\u201cYounger, Cheaper, Better,\u201d this is the mantra that Mike Vrabel has outlined for the Off-Season.\u00a0 The Draft is one part of it.\u00a0 The College All-Star games are in the books, and now it\u2019s time for the NFL Draft Combine.<\/p>\n
All four days of the \u201cUnderwear Olympics\u201d are broadcast on NFL Network, and results are posted on NFL.com shortly thereafter.<\/p>\n
Thursday, Feb. 26:<\/strong>\u00a03 PM – defensive line, linebackers, placekickers<\/p>\n Friday, Feb. 27:<\/strong>\u00a03 PM – defensive backs, tight ends<\/p>\n Saturday, Feb. 28:<\/strong>\u00a01PM – quarterbacks, wide receivers, running backs<\/p>\n Sunday, March 1:<\/strong>\u00a01PM – offensive line<\/p>\n You can also find out measurement data (Height, Weight, Arm-Length, Hand Size) that are conducted the day before the actual on-field drills.\u00a0 All week, the NFL Teams are conducting 15-20 minute interviews with players.\u00a0 It is an assembly line where players go from room to room, and a horn sounds in the hotel signaling it’s time for the next interview.<\/p>\n Another aspect of the Combine is the medical and physical tests the players are put through.\u00a0 A perfect example of this was Patriots Draft Pick Marcus Cannon.\u00a0 He was a potential 1st<\/sup> round pick in the 2011 Draft.\u00a0 It was discovered during the medical exams in 2011 that Cannon had a lump.\u00a0 The Combine Physical pushed Cannon to get a full examination by a specialist, who revealed he had Testicular Cancer.\u00a0 That diagnosis dropped him until the 5th<\/sup> round of the draft, where the Patriots selected him 138th<\/sup> overall.\u00a0 The Patriots took a chance and found themselves a gem.\u00a0 He went on to win 3 Super Bowls and was a 2nd<\/sup> Team All-Pro.<\/p>\n Free Agency will shape the Patriots’ needs.\u00a0 Edge K\u2019Lavon Chaisson and Safety Jalynn Hawkins are both Unrestricted Free Agents.\u00a0 These are two players the Patriots should target to re-sign but may not be able to due to market demands.\u00a0 If they can\u2019t, it puts a huge hole in the defense and moves these two positions to the top of the team’s needs.\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0Defensive Tackle is a deep position in this draft and a position to watch.\u00a0 Khyiris Tonga is also a Free Agent and should be re-signed.\u00a0 Christian Barmore has a March 9th<\/sup> arraignment date on a misdemeanor assault and battery charge stemming from an incident that took place in August. \u00a0He also has a quick contract that boosts him into the $20M a year mark.\u00a0 That roster decision is due March 15th<\/sup>. Barmore\u2019s status with the team may depend on the results of the charges.\u00a0\u00a0 If they end up with two DT vacancies, that will also affect how the team will draft.\u00a0 Tight End is also a position of need.\u00a0 Austin Hooper is a free agent, and he turns 32 next season. \u00a0\u00a0Hunter Henry will turn 32 years old next December.\u00a0 Jack Westover was used as a fullback and was not very effective.<\/p>\n This draft is to build upon last year\u2019s success.\u00a0 It\u2019s time to add depth to the team.\u00a0 Plan for 2027 and beyond.\u00a0 They need a Right Tackle replacement for Morgan Moses and need depth behind CB Carlton Davis. \u00a0On the Edge, Harold Landry was not the same player after he sustained a knee injury in the Week 7 Tennessee game.\u00a0 Landry will undergo a knee procedure this offseason.\u00a0 They can\u2019t cut Landry because they would invoke a $19M dead cap hit.\u00a0 The team is committed to him for $16.3M in 2026.\u00a0 That is an outrageous amount for the soon-to-be 30-year-old Edge player.\u00a0 I wouldn\u2019t be surprised to see Landry put on the Physically Unable to Perform list to start the season and never come off of it.\u00a0 \u00a0I will always be looking for RBs and WRs to improve the roster.\u00a0 The Pats could use some Linebacker help as well, but it may be a lower priority.\u00a0 There is some Day 3 talent at linebacker with 4 6th<\/sup> rounds picks.<\/p>\n Max Iheanacor RT Arizona<\/p>\n Kadyn Proctor LT Alabama<\/p>\n Gennings Dunker OL Iowa<\/p>\n Amil Wagner OT Notre Dame<\/p>\n Denzel Boston Washington<\/p>\n Omar Cooper WR Indiana<\/p>\n Malachi Fields Notre Dame<\/p>\n Chase Roberts BYU<\/p>\n Ted Hurst Georgia State<\/p>\n Skyler Bell UConn<\/p>\n Chris Brazzell Tennessee<\/p>\n Chris Bell Louisville<\/p>\n All these receivers are 6\u2019 or above.\u00a0 40 times will be critical for these players.\u00a0 I would like to see 3-cone drills under 7.00, but a lot of these players will not run that drill because it will expose having inadequate quickness.<\/p>\n Eli Stover Vanderbilt \u2013 H-Back like Travis Kelce, no in-line blocking<\/p>\n Eli Rairdon Notre Dame<\/p>\n Sam Roush Stanford<\/p>\n Dallen Bentley Utah<\/p>\n Mike Washington Arkansas<\/p>\n Kaytron Allen Penn State<\/p>\n Jadarian Price Notre Dame<\/p>\n CJ Allen LB Georgia<\/p>\n Anthony Hill LB Texas<\/p>\n Sonny Styles LB Ohio State<\/p>\n Jacob Rodriquez LB Texas Tech<\/p>\n Aiden Fischer LB Indiana \u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n Owen Heinecke Oklahoma<\/p>\n Bryce Boettcher Oregon<\/p>\n Lee Hunter DT Texas Tech<\/p>\n Darrell Jackson DT Florida State<\/p>\n Akheem Mesidor ED Miami<\/p>\n Zion Young ED Missouri<\/p>\n Ndame Tucker ED Western Michigan<\/p>\n Derrick Moore, Michigan<\/p>\n Emmanuel McNeil \u2013 Warren S Toledo<\/p>\n Zakee Wright S Penn State<\/p>\n Genesis Smith S Arizona<\/p>\n Bud Clark S TCU<\/p>\n Davison Igbinosun CB Ohio State<\/p>\n Domani Jackson CB Alabama<\/p>\n Keionte Scott CB Miami<\/p>\n Daylen Everette Georgia<\/p>\n These are the top players by their positions that were snubbed by the Combine.\u00a0 They will have to wait until their Pro days to show what they have got.<\/p>\n Quarterback Mark Gronowski, Iowa<\/p>\n Running Back Kaelon Black, Indiana<\/p>\n Wide receiver Tyren Montgomery, John Carroll<\/p>\n Tight End Dan Villari, Syracuse \u2013 report below indicates the Patriots met with Villari at the Senior Bowl<\/p>\n Offensive line Riley Mahlman, Wisconsin<\/p>\n Linebacker Shad Banks Jr., UTSA – he was interviewed by the Patriots at the Hula Bowl.\u00a0 Impressive speed and wowed as a Special Teams player in the East West Shrine game with two tackles.<\/p>\n Cornerback Devon Marshall, North Carolina State<\/p>\n Safety Cole Wisniewski, Texas Tech<\/p>\n Per NEPatriotsToday on X \u2013 <\/strong>The following players were interviewed by the Patriots at the Senior Bowl<\/p>\n DE TJ Parker Clemson<\/p>\n DE Dani Dennis-Sutton Penn State<\/p>\n S Jalen Stroman Notre Dame<\/p>\n RB Kejon Owens Florida International<\/p>\n WR Lewis Bond Boston College<\/p>\n TE Dan Villar Syracuse<\/p>\n OT Kage Casey Boise State<\/p>\n I have been a long proponent for Stanley Morgan to be named to the Pro-Football Hall of Fame.\u00a0 This from Patsfans.com Patriots Forum Moderator jmt57<\/p>\n \u201cStanley Morgan is a two-time All Pro and four-time Pro Bowl receiver, despite playing on extremely run-oriented offenses. He led the NFL in touchdown receptions in 1979, and in yards per reception in three consecutive seasons (1979-81) – with an astounding 22.8, 22.0 and 23.4 yards per catch. His 19.2 career yards per catch ranks as 10th best in NFL history. In 1986 Morgan set what was then a franchise record with 1,491 yards receiving, playing an integral part on the first Patriot team to make it to the Super Bowl.<\/p>\n In 1981 Morgan broke his own franchise single game record with 182 yards receiving against the Dolphins; that milestone would last for 17 years until rules and penalties enhanced the passing game immensely.<\/p>\n Despite the NFL’s thumb on the scale that makes comparing stats from different decades difficult, to this day Stanley Morgan still holds the Patriots career record for receiving yards (10,352), games with 100+ yards receiving (38; ten more than #2’s Wes Welker and Rob Gronkowski) and yards from scrimmage (10,843). When he departed Foxborough after the 1989 season he also held franchise records for receptions (534; now 4th), receiving touchdowns (67, now 2nd); points by a non-kicker (408, now 2nd), all-purpose yards (11,468, now 2nd).<\/p>\n There are two mysteries in regards to Stanley Morgan’s legacy. On August 27, 2007 Stanley Morgan was finally inducted into the Patriots Hall of Fame. Despite playing on run-heavy teams in the pre-Bill Polian\u00a0‘let’s change the rules to favor Peyton’ Competition Committee<\/em>, Morgan had nearly 2,500 more career receiving yards than any other player in franchise history.\u201d<\/p>\n Note: Polian is still on the Senior Hall of Fame voting committee and didn\u2019t vote for Bill Belichick or Robert Kraft.\u00a0 The contributors have to compete with the Veteran players for entry into the Hall.\u00a0 Sone voters will not vote for contributors over players.<\/p>\n Zak Kuhr Named Defensive Coordinator<\/strong><\/p>\n The Pats made it official by naming Zak Kuhr Defensive Coordinator. \u00a0This was a well-deserved promotion.\u00a0 I believe the rest of the league saw this coming because the Patriots wouldn\u2019t give their permission for Kuhr to interview with other teams for heir Defensive Coordinator positions.\u00a0 The Patriots were required to adhere to the Rooney Rule to\u00a0\u201cfoster and provide opportunity to diverse leadership throughout the NFL.\u201d\u00a0 They accomplished that by interviewing two minority coaches, one of which was Ephraim Banda, Safeties coach at Cleveland. \u00a0Although he was not hired for the DC position, keep an eye out on him.\u00a0 Mike Vrabel spent time with Cleveland in 2024 and with a new Head Coach and Defensive Coordinator coming to Cleveland, Banda may not be safe.\u00a0 Mike Reis also reported that Vinny DePalma, who did a fine job stepping up for Kuhr as Inside Linebacker coach, is expected to be elevated into Kuhr\u2019s former role. \u00a0\u00a0This is a remarkable accomplishment for the 2nd<\/sup> year coach, who graduated from Boston College after a fine 4-year career \u00a0(2018-2023). He has served as a defensive assistant for the Patriots in the last two seasons.<\/p>\n It was reported Thursday that Patriots Assistant Defensive Coach Milton Patterson will not return next season.\u00a0 He is the second assistant to leave the team this offseason.<\/p>\n Brandon Crossley signed back with the team.\u00a0 Crossley, 25, was originally signed by New England as a rookie free agent on May 9, 2025, out of Southern Methodist (SMU). The 5-foot-11, 186-pounder, was released on Aug. 26 and signed to the practice squad on Aug. 27. He was released the next day (8\/28) but returned to the Patriots in Week 12 when he was re-signed to the practice squad (11\/26). He spent the rest of the regular season on the team’s practice squad until his release on Jan. 6.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Previewing the NFL Combine, key dates, Patriots’ needs, potential draft targets, & coaching changes. Plus, the case for Stanley Morgan in the Hall of Fame.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":23,"featured_media":45526,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[10],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-65751","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-patriots-news"],"yoast_head":"\nPositions of Need<\/strong><\/h3>\n
Combine Players That Might Interest the Patriots<\/strong><\/h3>\n
Offensive Line <\/strong><\/h4>\n
Wide Receiver<\/strong><\/h5>\n
Tight End <\/strong><\/h4>\n
Runningback<\/strong><\/h4>\n
Linebacker<\/strong><\/h4>\n
Defensive Tackle<\/strong><\/h4>\n
Edge<\/strong><\/h4>\n
\n
Safeties<\/strong><\/h4>\n
Cornerback <\/strong><\/h4>\n
Combine Snubs <\/strong><\/h4>\n
Tuesday was Stanley Morgan 71st<\/sup> Birthday<\/strong><\/h3>\n
\nFirst, why did it take the Patriots eight years to induct him into the team’s Hall of Fame?
\nAnd secondly, why is he not in the Pro Football Hall of Fame?<\/p>\nComings and Goings <\/strong><\/h3>\n
Patriots lose another Assistant Coach<\/strong><\/h4>\n
Crossley Signs Futures Contract<\/strong><\/h4>\n