Patriots News 3-02, The Combine and Free Agency
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Good morning. I can’t believe we are in March already. A bit of trivia that only interests me…Did you know that March is named after the Roman god of war, Mars, because, as the spring thaw happens, the weather was generally good enough to go to battle?
This is the last day of the NFL Scouting Combine, which has been fun to watch. Were there any surprises for our readers?
The Combine finishes today. Free agency begins on March 12, but the legal tampering window starts on March 10. This year, the NFL Draft will be held in Green Bay from April 24 to 26.
The Patriots’ initial free agency window is paramount. But as I’ve said many times, while discussing the draft and scanning the mock drafts is fun, these are completely contingent on the team making moves in free agency.
If the team signs a premier left tackle, defensive tackle, or edge rusher in free agency, they are not as likely to target that position with the #4 pick. It could possibly lead to them trading back.
Mike Vrabel hinted they wanted to build around the trenches because it was a big team weakness. No one will argue that. They have the money to easily sign two, possibly three big-name free agents if they can come to terms. Then, their approach to the draft will no doubt change.
Eliot Wolf has repeatedly stated that they want to build through the draft, and that is always the best way. However, with so many holes in the roster and the cap space they have to spend ($134,789,000 according to @patscap) the money won’t do them any good in the draft. Use it, sign some good players, and start filling up some holes.
Reportedly, the Patriots are out on Tee Higgins. If that is the case, that will open up more cash to spend elsewhere. There was a report that they will try to trade for a WR. That opens up a much larger pool of players they may covet.
Travis Hunter: Hunter met with the Patriots at Indianapolis and was trash-talked to by HC Mike Vrabel about playing both ways.
“I’m sure Travis doesn’t even know, but we were kind of jawing back-and-forth as he left last night, and I said, ‘You’re not the only one that played two ways. There were some other guys that did this, too,’” Vrabel said on the NFL Network Combine broadcast Thursday. “And he kind of looked at me, and we laughed.”
Hunter probably didn’t know that Vrabel played both ways for the Patriots and caught ten touchdown passes on ten targets from Tom Brady, with two in the Super Bowl, against Carolina and Philadelphia.
But unlike Vrabel, Hunter wants to play two ways full-time. That would be the first in a very long time. ****TRIVIA QUESTION**** Who was the last player to do that? (Answer at the bottom)
The Patriots believe that Hunter is the best wide receiver and the best cornerback in the draft. That is saying something. Would they pull the trigger on Hunter with the 4th pick if he’s there? Stay tuned…
Mike Vrabel: At his presser in Indy, Vrabel talked about his year in Cleveland, and why he moved Ben McAdoo to the defense this year.
“Just how critical… Just the little things. Right? Just the staff and being mindful of when new coaches come on to the staff. I know that Kevin was conscious of that.
I think that’s why he … I love the idea of having me work with the offense. It’s something that I’ve thought was very beneficial to those coaches, to me to have conversations, the way that some offensive coaches see things and the way that defensive coaches may see them a little differently.
I have been able to do that in New England and moved Ben [McAdoo] over to defense to help Terrell and that staff just look at it from an offensive perspective and things that we can make sure that we’re taken care of and not letting slip.”
Eliot Wolf: Wolf spoke to the media on the 26th in Indy and had this to say: “This is my 31st combine. Started coming here in 1994 when I was 11 years old. It’s really cool to see how this thing has developed and grown in a lot of ways.
“It’s been really cool and rewarding so far working with Coach [Mike] Vrabel. He has a lot of great ideas, a vision for the team, an effort that we’re all working together. He’s met with the scouts, he’s met with me, he’s met with everybody. It’s all authentic and genuine, and it’s really good to see just how he’s developed and how we’re all going to develop this thing together moving forward.”
“That being said, last season, ultimately, the roster was on me. We were 4-13. Just didn’t get enough done. Certainly, the free agency class didn’t live up to our expectations. The draft class, it’s too soon to tell, but we were expecting a bigger impact from some of those guys, and we’re still hopeful that they’ll get to that point.
“We’re excited about Drake Maye. We’re excited about working with Coach Vrabel. Everything that we’re doing is to improve this football team and getting to where we need to go. The fans, understanding their frustrations, I share those frustrations.”
Davon Godchaux: The team permitted Godchaux to seek a trade somewhere. He doesn’t fit the mold of the defensive lineman that the new coaches are searching for as they switch to a penetrating front four instead of a two-gapping style that Godchaux played as a nose tackle. Godchaux has been good with the Patriots and hasn’t missed a game in four years in New England. He appeared in all 68 games with 67 starts.
D.K. Metcalf: There have been reports that the Patriots have had discussions with Seattle to trade for the 27-year-old wide receiver.
“According to multiple sources with knowledge of ongoing discussions, the Seahawks have spoken with the Packers, Patriots, and one unknown team extensively this week on Metcalf’s availability,” Corbin Smith of the Emerald City Spectrum wrote. “The former All-Pro will be entering the final year of his current contract and carries a $31 million cap hit in 2025, which has led to suitors upping the ante trying to pry him away.“
Metcalf shot down rumors to New England in January when he said that he didn’t want to live in Foxboro. He caught 66 passes for 992 yards and five touchdowns last season for Seattle.
Stevan Ridley: The former Patriot running back was on the “Games With Names” podcast with Julian Edelman. He retold a hilarious story of how, as a rookie, Bill Belichick put him in Fat Camp. Edelman’s podcast is the best bar-none.
Mock Draft: I conducted a mock draft last week without making any trades. I’ll be doing another one soon and trying to incorporate some trades.
Patriots 4th & 2 Podcast: Derek and I took the week off to watch the Combine in its entirety. We’ll be back this week to discuss it. Please check us out and listen to us on YouTube, Apple, or wherever you listen to podcasts.
Russ Francis/Chuck Fairbanks: The former Patriot tight end and head coach should be in the Patriots team Hall of Fame, and the fact that Francis isn’t is an absolute travesty. Francis and the Raiders’ Dave Casper changed how teams used the tight end position. This will be displayed in our Sunday posts until it happens. Casper is in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Francis’ numbers stand up well against Casper’s, yet he isn’t even in the team’s HOF.
While many of the top prospects didn’t work out, opting to wait until their Pro-Days, some of the ones who did were very impressive.
Shemar Stewart, Edge, Texas A&M:
Stewart measured in at 6-foot-5 and 267 pounds with long arms. He jumped an incredible 40 inches in the vertical (second-best among Combine defensive linemen), one of only four defensive linemen over 260 pounds to leap that high since 2003. His official 1.58-second 10-yard split and 4.59-second 40-yard dash were impressive. His 10-foot-11 broad jump ranked best among defensive linemen. No surprises there, his tape speaks for itself
Nick Emmanwori, Safety, South Carolina:
Emmanwori is a big dude at 6’3 and 220 pounds, but man, that guy is athletic. He recorded a 43-inch vertical jump, tying the third-best vertical for a safety since tracking began in 2003. Emmanwori turned in an 11 foot, 6 inch broad jump and a 4.38-second 40-yard dash, both highs for his position. Dude can fly.
Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins, Edge, Georgia
Ingram-Dawkins is a big, athletic edge rusher who tipped the scales at 6’5, 276 and ran a 4.86-second 40-yard dash with a 36-inch vertical and a 10-foot-4 broad jump. He had a 1.69 10-yard split (tied for best in the position group), and his 20.59 miles per hour speed came in at second-best…at 276 pounds? Ridiculous. Ingram-Dawkins’ tape is impressive, and his movement in the drills was fantastic.
Joshua Simon, TE, South Carolina:
Simon is a sixth-year senior split between Western Kentucky and South Carolina. He was always known for his athleticism. He’s a 6-4 pass catcher and ran a 4.65-second 40-yard dash at 239 pounds. He impressed in the jumps, too, with 38 inches in the vertical and 10’4 in the broad. He ran smooth routes and displayed soft hands in drills. He can be a chain mover at the next level. Probably be an early Day 3 pick.
Jihaad Campbell, LB, Alabama:
Watching all of Alabama’s games every year, I love this guy’s game. He’s not the biggest off-the-ball linebacker at 6’3, 235, but he plays above his weight. Campbell ran a 4.52-second 40-yard dash and jumped 10-foot-7 in the broad jump, showcasing his explosion. Campbell’s work through drills was fantastic, and he moves effortlessly in space. Would love to see him available at Rd 2 when the Patriots pick.
RB Trevor Etienne
Etienne transfered from Florida to the Georgia Bulldogs on Christmas Day. And he had a good season with Bulldogs.
Etienne had a really good day in a 4.42. He also jumped 35″ in the vertical and 10’4 in the broad jump. His size will work against him in the draft a bit but he has the burst and elusiveness and the long speed. I had him as a fit for New England in my first mock draft.
Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel was asked at Indy about the defenses he ran at Tennessee with just rushing four and blitzing very little. And after the Super Bowl, how important is that factor?
“Well, I think that you have to pick and choose your spots. And again, it’s not about the blitz, it’s about the blitzer. It’s the player that’s blitzing.
“And so if we have an opportunity to get a player on a running back and they can beat the running back as they’re rushing, then we want to do that as much as we can. But if you don’t have a player that’s going to beat the running back, then it doesn’t really make sense getting that match up. And we’ll focus on the pass rushers that we have.
“It’s about picking and choosing your spots. But if you can affect the quarterback with playing a four-man rush and playing some zone or being able to get some vision on the quarterback, I think that the ball production will increase or you have to take guys out of coverage to try to affect the quarterback.
“There’s always issues with that as well. We want to be balanced and do what our players probably can execute the best.”
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“Well, again, just looking at the staff, extremely proud of the staff that we were able to put together. It’s difficult in the National Football League to be able to get every coach that you may covet or may want to get outside the coordinators that aren’t a coordinator at somewhere else just because of the rules.
“Teams are under contract. Some teams want to keep the coaches that they have. They feel like they’re good coaches. But we were able to put together a great staff, one that we’re really proud of.
“You asked about Josh [McDaniels], and I would say that having had communications with Josh in my role in Cleveland, he wasn’t under contract with a team, so we had numerous conversations, interviewed a handful of great candidates, and in the end felt like Josh was the best fit to lead our offense, just like Terrell [Williams] was the best fit to lead our defense. And Jeremy [Springer] and Tom [Quinn] were returning to lead the special teams unit.”
Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel on how the coaching staff came together
(Special thanks to Ian Logue for transcribing all of these pressers.)
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“Talent sets the floor; Character sets the ceiling.” Bill Belichick
Follow me on Twitter @SteveB7SFG or email me at [email protected]
Listen to our Patriots 4th and 2 podcasts on Apple and YouTube as Russ Goldman, Derek Havens, and myself from PatsFans.com discuss the latest Patriots news and game analysis.
(Trivia Answer: Chuck Bednarik in the 1950s)
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It would be interesting to understand any prospective startup time/impact in having a lot of new coaches that don’t know the players or other coaches. I’ve never heard anyone discuss that much. Most of these teams that rollover the head coach (Raiders etc) stink to begin with. I assume it all depends on the new coach and the cutlure that coach establishes. I heard Will Campbells wing span and arm length are not that of an NFL tackle. IE he’s in the 7th percentile. I assume that drops him out of the top 10. Also Mason Graham weighs 296 and… Read more »