As the 2017 NFL Draft draws closer we\u2019ll profile some of the players that may be on the Patriots radar or\u00a0that\u00a0we feel would be a great fit.<\/p>\n
The Patriots are thin at defensive end; Jabaal Sheard has left via free agency and Chris Long has said that he isn\u2019t coming back in 2017. The team did pick up Kony Ealy from the Carolina Panthers in a trade. That leaves him, Trey Flowers, Rob Ninkovich, and Geneo Grissom. Flowers came on and was fantastic down the stretch and into the playoffs. Ninkovich seems to be on the downside of a very solid career here in New England. Grissom was strictly a STs guy. So, they\u2019ll need to add some depth.<\/p>\n
Edge rushers are like cornerbacks, you can never have too many good ones and the team is expecting Flowers to continue to improve on his 2016 season. Ealy has flashed and had an incredible Super Bowl with Carolina but hasn\u2019t been able to do it consistently. The Patriots still have plenty of options in the draft but as of today, they don\u2019t pick until the third round\u2026.don\u2019t expect that to last.<\/p>\n
Jordan Willis <\/strong>from Kansas State isn\u2019t the biggest guy at 6\u20193, 255-pounds but he is certainly a player to keep an eye on. His production in 2016 was very impressive as he racked up 17.5 tackles for a loss as well as 11.5 sacks.<\/p>\n Willis has a very quick first step and explodes off the ball very well. He has a non-stop motor and gives his all on every down. He\u2019s played nearly all of his snaps from the left side and has very strong hands although he can definitely use some coaching on his hand usage.<\/p>\n He does a very good job of setting the edge in the running game. He\u2019s a very instinctive player and is rarely out of position. He\u2019s a dedicated film junkie and is known to game plan for each opponent, something that will resonate quite well with Bill Belichick.<\/p>\n Willis had a very impressive Combine and flashed athleticism that he wasn\u2019t thought to have. He ran a 4.53 in the 40-yard dash\u00a0while doing 24 reps on the bench press, a 39-inch effort in the vertical jump, a 4.28 time in the 20-yard shuffle and a 6.85 time in the 3-cone drill. Overall it was a very good day for the senior in Indy.<\/p>\n Pros:<\/strong><\/p>\n – Very strong for his size and explosive<\/p>\n – Quick first step and good straight-line speed off the edge<\/p>\n –\u00a0Smart instinctive player, never out of position<\/p>\n – Non-stop motor, all out on every down<\/p>\n Cons<\/strong><\/p>\n – Tight in the hips and doesn\u2019t have the consistent bend on the edge<\/p>\n – Needs to use counter moves in his pass rush repertoire<\/p>\n – Not a big guy, and may be maxed out for his frame<\/p>\n What his Role Will Be:<\/strong> Will his Role Change from Year 1-2? How Many Downs Can He Play? What Current Player on the Roster Will He Replace? What is his ST Value? Conclusion: His motor and ability to finish is excellent. He\u2019s already a good pass rusher and with some coaching has the ability to be even better. He was originally thought to be a third rounder but with his performance and his show of increased athleticism at the Combine could move up into Round 2.<\/p>\n Willis\u2019 coach long-time Kansas State coach Bill Snyder called the linebacker the \u201cEpitome of Kansas State football.\u201d He\u2019d be a good fit with the Patriots defense and could immediately be an impact player as a rookie with his ability to rush the quarterback.<\/p>\n Willis\u2019 tape against Stanford can be seen here:
\nWillis\u2019 role would be part of the rotation outside for the Patriots defensive line. He\u2019d project initially as a sub-package pass rusher to add depth and fresh legs to the Patriots pressure on the QB. But with some coaching, he could find himself pushing for more reps<\/p>\n
\n<\/strong>Yes, with his ability to set the edge in the running game and an improved hand usage in the passing game, he could push for being a starter in 2018.<\/p>\n
\n<\/strong>Three<\/p>\n
\n<\/strong>He\u2019ll challenge Ninkovich and Ealy for sub-package pass rush reps right away.<\/p>\n
\n<\/strong>None<\/p>\n
\n<\/strong>Willis was thought to be a bit too stiff off the edge in his film but after an impressive showing in Indianapolis, he may be a late riser on several teams\u2019 draft boards. He shows very good production in diagnosing the play in the backfield and setting the edge in the running game.<\/p>\n
\n