MORSE: College Pro Days and Latest in Patriots Free Agency

College Pro Days

These are workouts scheduled at college campuses mimicking the NFL Combine. The college programs host this workout to give players that were not invited to the Combine, exposure to the scouts. Those players that did attend the combine get an opportunity to perform again, especially if their performance wasn’t what they expected. This draws the scouts and the other players get the exposure. Sometimes you find a diamond in the rough.

Once the Pro Days are finished in early April, the last remaining item in the draft process is the 30 interviews each team is allowed to conduct at their facilities. Then the teams tweak their final draft board. The Patriots usually have a draft board that is about 75 players.

These are the Pro Days that have been completed and performances of note:

Wisconsin

Leo Chenal – LB 6’3” 250 lbs put up 34 reps in the Bench Press. That is equivalent to the strongest O-lineman at the Combine. Chenal also ran 6.84 3-cone; 3.94 Short Shuttle; 40.5 Vert Jump. He also ran a 4.53 40 (7^th) at the combine. He stood on that 40 time. He has the prototypical size the Patriots have liked in their ILB.

Jack Sanborn – LB 3-cone 6.84; SS 4.05

Arizona State

Kellen Diesch OT Bench Press 24 reps Not what I am looking for in an LT. Combine this with the low weight and he has lost some money.

Donhovan West C bench Press 21 reps

Rachaad White RB 20 reps

Jack Jones 40 4.42, Vert 35”, SS 4.09, 3 Cone 6.78. Jones impressed me at the combine in his drill work and his performance numbers are very good. Possible Day 3 or UDFA.

Darien Butler BP 19

Arkansas

Treylon Burks VJ 36: BP 12

John Ridgeway NT BP 25. VJ 28 BJ 100”, SS 4.69, 3 Cone 7.9 bench press was weak for a player that I want to be stout at this NT position. He is called the Vanilla Gorilla. His BP and the performance numbers were vanilla for me.

Indiana

Micah McFadden LB – 6’1” 234BJ 40 4.63, 9’10”, Vert 35”, SS 4.15, 3-cone 6.88, BP 21. Didn’t perform any of these performance tests at the Combine. He is a productive LB that should be on the Patriots’ radar as a Day 3 selection.

Kansas

Kyron Johnson Edge 6’231 lb, 40 4.4 (2x), Vert 40” SS 4.38, 3-cone 6.98. Was not invited to the Combine. Too small for an Edge player but could convert to LB. Would make an excellent ST player with that speed.

Tulsa

Tyler Smith OT 25 reps

Chris Paul OT/OG 26 reps Paul has been on the Patriots radar, but now with the Mason trade and Karras departure, OG is suddenly a big need for the Patriots.

Western Michigan

Skyy Moore WR stood on his numbers from the combine. His 7.13 3-cone and 4.41 40 didn’t stand out. The 7.13 3-cone is not up to the Patriots standard for the WR position. I would be very surprised if he was drafted by the Patriots.

Kaleb Eleby QB It was reported the Patriots sent their QB coach (Unidentified – Is that Caley?) and he ran the throwing drill for Eleby. He is only 6’1” 230 lbs. He ran a 4.9 40.

Patriots Free Agency Signings (as of this writing Tuesday 5:00)

The Patriots signings have a distinct flavor to them. With the limited amount of money they have below the cap, the concentration has been to secure their own Free Agents they wanted to keep. These are also core character players that will continue the culture the Patriots have developed in the Locker Room.

Re-Signed

Devin McCourty – he added dead years to the contract to spread the signing bonus over for the Patriots’ benefit. This keeps his salary cap hit low this year.

Matt Slater – his contract qualifies for the Four Year exemption. This will bring his salary cap number down to around $1M

James White – Two-year contract. White is a terrific receiver out of the backfield. The Pats must think he is sufficiently recovered from his hip subluxation.

Nick Folk – Two-year contract and he is still the next to the lowest salary for a top ten kicker.

Brian Hoyer – Two year contract to be a mentor for Jones and a veteran QB if needed.

James Ferentz – I think he is a safety valve with the departure of Karras and Mason.

Free Agents Signed

NONE

Trades

Chase Winowich to CLE for LB Mack Wilson – I thought that Winowich was on the bubble. he has not developed. The Wilson trade may be an indicator of a change of defensive philosophy. Patriots LBs have usually been 6’3″ 250 lbs. Wilson is 6’1″ 230 and can cover backs and TEs.

Shaq Mason G to Tampa Bay for 5^th round 2022 draft pick – In my opinion the Patriots did not receive enough for Mason. Since 2016, PFF had him with a 90.0 rating, second best to Zach Martin. Tampa Bay was desperate for OG since they lost both of their starters (Alex Cappa to CIN and Ali Marpet retired). According to Patscap Miguel Benzan, the Patriots freed up $7M in cap space. I see Michael Owenu moving into Mason’s spot. Right now, OG has to be a draft priority.

This move opens up the possibility for a big move or a couple of medium moves.

RFA Tender (2^nd Rd)

Jakobi Meyers

Signed Elsewhere

JC Jackson – LAC 5 years $ 84.5M Average Annual Value (AAV) $16.9 – less than the Franchise tag. LAC guaranteed the 1^st two years ($40M) to make it difficult for the Patriots to match. I don’t see Jackson honoring all 5 years of this contract if he continues to play at this level. Good luck in the AFC West facing Mahomes and Wilson twice a year.

Ted Karras – CIN 3 years $18M AAV $6M. A report came out after the signing (probably by a Patriots shill) that the Patriots were close with a 3 year $15 offer.

Release

Kyle Van Noy – I am not surprised by this move at all.

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About Mark Morse

Merrimack Valley native and lifelong fan of the New England Patriots. My earliest memories of the Patriots were attending as a child with my dad, the off-season practice at Phillips Academy. I was at the Patriots game at Harvard Stadium in 1970 where Bob “Harpo” Gladieux was called out of the stands by the stadium announcer over the PA to play in the game. Analyzing the draft since ESPN first started to televise it in 1980 and former writer for the Lowell Sun Newspaper.

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