imagine how dangerous Mac would be if teams had to worry about his deep ball. Then it hit many of us like a ton of bricks, are the Patriots and Mac even worried about his arm strength?

Mac spoke with Randy Moss and he talked about laying off the ice cream and fixing his diet but that wasn't all.

Mac Jones Said “I think this offseason will be a big part of it. Just getting stronger and cleaning up on my diet and all that. So, there’s a lot that going to go into it before next season even starts. That’s the important part, is attacking that. And then hopefully a lot of big changes will come with – whether it’s mechanics or the playbook, and I’ll have a lot of time now to kind of digest everything and take it over how I want to do it.”

Mac Jones acknowledges he needs to get stronger. So he knows he has to improve his arm to prolong his NFL career. That gives hope but one must also wonder if his teammates were responsible in anyway for bringing it to his attention. 

There are many fans who thought the 2021 offense was built for Cam Newton. Running the ball and only throwing 30+ yard passes. For those fans, Mac Jones's lack of arm strength had to be as bad as watching 20 years of Tom Brady. The good news is, anyone who watched the pro bowl got to see Mac Jones's speed.

Mac Jones has deceptive speed. He's not gonna run a lot of designed runs but the Patriots need to encourage Mac that if there's space, to run and slide. He's got enough speed to make teams pay for not having a spy for if he gets out of the pocket or has a hole open in front of him.

While the pro bowl sucked, especially for not being in Hawaii, which is traditional. Seeing what Mac was capable of and hearing what he had to say to Randy Moss definitely made the pro bowl worth watching. Not to mention he got some development training from another coaching staff and could pick the minds of the other players on how to improve.

Mac Jones should be more dangerous in 2022 if the coordinator allows and that has to make Patriots fans happy. And opposing teams and their fanbases nervous. Patriots nation, we're on to the the free agency period.

Writer's note: Be sure to check out my seven position blogs on draft prospects. I even included three bonus weapons that could greatly improve the Patriots roster. 

Eighteen Early Cornerback Prospects And Three Bonus Prospects For The Patriots

The Patriots need help at corner, especially outside corner. J.C. Jackson is good but they need help across from him and don't say Jonathan Jones. Stephon Gilmore is gone but the Patriots saw how the team worked with two number ones and just J.C. If the Patriots wanna stay competitive, they need to improve outside corner.

Here's 18 early cornerback prospects for the Patriots. Along with three other players that might be of interest to the Patriots.

Derek Stingley LSU 6'1" 195 LBS

TDN "Stingley Jr. is a technician in man-to-man coverage. He shows the ability to mirror WRs off the line of scrimmage and plays with great patience. He understands how to properly shoot his hands and keep his feet active. Has great eye discipline keeping his eyes focused on the WR’s midsection."

Ahmed Gardner Cincinnati 6'2" 190 LBS

TDN "Gardner has proven to be a reliable man-coverage corner where his length and speed are notable assets. With that said, he has a tendency to be extremely grabby and I want to see him trust his athletic confidence more in man coverage."

Roger McCreary Auburn 6' 190 LBS

TDN "His ability in man coverage is elite. He excels in press coverage and does a good job mirroring receivers. He has also shown the ability to play off and consistently get his hands on the football."

Andrew Booth Clemson 6' 200 LBS

TDN "Booth Jr. is a sticky man coverage corner with loose hips, quick feet, and excellent route-anticipation skills. He does well to read route stems and stay connected as routes elongate. Booth Jr. has every necessary physical trait to be a shutdown man coverage corner in the NFL."

Kaiir Elam Florida 6'2" 195 LBS

PFN "As it stands, Elam is already a fairly sticky man coverage cornerback. With further refinement of his footwork, his combination of length, mobility, and ball skills could be a death knell for opposing receivers. It could also eventually earn him the CB1 designation."

Akayleb Evans Missouri 6'2" 200 LBS

TDN "He’ll need to press at a high rate of success in order to serve such a role in a man-heavy system in the NFL."

PFN "Evans is a physical press-man cornerback who also offers versatility. He’s aligned both as a boundary and field outside corner. Additionally, he’s seen action in the slot."

Darrion Kendrick Georgia 6' 190 LBS

Bleacher Report "Kendrick is a versatile cornerback who is able to make plays in both zone and man coverage. In man, he plays with great leverage and positioning. He's able to quickly and fluidly get in and out of breaks. Kendrick struggles with receivers who immediately threaten him with speed, causing him to panic and play outside of his skill set."

Trent Mcduffie Washington 5'11" 195 LBS

TDN "He has very good man coverage ability, particularly in the short-to-intermediate area. He plays with outstanding quickness and short-area agility. This allows him to stay in phase in zone coverage."

Tariq Castro-Fields Penn State 6' 200 LBS

TDN "Castro-Fields has the size and physicality to be effective in press coverage, but I do have some concerns with his reactive quickness." "Scheme tendencies: Half-turn deep zone coverages, primary Cover-3 shell." *Possible safety convert*

Kyler Gordon Washington 6' 200 LBS

TDN "He is a dynamic mover with regards to quickness and agility. As a result, he has very good man coverage ability. If the ball is late or off target, he can close separation and get his hands on the ball."

Mykael Wright Oregon 5'11" 182 LBS

Sports Illustrated "The Oregon defender is at his best in man coverage. Wright is extremely patient and uses his movement skills and above-average play strength to stay in phase through route breaks."

Tariq Woolen Texas San Antonio 6'4" 205 LBS

PFN  "Woolen has also showcased some versatility. He has been aligned as an outside cornerback on both sides of the formation. Additionally, he’s seen some reps in the slot, and he’s even been aligned as a single-high safety."

Josh Jobe Alabama 6' 190 LBS

TDN "Josh Jobe is a pure press-man and matchup-based corner. His length and frame make him an ideal candidate for bigger receiving threats."

Alontae Taylor Tennessee 6' 200 LBS

Sports Illustrated "Outside cornerback who possesses good length. Taylor is deployed in press, off man and a variation of zone coverages. He has above-average speed, allowing him to carry most wideouts vertically."

Martin Emerson Mississippi State 6'2" 200 LBS

Bleacher Report "Emerson often struggles with shiftier receivers, as they can create space against him and take advantage of his lack of ability to change direction. Though he runs well, he lacks the elite top-end speed desired of top cornerbacks in the NFL.When playing the ball, Emerson does a great job attacking the ball and playing through the receiver's hands."

Marcus Jones Houston 5'8" 195 LBS

Bleacher Report "An undersized player, he has shown the ability to play in both the slot and outside cornerback position. Jones has also shown special team value as a kick and punt returner, racking up both yards and touchdowns."

Coby Bryant Cincinnati 6'1" 200 LBS

Bleacher Report "Ultimately, Bryant has both the length and cover skills to perform at the next level. He will have to continue to get stronger and play with more physicality in the run game. With the ability to play in press and off coverage, he will add depth to a team’s roster; and possibly compete for a starting job in his rookie season."

Jermaine Waller Virginia Tech 6'1" 180 LBS

TDN "Waller is best in man coverage when he has a chance to play up on the line of scrimmage, play physical, and disrupt the timing of the route. While there are plenty of reps where he is tight in man coverage, there are other instances where he bubbles his transitions and allows separation. His ability to anticipate route breaks is modest."

Long shots and dark horses:

Matt Hankins Iowa 6' 185 LBS 

Draft Dive "Hankins is a very good NFL prospect; his raw athleticism is something that you cannot coach. Hankins should work on fine tuning his craft the first few years in the NFL. This will allow him to be an unstoppable force when he moves his way up the depth chart."

 

Daxton Hill Michigan 6' 195 LBS

TDN" While Hill has good overall athleticism to be an effective man cover player both playing high safety and in the slot, he can get lazy in his transitions and can be slow to open up and run, leaving separation between him and the receiver."

Kalon Barnes Baylor 6' 185 LBS

NFL Draft Buzz "Tracks and plays the ball well, and has decent hands for the interception. Provides very tight man coverage with playmaking ability in zone. Rare hand-eye coordination and agility, vision and third gear to make a living in the return game."

Cam Steele USC 6'1" 190 LBS

NFL Draft Buzz "Very aggressive attacking receiver blocks and tackles like a safety. Aware zone cornerback who is also adept in man coverage, flashing physical hand punch at the line and straight-line speed to stay with receivers downfield."

Other players to watch:

Quarterback: (backup)

Dustin Crum Kent State 6'1" 210 LBS

TDN "Crum projects as a player who could be at least become a reliable backup (though he has been rightfully tagged as a potential sleeper with the success he’s had) and brings a lot of exciting traits to the table as a true dual-threat quarterback who has all the arm strength to be desired and is a shifty runner."

Tight End:

Trey McBride 6'4" 260 LBS

TDN "This players versatility may be his strongest attribute. He is equally proficient at aligning at Y, F, H or FB. He also projects as a good core special teams player, as well." "He is a big play TE who has been extremely productive. He has been their primary receiver and the person their offense runs through."

Punter / Kicker:

Matt Araiza San Diego State 6'2" 180 LBS

PFN "No other player this season has two 80+ yard punts. These aren’t just courtesy of a lucky bounce either; these punts are traveling through the air. 

Araiza’s leg power is also demonstrated as a field goal and kickoff specialist. The San Diego State punter has a career-long 53-yard field goal to his name. Furthermore, it’s reported that Araiza routinely makes kicks from 50+ in practice."

The Patriots might bring in a long snapper just to give Cardona competition since he's past the average age of the position.

Early Safety Prospects For The New England Patriots.

Regardless if Devon Mccourty stays or goes, the Patriots need a replacement for him. The team never replaced Harmon. I was going to make a list of just free safeties but who knows how the Patriots see what's on their roster they currently have. And with that thought here is an early list of possible safety prospects.

Kyle Hamilton Notre Dame 6'4" 220 LBS 

TDN "What do you want him to do? He’ll do it. Seriously. I knew coming into my film study that he had the athletic profile to play all over the field but was blown away at just how diverse of a defender he was. Deep post safety, robber, sack WILL linebacker, nickelback, walked up on the line of scrimmage, the punt team—you name it."

Jaquan Brisker, Penn State 6'2" 200 LBS

TDN "You’d be hard-pressed to find a role Brisker can’t succeed in. I do think, however, asking him to play as a single-high Cover 1 defender and charging him with playing numbers to numbers isn’t the best usage of his skill set. I do think he’s an athlete that could take on such a role as a part of his bigger usage, however."

Daxton Hill Michigan 6' 195 LBS

TDN "Hill is an extremely versatile player at the back end of this defense. He can play single-high free safety, nickel, outside corner, and even has aligned as a dime backer. His blend of athleticism and toughness are exactly what NFL defensive coordinators are looking for out of a defensive back as it allows them to be creative on where he is utilized.

Lewis Cine Georgia 6'1" 200 LBS 

TDN " He doesn’t have much positional versatility. He has aligned at safety and that’s where he should remain. Although he has played in the slot, as well."

Bryan Cook Cincinnati 6'1" 203 LBS

TDN "Cook showcased plenty of versatility in 2021, lining up as a deep safety, in the box, and in the slot. He is a terrific downhill player that flashes the ability to stay leveraged in coverage. Cook should provide outstanding special teams contributions."

Verone McKinley III Oregon 5'11" 195 LBS

TDN "McKinley’s skill set is best displayed when it comes to the passing game. He aligns as a single-high safety, split safety in two-high coverages as well as manning the slot position at times."

Nick Cross Maryland 6'1" 210 LBS

Ahmed Ghafir "Cross has already proven he has elite straight line speed and has the patience along the backline to be the ball hawking safety many envisioned him to be out of high school as the former top-50 talent approaches draft eligibility."

Brad Hawkins Michigan 6'1" 221 LBS

Trevor Woods "Hawkins was a reliable contributor on Michigan’s defense, his veteran leadership was an asset in 2021. He’s a very likable person, and he did have some clutch plays throughout the season. However, Hawkins isn’t someone who makes lots of ‘wow’ plays."

Bubba Bolden Miami (FL) 6'3" 200 LBS

TDN "Bolden shows an ability to play either free or strong safety. He has good range as the single-high defender and also has shown well enough to hold firm in the box with good size and length. Bolden offers good versatility to be a reliable No. 3 safety and fill in either spot."

Jalen Pitre Baylor 6' 197 LBS

Sports Illustrated "Jalen Pitre is an extremely violent, versatile and productive defender for the Baylor defense. Pitre is labelled as a safety and most often plays the slot/overhang role commonly seen in college. "

Kerby Joseph Illinois 6' 200 LBS

DARIK News "Pre-snap, he shows off football IQ and communication abilities to get his teammates lined up right in front of him. He has good footwork and can change directions very quickly. Shows consistently good balance and leverage when attacking downhill. When falling and sitting in coverage, he reads the quarterback’s eyes well enough to identify where he wants to go with the football."

Cam Taylor-Britt Nebraska 6'2" 205 LBS

TDN "The Huskers implemented him in a number of coverages but he was most frequently used in zone coverages to allow his feel for attacking the football and triggering in the run game to shine most."

Leon O'Neal Texas A&M 6'1" 210 LBS

Bleacher Report "Leon O'Neal Jr. is a talented safety with 48 games of experience under his belt. A safety who's on the bigger side, he has good movement skills and the ability to play at all three levels."

Markquese Bell Florida A&M 6'2" 205 LBs

TDN "Bell has shown to be a well-rounded player on the back end. Using him as a downhill enforcer in run support as well as a single-high safety, he’s been able to show off his versatility."

Dane Belton Iowa 6'1" 205 LBS

PFN "Dane Belton is an explosive safety prospect who covers a tremendous amount of area on the field. He shows skill defending the run and covering the pass. Belton’s ability to quickly close to the play and force the action is impressive."

Tre Sterling Oklahoma State 5'11" 205 LBS

Sports  Illustrated "A strong frame that is well put together and compact. Smart player that does a good job with his eye discipline reading routes and diagnosing run or pass. At his best when he is used as an underneath defender where he can play curl/flat, hook/curl, or play a robber where he can read the quarterback.

Yusuf Corker Kentucky 6' 200 LBS

TDN "Corker has better value in the run game as compared to the passing game as evidenced by his production. I think he profiles as an NFL special teams staple and that ability to contribute there is going to prove to be critical for his projection." 

Delarrin Turner-Yell Oklahoma, 5'9" 195 LBS

Sports Illustrated "Turner-Yell’s processing skills are noticeable on tape, as he is always in the right place at the right time, especially in the run game. His shoulders and hips line up on a slender frame. Despite his skinny frame, he shows he has the strength and physicality needed to play the safety position."

Percy Butler Louisiana 6' 196 LBS

PFN "A tremendous football player with a great head for the game. Butler is instinctive, tough, and makes plays against the run and pass. I could definitely see him developing into a third safety on Sundays."

Josh Thompson Texas 6' 191 LBS

USA Today "The versatile defensive back played both corner and nickel in his college career as well as playing a major role on special teams."

Jaylan Foster South Carolina 5'10" 195 LBS

NFL Draft Buzz "Closes to the ball quite well and possesses the hands to snatch throws away from his frame.Very aggressive attacking receiver blocks and tackles like a safety."

Kolby Harvell-Peel Oklahoma State 6' 210 LBS

TDN "The Cowboys safety is at his best when he can keep everything in front of him opposed to when he’s asked to turn and run in man-to-man situations. At his best when utilized as a strong safety or rover over the short middle and intermediate areas of the field."

Sterling Weatherford, Miami (OH) 6'4" 220 LBS

Sports Illustrated "Weatherford often plays single high safety in the Miami (Ohio) defense and has the ability to pursue runs to the sideline with ease and cover in zone when rotated to a two-high coverage."

Daniel Wright Alabama 6' 197 LBS

Sports Illustrated "Best in two high or robbing the middle of the field where he can read the quarterback and get to the ball. Undercuts routes at the sideline and has good hands to pick passes."

JT Woods Baylor 6'2" 190 LBS

PFN "Early on, Woods is best as a deep safety in two-high and single-high looks, but his ability to play at different depths and adapt is extremely valuable. You rarely find defensive backs with ball-hawking and enforcing traits all in one, but that’s what Woods provides."

Jermaine Waller Virginia Tech 6'1" 180 LBS

TDN "Waller has appeal in man, zone, and press coverage but has room for improvement in each technique. He’s a willing run defender that can hold his own but won’t necessarily make the run defense better. He has some experience working from the slot and has some experience on both the kick coverage and punt return units. "

Long shots and Dark Horses:

Tycen Anderson Toledo 6'2" 210 LBS

Sports  Illustrated "Anderson is a special player with an intriguing body type who can play as a physical slot cornerback or box safety. The development of his awareness and understanding of concepts could truly evolve his game to the next level."

JoJo Domann, Nebraska 6'1" 230 LBS

TDN  "Whether he’s aligned as a nickel corner over a wideout, standing up within the middle of a defense, or working with his head turned to the endzone in ROBOT (roll over and back) technique to quickly shut down pending crossers, Domann’s impact throughout his tenure as a Cornhusker became impossible to ignore."

Damarri Mathis Pittsburgh 5'11" 195 LBS

John Vogel "Has both man and zone coverage ability. He can play effective press coverage and shows the ability to be a factor as a run defender. All of that being said, we think his best fit is in a zone scheme but will be valued by man-scheme clubs as well."

Jaylen Watson Washington State 6'3" 204 LBS

PFN "Furthermore, the Washington State DB has experience crushing punt returners as a gunner. That versatility will go a long way in the NFL. Plus, his days as a high school safety paid off, as Watson’s play in run support is one of his strong suits. He can shed blocks from receivers and come up and tackle with the best of them."

Reed Blankenship Middle Tennessee 6' 195 LBS

Sports Illustrated "At his best when used as a robber or hole player where he can drop and just read the quarterback indicator to take him to the football. Strong tackler when playing in closed spaces, efficient bringing ball carriers to the ground."

Nolan Turner Clemson 6'1" 205 LBS

John Vogel "An earlier day three pick would make sense for him as a team might try to slide him into their rotation as a nickel defender before letting him develop into the back end. If he can play through his lack of length, he can be a very solid professional."

Amari Burney Florida 6'2" 224 LBS

TDN "Burney plays urgently and does well with diagnosing plays then attacking downhill soon thereafter. Has experience at both linebacker and safety and his former days on the other side of the ball show up often."

Elijah Hicks FS California 5'11" 200 LBS

Sports Illustrated "First off, he has played all over the place. With extensive time as a boundary corner before moving to safety, Hicks has a lot of qualities that'll transfer."

Dishon McNary C. Michigan 6'1" 190 LBS

NFL Draft Buzz "While built more like a cornerback than a safety, he has the vision, range, hitting ability, and ball skills teams want at free safety in the pass-heavy NFL."

Jaylan Foster South Carolina 5'10" 195 LBS

NFL Draft Buzz "Closes to the ball quite well and possesses the hands to snatch throws away from his frame.Very aggressive attacking receiver blocks and tackles like a safety."

Joey Blount Virginia 6'1" 190 LBS

TDN "A versatile player, Blount aligns all around the Cavaliers’ defense, lining up as the team’s deep safety in single-high and split-safety looks. He also plays from the slot and in the box regularly."

Mike Palmer Boston College 6'1" 200 LBs

NFL Draft Buzz "Extremely aggressive to come up and put his body in traffic to make tackles. Flashes intimidating attitude and will crush tiptoeing receivers across the middle. Can deliver the big hit and isn't afraid to jump inside to slow the ball."

Again who knows how the Patriots are going to draft. I have a feeling Mills will take over Mccourty's role if the Patriots don't take re-sign him. Many of the guys listed above are versatile and could play multiple safety or defensive back roles. If I had to guess at who's most likely to end up on the roster, I would say Woods or Blankenship have solid day 3 potential. 

Why Does Florez Get People Angry But Chung Had People Feeling Meh?

In 2021 Eugene Chung came forward with accusations against the NFL and violation of the Rooney rule. He quoted an NFL team of telling him he "wasn't the right minority." The NFL did a mock investigation and even claimed to be working with Chung on the matter on improving racial equality in the NFL. Chung came out almost immediately afterwards and said the NFL had barely talked to him after he came forward and that he wasn't working with the NFL but would like to. There was hardly any outrage from the fans over this matter. 

Flash forward to 2022. Brian Florez gets released and comes forward with accusations accusing the NFL again of violating the Rooney rule and is taking the NFL to court. Fans are demanding answers. The story is getting major media attention and there is a public outrage. 

It's true, the NFL has to improve it's racial relations and internal processes with hiring front office and coaching candidates. The NFL should not be let off the hook for discrimination against anyone. There is a lot the NFL has to do as such a public entity to improve the image of how race and equality should be handled. They need to be an example for all businesses.

However, fans need to be held accountable. Why was the accusations against Chung, a Korean American and assistant coach ignored but the accusations against an African American and former head coach validated? Why was there not calls for further investigations and changes? Why was there such little media attention? The answer is the media knew that there was no money in it because like Chung was told, "he wasn't the right minority."

That show's there's a huge double standard in this country and on this continent on how minorities are to be treated. That not all minorities are the same and that some minorities are still okay to be discriminated against. That as long as "they're not a minority you care about, it's okay to discriminate against them." It's sickening. And to any media outlets that didn't give Chung the same coverage as Florez is now being given, shame on you.

On this continent Indigenous people, Asians, Middle Easterns, Africans, Polynesians, Hispanic and Latins, and other ethnicities are still being discriminated against and killed for the color of their skin. There is still much work to be done in the fight for equality. From the media to the homeless shelters we need all inequalities and discrimination called out.

To anyone that was not upset about the accusations that Eugene Chung made and how the NFL handled it less than a year ago but is now vocalizing their anger over the Florez case, you need to take a look in the mirror and address your own racism because you're contributing to the inequality problem in the world. 

Tom Brady Claims Retirement

At the moment Tom Brady has retired from the NFL. Brady retires with seven superbowl victories, ten appearances, a plethora of division championships. And countless records. Tom Brady is currently the GOAT of all NFL quarterbacks, if not all football players. 

Tom Brady always talked about playing until a deadline. And only quitting prior if he sucked. At age 44, Brady was far from sucking and short of his deadline. In fact he was up for MVP as he led the Buccaneers to another playoff birth.

So what happened that made him wanna quit? It's no secret the wife wanted him home but I don't think that's it. Brady and his dad even denied early reports that he quit. So what do I think happened?

In 2021 Tampa Bay's disfunction surfaced. From Bruce Arians to Antonio Brown quitting in the middle of a game, the team just collapsed. It showed it was lacking the culture needed to be successful.

This is just my speculation but I believe Brady let the early rumors slip as a bargaining chip with the Buccaneers. I believe he requested changes and when they weren't met, he publicly retired. I also think Brady wants to take the spring off. Kinda pulling a Brett Farve. He has the clout to, so why not.

If Tampa released Brady in belief that he would sign a one day contract, Brady could go anywhere for the most part. For example, picture Brady in Pittsburgh or Indianapolis. Or he could come be the offensive coordinator for the Patriots, imagine that one.

In any scenario I think there's a highly probable chance Tom Brady returns in 2022. However, just because somethings probable doesn't guarantee it. If Brady's waiting on Tampa, Tampa could still screw it up. And if he's taking the spring off, he could actually decide he likes not having to put in the grind. Anything is possible, especially when it comes to the NFL.

Regardless if he's done, appreciate the career of Tom Brady. However, I don't think he is. And let me throw this in, wherever Brady goes, Gronk is sure to follow. That includes retirement. Pay attention to Tampa's draft and their actions over the next few months. As they could tip the hand in either direction. Thank you Tom Brady.