{"id":40284,"date":"2022-04-10T05:00:14","date_gmt":"2022-04-10T09:00:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.patsfans.com\/patriots\/blog\/?p=40284"},"modified":"2022-04-10T05:43:20","modified_gmt":"2022-04-10T09:43:20","slug":"patriots-news-04-10-draft-possibilities-galore-spotlight-on-mac-jones","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.patsfans.com\/patriots\/blog\/2022\/04\/10\/patriots-news-04-10-draft-possibilities-galore-spotlight-on-mac-jones\/","title":{"rendered":"Patriots News 04-10, Draft Possibilities Galore, Spotlight on Mac Jones"},"content":{"rendered":"

Good morning, here are your weekly <\/span>Patriots news 04-10 <\/b>and some NFL notes.<\/span><\/p>\n

Was shocked to hear about the passing of Steelers QB Dwayne Haskins, 24, who was killed in a traffic accident while in South Florida conducting offseason workouts. Haskins was a former Ohio State and Washington Commanders\u2019 QB who set several records with the Buckeyes.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Apparently, Haskins was walking on Interstate 595 in the early morning hours and attempted to cross the highway and hit by a dump truck.\u00a0 There has been a rash of pedestrians hit and killed in South Florida recently, however, this apparently doesn\u2019t fall into the same category.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

He struggled with Washington and was released but found a home with the Steelers and was expected to compete for a roster spot this summer with Mitch Tribuski and Mason Rudolph.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

“I am devastated and at a loss for words with the unfortunate passing of Dwayne Haskins,” Steelers coach Mike Tomlin said in a statement. “He quickly became part of our Steelers family upon his arrival in Pittsburgh and was one of our hardest workers, both on the field and in our community. Dwayne was a great teammate, but even more so a tremendous friend to so many. I am truly heartbroken.<\/span><\/p>\n

“Our thoughts and prayers are with his wife, Kalabrya, and his entire family during this difficult time.”\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Year Two For Mac Jones Will Bear Watching From Day 1:<\/b><\/h3>\n

Mac Jones <\/span>shared his workout<\/span><\/a> with Patriots receivers DeVante Parker, Nelson Agholor, Kendrick Bourne, and Jakobi Meyers, as well as running back J.J. Taylor in South Florida on his Instagram this week.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Year 2 is a big one for Jones, and he\u2019s off to a good start. Not only is he expected to increase his level of play in 2022, but he\u2019s also expected to take on increased leadership, as franchise QBs are accustomed to doing. This week, getting some of the receivers down in Florida to work out together prior to the start of the Patriots OTAs which begin soon is a way to accomplish both of those things.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Bill Belichick spoke about Jones taking more of a leadership role during the owners\u2019 meetings last week. (More below)<\/span><\/p>\n

Mike Reiss wrote about Jones earlier this week and how he has a supporter in Patriots owner Robert Kraft, who sounded optimistic that 2022 will be a good one for Jones.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

“These young quarterbacks, the good ones, in the second year have usually grown a great deal. I’m a big fan of Mac Jones. You see how hard he works. He wants everything to go right. He puts in the time and energy, and his personality as a team guy,” Kraft said.<\/span><\/p>\n

“He’s such a good person, and humble. I come in there sometimes on the weekend, or early, and he’s there working out, watching film, just doing things that I wouldn’t believe someone of his background would have that kind of commitment given his past. The guys in the locker room really like him. I’m very high on him and I think the staff did a great job drafting him. We’re lucky to have him for our future.”<\/span><\/p>\n

It should be noted that a year ago, Jones was still waiting to find out which team was going to draft him. And in training camp, although he got time with the starting unit, the majority of the reps went to Cam Newton.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

This year, all of those reps will be his for the taking. With a year of experience in the system under his belt, as well as with the receivers they signed a year ago, they all should experience a jump in production.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Earlier this week, I was on a podcast with Phil A. Perry from NBC Sports Boston and he said that the addition of Parker for Jones, should immediately pay dividends. No one feared the Patriots to throw deep in 2021, and as a result, NE running backs faced more 8-man boxes than any other team. And many of those safeties blitzed Jones. If Parker can stay healthy, those boxes should be a thing of the past.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

A lot of eyes will be watching Jones from Day 1 of OTAs this year. He had a solid rookie season throwing for 3800 yards with 22 TDs, and 13 INTs. That wasn\u2019t a bad start, but some were portraying those numbers as being his ceiling, which is ridiculous.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

He\u2019ll be responsible for bringing out the best in his receivers, and if they fail, he\u2019ll share the shoulder of the blame. It comes with the territory. But he and his teammates are already building their rapport and chemistry.\u00a0 Strength and conditioning workouts for the team begin on April 18.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Quick Hitters For the Patriots, and the NFL:<\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n

Brian Flores:\u00a0 <\/b>The former Dolphins head coach had two other coaches (Steve Wilks, and Ray Horton) join his lawsuit against the NFL.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Mike Mularkey, the former coach of the Titans gave Flores some ammunition for his lawsuit when he said in a 2020 podcast that the Titans told him he was hired before they’d completed the interview process, including interviewing two minority candidates.<\/span><\/p>\n

Stefon Diggs: <\/b>The Bills wide receiver, who was traded to the Bills two years ago, has signed the latest mega-deal for wide receivers, who are now getting paid like franchise QBs. Diggs signed a four-year extension worth $104 million, with $70 million guaranteed. He is signed with the team until 2027.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

“There was so much work put in to get to this point but I am beyond happy to know that I will be playing the rest of my career with BILLS MAFIA. Words cannot describe how I’m feeling right now,” Diggs posted on his Instagram account.<\/span><\/p>\n

Sleeper in the Draft: <\/b>I spoke on our 4th & 2 podcast about a small-school stud who would be an intriguing pick. Joshua Williams from tiny Fayetteville State (NC) is a 6\u20193, 193 corner who could move to safety in the pros.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Williams is a converted wide receiver who ran a 10.68 in the 100-meter dash. He\u2019s got the combination of size, speed, and athleticism and could be a late-round diamond in the rough.\u00a0 More of him below<\/span><\/p>\n

Patriots 4th & 2 Podcast:<\/b> If you haven\u2019t checked out our <\/span>PatsFans.com podcast, <\/span><\/a>\u201cPatriots 4th & 2\u201d in a bit, please check it out. Derek Havens and I posted a video of some front seven and secondary prospects on two separate podcasts this week.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Russ Francis\/Chuck Fairbanks:<\/b> The former Patriot tight end and head coach both should be in the Patriots team Hall of Fame…this will be on our Sunday posts until it happens.<\/span><\/p>\n

Patriots Mock Draft 3.0<\/b><\/h3>\n

I posted this one a few days ago but will re-share it here again as Derek and I discussed it on the podcast, and here are a few more notes on the prospects.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

In this particular mock draft, we went with how we feel Bill Belichick will try to play the board, with a plethora of talent available in Rounds 2-4, the feeling is Belichick will try to slide back and get more picks in the middle rounds.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

So that is how we decided to proceed, as you\u2019ll see in how the draft played out on this particular draft board, and they all differ to a degree. But one interesting fact was that we drafted four members of the Georgia Bulldogs and seven players from the SEC.<\/span><\/p>\n

In this particular mock draft, we went with how we feel Bill Belichick will try to play the board, with a plethora of talent available in Rounds 2-4, the feeling is Belichick will try to slide back and get more picks in the middle rounds.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The Patriots traded pick #21 to Tennessee for pick #26 and a 3rd round pick in 2023. They then traded #26 to Kansas City for picks #29 and #121. Later the team traded pick #127 to Buffalo for picks #130 and #231.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

So, here is our Mock Draft 3.0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

1st Round, #29 Overall \u2014\u00a0 Devonte Wyatt, DT, Georgia:\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n

Wyatt is considered a late 1st, early 2nd round pick and that was a good place to select him. We spoke about him on our last podcast, Wyatt is a very good athlete for an interior defensive lineman and is explosive at the snap. He moves laterally very well for a big man (6\u20193, 304), and can threaten the edge with a nice ability to bend or penetrate up the A gap and be a disruptor inside.<\/span><\/p>\n

He\u2019s a good run defender facing a single blocker but can be moved by double teams. He\u2019s an intriguing player that has his best football still ahead of him.\u00a0 Wyatt has the size, pass rush moves, and athleticism to develop into a consistent interior rusher in the NFL. He plays with a non-stop motor and will chase down players all over the field.<\/span><\/p>\n

2nd Round, #54 Overall\u00a0 \u2014 John Metchie III, WR, Alabama:\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n

Metchie is my personal draft binky here, as his value would be more geared to 2023 than this year, as he tore his ACL in the SEC Championship Game in December. Metchie had a very productive year with Mac Jones in 2020, catching 55 passes for 916 yards and 6 TDs.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Metchie would be that slot\/\u201dZ\u201d WR who would open up all kinds of room in the passing game. He has outstanding separation skills on both vertical and horizontal routes, making defenders defend every blade of grass. With the trade for DeVante Parker, while getting a WR that can grow with Mac Jones is a need, it isn\u2019t a glaring one right now and Metchie will have time to get fully healthy.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Derek Havens and I recorded a video podcast and here is a clip where we discussed Metchie and his fit with the Patriots.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n