2018 Pre-Draft Tracker

Patriots 2018 pre-draft tracker: Interviews, workouts, meetings, analysis & more
The Patriots have started to meet with draft prospects.
By Bernd Buchmasser


Draft season is in full swing and the New England Patriots are allowed to conduct 60 formal interviews with NFL hopefuls beforehand. Check out our interview and meetings tracker to find out who the team has already spoken to or worked out with to the best of our knowledge:


Senior Bowl

QB Luke Falk, Washington State (6035, 215 lbs): One of the potential mid-round quarterback options, the Patriots' scouting team met with Falk at the senior bowl. The 23-year old is an intriguing passer that completed 68.3% percent of his passes during his four collegiate seasons. However, he needs to get used to playing from under center at the next level. (via Karen Guregian)
NFL combine

RB Sony Michel, Georgia (5105, 214 lbs): Michel is versatile back that has experience as both a receiver and ball carrier and has the makings of a good all-around back at the next level. He is projected to be selected on day two. (via Ryan Hannable)

RB Akrum Wadley, Iowa (5097, 194 lbs): Wadley gained over 2,800 scrimmage yards in his last two years at Iowa while scoring a combined 26 touchdowns. Coming from a team coached by Kirk Ferentz, a Bill Belichick confidante, automatically puts him on New England's radar. (via NESN)

RB Mark Walton, Miami (5095, 202 lbs): Before his 2017 junior season was cut short after only four games by an ankle injury, Walton gained 129.8 scrimmage yards per game. (via Ryan Hannable)

OT Kolton Miller, UCLA (6085, 309 lbs): A big prospect that plays with sound technique, Miller is one of the better tackles entering this year's draft. While he needs to add some more bulk to his frame, his mix of size and athleticism make him an interesting prospect as the potential heir to Nate Solder, who left the Patriots via free agency. (via Phil Perry)

OT Rick Leonard, Florida State (6070, 305 lbs): After joining Florida State as a defensive lineman, Leonard converted to the offensive side prior to the 2016 season. By last year, he was the team's starting right tackle. A raw but physically intriguing prospect. (via Kevin Duffy)

RB Darrel Williams, LSU (5115, 229 lbs): Williams was a rotational back at LSU and as a result did not post outstanding numbers. Still, he was as solid as they come no matter if he was asked to carry or catch the football or help in blitz pickup. (via Doug Kyed)

RB Chase Edmonds, Fordham (5091, 205 lbs): A projected late-round prospect, Edmonds' 2017 season was marked by injuries. He still managed to earn second team All-Patriot League honors by gaining 729 yards from scrimmage, 577 of which on the ground. (via Doug Kyed)

RB Nyheim Hines, N.C. State (5083, 198 lbs): A small but explosive back, Hines has the makings and the experience of a passing-back in the mold of James White. He also brings experience in the return game to the table. (via Ryan Hannable)

TE Mark Andrews, Oklahoma (6051, 256 lbs): The 2017 John Mackey Award winner opted to forgo his senior season at Oklahoma after a 62-catch, 958-yard, eight-touchdown season. Andrews is an impressive athlete and a mismatch in the passing game but has deficits as a blocker. He had an informal interview with the Patriots. (via Ryan Hannable)

QB Kyle Lauletta, Richmond (6025, 222): Lauletta is among the potential mid-round quarterback options for the Patriots. The team’s scouts met with the senior passer, who completed 63% of his attempts at Richmond, today but did not hold a formal interview with him. (via Doug Kyed)

DL Sam Hubbard, Ohio State (6053, 270 lbs): Coming off a 7.0-sack season, the 2017 second-team All-Big 10 defensive end is projected to be drafted on day two this year. His football prowess is not the only thing to stand out about Hubbard: He turned down a Lacrosse scholarship at Notre Dame to play football at Ohio State. (via Ryan Hannable)

DL Da’Shawn Hand, Alabama (6035, 297 lbs): While his stats for the Crimson Tide did not stand out, Hand brings ideal size and impressive athleticism to the table. Able to play both on the interior and on the edge, the senior is projected to become a mid or late round pick. (via Kevin Duffy)

DL Duke Ejiofor, Wake Forest (6040, 264 lbs): Ejiofor lacks top-notch athleticism and size but has still been a productive player at Wake Forest that wins with sound technique and discipline. As a result, he should get drafted on day two by a team that needs help in the pass rushing department. (via Kevin Duffy)

DL Kylie Fitts, UCLA (6036, 263 lbs): The 23-year old, who started his collegiate career at UCLA before transferring to Utah, brings plenty of experience to the table. However, he was limited over his past two seasons because of injuries and neither has the stats nor athletic traits to be selected early. (via Ryan Hannable)

DL Jalyn Holmes, Ohio State (6047, 283 lbs): While Holmes has been a bit inconsistent during his four years at Ohio State, he brings ideal size and intriguing athletic skills to the table. A rather raw prospect, he still needs to work on his technique. (via Doug Kyed)

DL Matt Dickerson, UCLA (6045, 202 lbs): Despite seeing his 2017 senior season cut short by a collarbone injury, Dickerson still brings plenty of experience to the table. Over his four years at UCLA, the defensive end appeared in 44 games and registered 1.5 sacks and 97 tackles. (via Doug Kyed)

K Drew Brown, Nebraska (5100, 208 lbs): One of eleven kickers invited to the combine, Brown made 77.6% of his field goal attempts at Nebraska. A second-team All Big-10 selection in 2015, he also handled kickoff duties for the Cornhuskers. (via Doug Kyed)

WR Trey Quinn, Southern Methodist (5113, 203 lbs): Entering the draft process with a pair of the best hands in his class, the SMU product had a spectacular senior season: Quinn caught 114 passes for 1,236 yards and 13 touchdowns while also serving as a part-time punt returner. (via David Helman)

SS Ronnie Harrison, Alabama (6020, 207 lbs): The Patriots have a solid safety corps but need depth behind Patrick Chung - and Harrison could be just that. The Alabama product has experience lining up deep, covering tight ends and running backs and playing downhill against the run. He needs to get more consistent but would be an immediate upgrade over Jordan Richards. (via Doug Kyed)

SS Justin Reid, Stanford (6004, 207 lbs): Praised for his versatility and intelligence, Reid has played all over the defensive backfield at Stanford. The junior was voted All Pac-12 in 2017 after a season during which he put up spectacular numbers: Reid registered 99 tackles, five interceptions and a sack. (via Doug Kyed)

WR Keke Coutee, Texas Tech (5096, 181 lbs): One of Danny Amendola's successors at Texas Tech, Coutee is expected to become a mid-to-late round selection during the draft. Despite his relative lack of size, the 21-year old was a productive player in college and finished his 2017 season with 93 catches for 1,429 yards and 10 touchdowns while also serving as a dangerous kick returner. (via Zack Cox)

WR Richie James, Middle Tennessee State (5101, 178 lbs): One of college football's most productive slot receivers, James saw his 2017 season cut short by injury. He still caught 31 passes for 290 yards and three scores in the five games he played in to bring his career totals to a whooping 243 receptions for 3,249 yards and 23 touchdowns - all in just three seasons. (via Zack Cox)

DT Andrew Brown, Virginia (6033, 296 lbs): While injuries have been a concern early in his career, Brown has been a solid defensive tackle for Virginia when healthy. He brings ideal size and good athleticism but is a raw prospect in terms of technique and play recognition. (via Walter Cherepinsky)

LB Lorenzo Carter, Georgia (6047, 250 lbs): Carter not only brings ideal size to the table, he also is a versatile player capable of lining up on and off the line of scrimmage. While he needs to improve his technique, he is a high-upside developmental player. (via Walter Cherepinsky)

LB Leighton Vander Esch, Boise State (6042, 256 lbs): The Mountain West conference's reigning defensive player of the year, Vander Esch had a breakout season in 2017 and registered 129 tackles as well as three sacks and interceptions apiece. Capable of playing both inside and outside linebacker, he is quickly climbing draft boards. (via Ryan Hannable)


Pro Days

CB Joshua Jackson, Iowa (6003, 196 lbs): One of this year's top cornerback prospects and a projected first-round selection, Jackson is coming off a highly productive redshirt junior season: He registered a nation-high eight interceptions and was voted first-team All-American. And even though he comes from a primarily zone-based scheme, he has some experience playing man-to-man and should be productive no matter the usage. (via Ian Rapoport)

LB Josey Jewell, Iowa (6010, 234 lbs): A three-year starter at middle linebacker for the Hawkeyes, Jewell was named defensive team captain and first-team All-American in 2017 after leading the Big Ten with 136 tackles. While he lacks elite athleticism and is slightly undersized, his intelligence and instincts could help him develop into a starting-caliber player at the next level. (via Rob Howe)

LB Bo Bower, Iowa (6015, 236 lbs): Bower, who started at weakside linebacker the last two seasons, is an undersized and raw prospect but one that offers intriguing physical skills. He is projected to become a late-round selection or free agent that could serve as a rotational off-the-line defender and special teamer at the next level. (via Rob Howe)

LB Ben Niemann, Iowa (6027, 235 lbs): Starting both on the interior and the edge over the last three years, Niemann is a highly experienced linebacker prospect that appeared in 53 games through his collegiate career. While he does not offer top-notch athletic traits, he has the makings of a sub-package coverage linebacker and special teamer. (via Rob Howe)

LB Jermaine Carter Jr., Maryland (6010, 222 lbs): Carter Jr. not only started all 37 games at middle linebacker for Maryland over the last three seasons, he also led the team in tackles each year. Even though the two-time team captain is slightly undersized for the linebacker position, his college production and athleticism make him an intriguing late-round option. (via Aaron Wilson)

WR DaeSean Hamilton, Penn State (6005, 203 lbs): The redshirt senior is coming off a productive four-year playing career at Penn State and averaged 53.5 catches, 710.5 receiving yards and 4.5 touchdowns per season. The 6’0, 200 lbs pass catcher is projected to be selected in the middle rounds during the draft and has the tools to become an effective slot receiver at the next level. (via Mike Loyko)

QB Chad Kanoff, Princeton (6040, 219 lbs): Kanoff capped his productive four-year career at Princeton in style by setting the Ivy League’s record for single-season completion percentage (73.2%) in 2017. An ideally sized but raw quarterback, he projects to be a late-round selection or priority free agent. (via Mike Reiss)

LB Rasheem Green, USC (6042, 275 lbs): Coming off a season in which he led USC in sacks, the 20-year old projects to be a day two selection – one that would add athleticism to the Patriots' defensive edge rotation. While he is a raw prospect, Green has all the tools to become a productive player at the next level. (via Tony Pauline)

DE Harold Landry, Boston College (6023, 252 lbs): A dominant edge rusher at Boston College that registered 26.0 sacks in four seasons, Landry is an experienced and productive prospect. While he needs to improve as a run defender and is coming off season-ending injury, he will likely get drafted early on day two. (via Albert Breer)

RB Ito Smith, Southern Mississippi (5090, 201 lbs): Despite his lack of size, Smith projects to be a popular mid-to-late-round pick due to his excellent vision and agility – and impressive college production: He averaged 1,791 yards from scrimmage and 16 touchdowns over the course of his last three years at Southern Mississippi. (via Tony Pauline)

WR Vyncint Smith, Limestone (6030, 195 lbs): Despite a solid four-year career playing for Division II's Limestone Saints – 153 catches, 2,371 yards, 11 touchdowns – Smith is projected to at best become late-round selection. While his speed stands out, he is a raw wide receiver prospect that needs some serious work at the next level. (via Aaron Wilson)

OT Brandon Parker, North Carolina A&T (6075, 305 lbs): After serving as the Aggies' starting left tackle for the last four years, the redshirt senior enters the draft as a high-upside developmental option at offensive tackle. Offering ideal size and intriguing measurements, Parker would likely benefit from learning behind the scenes before getting elevated to a starting role. (via Christian Shanafelt)


Workouts

CB Keion Crossen, Western Carolina (5095, 173 lbs): A two-year starter, the slightly build defensive back has experience playing both on the boundary and in the slot – all while seeing plenty of action in the kicking game as well. (via Sal Capaccio)

DT P.J. Hall, Sam Houston State (6005, 308 lbs): The redshirt senior averaged 71 tackles, 10.5 sacks and 2.3 forced fumbles over his four collegiate seasons. Despite his impressive numbers, Hall will probably not get drafted before day three due to his lack of height and the competition level he faced playing Division I football. (via Aaron Wilson)


Private interviews

CB Duke Dawson, Florida (5105, 197 lbs): Dawson, who appeared in 48 games throughout his college career and registered a combined six interceptions, brings versatility to the table and could play both in the slot and on the boundary. Even though his speed and quickness make him an interesting option, he appears best suited to play in a zone-based coverage scheme. (via Tony Pauline)

WR Christian Kirk, Texas A&M (5103, 201 lbs): The 21-year old displayed explosiveness, great hands and solid route running abilities throughout his three years at Texas A&M and finished his college career with 229 catches for 2,796 yards and 26 touchdowns – all while serving as his team’s primary punt returner as well. (via Billy Marshall)

WR D.J. Moore, Maryland (6000, 201 lbs): Bringing elite quickness and speed to the table, Moore is projected to be drafted in the first round after a college career that saw him haul in 146 catches for 2,027 yards and 17 touchdowns. Even though he doesn't have ideal height, he very well has the athleticism to become a number one wideout in the NFL. (via Josh Stirn)

LB Rashaan Evans, Alabama (6017, 232 lbs): Projected to become a first round selection in the draft due to his experience, past production and versatility, Evans was named first-team All-SEC for his 2017 season. No matter if he was used as a pass rusher, edge setter or coverage linebacker, the senior never looked uncomfortable and brings day-one starting potential to the table. (via Matt Zenitz)


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