Patriots held private workout with FSU WR Kelvin Benjamin

[Ivan]

I would add one further argument against it: Brandon Coleman. He doesn't have the 240lb body, but in every other regard, he's the same physical specimen and he could be had much later.

They have now had contact with Coleman, Evans and Benjamin. I think there's definite interest in adding this bigger bodied receiver.

I agree with this, and I don't think they will move up for anyone in the first round unless a guy like Anthony Barr somehow slips into the twenties, and unless a guy they really like is there at #29 I think they will do everything they can to drop down into the high second and add a good pick or two. This is without question the best and deepest draft class i can remember, i'm seeing really good prospects who could have second round grades well into the third round and think there are going to be many options for them right through the fourth round. I would love to see them drop down into the high second and add a couple of picks and then trade their fourth to move up higher in the second or third because they now have that compensatory fourth to use as their own pick. The sweet spot in this draft is the second and third rounds so I would like to see them maximize their choices there.

 

[varjao]

It seems more likely that we will se a more WR driven offense instead of the 2 TE offense. I wonder if this is coming from BB or McDaniels.

 

[edboc]

I would add one further argument against it: Brandon Coleman. He doesn't have the 240lb body, but in every other regard, he's the same physical specimen and he could be had much later.

They have now had contact with Coleman, Evans and Benjamin. I think there's definite interest in adding this bigger bodied receiver.

I agree, they are probably comparing Coleman and Benjamin, they are fairly similar in terms of physical attributes, and they can get Coleman in the middle rounds + he's another RUTGERS guy.

Kelvin Benjamin, WR, Florida State, NFL Draft - CBSSports.com - NFLDraftScout.com



Brandon Coleman, WR, Rutgers, NFL Draft - CBSSports.com - NFLDraftScout.com

 

[Armchair Quarterback]

Benjamin would fascinate me but the reasons I expect us to pass if he's there are :

- We already have Mark Harrison who is similarly big but actually faster.

- Bill usually plays it safe in the first round with Seniors with plenty of college experience. Benjamin is leaving as a redshirt sophomore having played only two years.

- We've never drafted a WR in the first round with Bill, the second round is his WR round for whatever reason.

All that said, the reason it would fascinate me is that he's got great upside and his relative youth means his negatives may me more fixable.

BTW, he's 23 years old, so he's not that young for a redshirt sophomore.

Mark Harrison being on the roster should be a non factor in any potential acquisition.

 

[Kontradiction]

It seems more likely that we will se a more WR driven offense instead of the 2 TE offense. I wonder if this is coming from BB or McDaniels.

It shouldn't be an either/or. They should get another capable TE on top of completing the WR corps to make the passing offense more dynamic and potent.

 

[manxman2601]

It seems more likely that we will se a more WR driven offense instead of the 2 TE offense. I wonder if this is coming from BB or McDaniels.

I would think McDaniels.

One thing to note, there are probably at least a dozen WRs in this years draft that are better prospects than Aaron Dobson was. It might be nothing more than these receivers getting higher grades than Dobson and Boyce.

They are also taking a hard look at smaller faster receivers too - even after the Edelman re-signing.

 

[Ivan]

Mark Harrison being on the roster should be a non factor in any potential acquisition.

Except that it isn't. The Patriots measure all acquisitions against the players they already have and make their decisions on taking them or signing them in that context. If their analysis of Benjamin or Coleman or any other similar player is that they would win a spot on the team then they would do it if possible, but if they don't think a guy like Coleman would beat out Harrison then they wouldn't make the move. At least that's the way Holley described their scouting process in The War Room.

 

[manxman2601]

Except that it isn't. The Patriots measure all acquisitions against the players they already have and make their decisions on taking them or signing them in that context. If their analysis of Benjamin or Coleman or any other similar player is that they would win a spot on the team then they would do it if possible, but if they don't think a guy like Coleman would beat out Harrison then they wouldn't make the move. At least that's the way Holley described their scouting process in The War Room.

This is spot on analysis.

 

[nabwong]

I would add one further argument against it: Brandon Coleman. He doesn't have the 240lb body, but in every other regard, he's the same physical specimen and he could be had much later.

They have now had contact with Coleman, Evans and Benjamin. I think there's definite interest in adding this bigger bodied receiver.

We'll draft at least 2 from rutgers so I won't count him out. lol.

 

[manxman2601]

We'll draft at least 2 from rutgers so I won't count him out. lol.

We've drafted as many players from TCU in the last three years as we have Rutgers.

 

[nabwong]

We've drafted as many players from TCU in the last three years as we have Rutgers.

This concludes the draft discussion. haha

 

[Froob]

Except that it isn't. The Patriots measure all acquisitions against the players they already have and make their decisions on taking them or signing them in that context. If their analysis of Benjamin or Coleman or any other similar player is that they would win a spot on the team then they would do it if possible, but if they don't think a guy like Coleman would beat out Harrison then they wouldn't make the move. At least that's the way Holley described their scouting process in The War Room.

Yeah but, we're more of a best player available team versus a draft for need. I can't imagine any wide out in the draft doesn't have a shot at beating out undrafted Mark Harrison.

 

[cstjohn17]

- We already have Mark Harrison who is similarly big but actually faster.

Can we all agree that Mark Harrison sucks and is not part of the Patriots future?

Anyhoo, Benjamin would be a beats in the red zone but this would be a major departure for the Patriots. I hope they go DT in round 1.

 

[BelichickFan]

Can we all agree that Mark Harrison sucks and is not part of the Patriots future?

As he was undrafted, the odds are on your side.

However given that he is still on the roster shows there is still a possibility. They cut some guys last week and Harrison remains on the roster. So, clearly, there is a chance he doesn't suck and is part of the future. How much that chance is above zero I have no idea.

 

[cstjohn17]

As he was undrafted, the odds are on your side.

However given that he is still on the roster shows there is still a possibility. They cut some guys last week and Harrison remains on the roster. So, clearly, there is a chance he doesn't suck and is part of the future. How much that chance is above zero I have no idea.

Well if I am right it will be the first time in a while but my expectations of the Harrison era are pretty low.

 

[SalemPats]

Benjamin has huge upside and we'll go in the first 2 rounds. I wonder what BB thinks of him. I think he could fit in our offense

 

[manxman2601]

Yeah but, we're more of a best player available team versus a draft for need. I can't imagine any wide out in the draft doesn't have a shot at beating out undrafted Mark Harrison.

BB is a best value available drafter. And I think there's plenty of WRs that Mark Harrison is better than. Harrison put up some tremendous athletic numbers at last years combine and his skillset isn't that poor aside from some questionable hands.

 

[BradyFTW!]

As much as I like the idea of drafting an Alshon Jeffery clone, there's a ton of red flags there. He's 23, runs questionable routes, has questionable hands, has a reputation as a low-effort guy, and has unimpressive 40/3 cone/SS times (although they're pretty good for his size). We can get worked up about the raw size/athleticism numbers, but Mark Harrison's are just as good and he came as an UDFA. Those numbers only mean so much if they're accompanied by a ton of personal red flags.

He seems to me like either a luxury pick for teams that need a WR who could turn into a stud and won't be overly burned if he flames out (Seattle, maybe Carolina, Oakland because they're Oakland) or a value pick if he drops down past the second round. I assume that the Pats are evaluating him in case he falls into the latter group, but he probably won't. Just doing their due diligence.

 

[Armchair Quarterback]

Re: Patriots held private workout with FSU's Kelvin Benjamin

Except that it isn't. The Patriots measure all acquisitions against the players they already have and make their decisions on taking them or signing them in that context. If their analysis of Benjamin or Coleman or any other similar player is that they would win a spot on the team then they would do it if possible, but if they don't think a guy like Coleman would beat out Harrison then they wouldn't make the move. At least that's the way Holley described their scouting process in The War Room.

Yes, in theory true but I can't imagine them looking at any halfway decent prospect and saying no, we won't draft him, we don't think he'll beat out Mark Harrison. I just don't see that happening with any bottom of the roster guys. There has to be a minimal level of accomplishment and/or realistic expectations before they start cancelling out other potential draft picks.

It's a self fulfilling expectation. Potential draft pick must be expected to beat out one of the fringe players on the bottom of the roster or we won't draft him. Well, yeah.

 

[Deus Irae]

Benjamin would fascinate me but the reasons I expect us to pass if he's there are :

- We already have Mark Harrison who is similarly big but actually faster.

- Bill usually plays it safe in the first round with Seniors with plenty of college experience. Benjamin is leaving as a redshirt sophomore having played only two years.

- We've never drafted a WR in the first round with Bill, the second round is his WR round for whatever reason.

All that said, the reason it would fascinate me is that he's got great upside and his relative youth means his negatives may me more fixable.

BTW, he's 23 years old, so he's not that young for a redshirt sophomore.

BB is a best value available drafter. And I think there's plenty of WRs that Mark Harrison is better than. Harrison put up some tremendous athletic numbers at last years combine and his skillset isn't that poor aside from some questionable hands.

I don't get the Harrison thing. People are actually comparing a UDFA from a weaker draft class with a likely top 5 WR from what some are calling the deepest WR class ever.

I think the measurables stuff may be jumping the shark, right here in this thread.