New England Patriots
The weekend confirmed the depth at a number of of the Patriots’ largest positions of want.
The NFL Scouting Mix has come and gone. Whereas the Patriots gained’t have the luxurious of holding a top-five decide once more this offseason, the weekend confirmed that there’s some sturdy depth at their positions of want within the 2026 NFL Draft.
Broad receivers within the 2026 draft, particularly, had displaying in Indianapolis. A number of gamers on the place both had examined extremely effectively within the athletic drills, or had some memorable moments in the course of the on-field exercises.
There have been additionally a number of edge rushers that stood out over the weekend, to the purpose that they is likely to be New England’s decide at No. 31 in April’s draft.
So, let’s check out 10 prospects who had displaying in Indianapolis over the weekend who is likely to be affordable draft targets for the Patriots.
Romello Top, EDGE, Texas Tech
Sadly for the Patriots, a number of of the sting rushers that had one of the best day on the mix have been already projected to go early within the first spherical. However, there have been a few projected Day 2 picks who had displaying in Indianapolis.
Romello Top was one in every of them. The Texas Tech product was within the prime 10 amongst edge rushers within the 40 (4.64), vertical (39 inches), and broad soar (10 ft, 5 inches), a robust consequence contemplating his dimension (6-foot-3, 239 kilos).
That testing helps again up Top’s productive 2025 season at Texas Tech. He was additionally sixth within the nation in complete pressures with 56.
Dani Dennis-Sutton, EDGE, Penn State and Malachi Lawrence, EDGE, UCF
Dani Dennis-Sutton and Malachi Lawrence put themselves in fairly uncommon territory with their mix performances. They joined Myles Garrett, T.J. Watt, Montez Sweat, and Aidan Hutchinson as the only players in the last 10 years to log a relative athletic rating of not less than 9.89 after having a season during which they recorded a stress charge of not less than 17 p.c.
Dennis-Sutton ran the fourth-quickest three-cone drill amongst all prospects, and his broad soar (10 ft, 11 inches) led all edge rushers. Lawrence was third amongst edge rushers within the 40 (4.52), second within the vertical soar (40 inches), and second within the broad soar (10 ft, 10 inches). Lawrence was measured at 6-4, whereas Dennis-Sutton checked in at a whopping 6-6. So sure, they each have the dimensions to play the place.
When it comes to manufacturing, Dennis-Sutton was a barely extra productive participant in faculty than Lawrence, logging 17 sacks within the final two seasons to Lawrence’s 12. Similar to Top, each gamers have been projected to be Day 2 picks.
Eli Stowers, TE, Vanderbilt
Oregon tight finish and projected first-round decide Kenyon Sadiq dominated the mix to the purpose that he might need made it not possible for the Patriots to draft him. However, Eli Stowers had a powerful day and appears to be a possible affordable goal within the first two rounds.
Stowers broke the document within the broad soar for tight ends on the mix (11 ft, 3 inches). He additionally recorded a forty five.5-inch vertical soar, one of the best for a decent finish since 2003. He has good pace as effectively, operating a 4.53 within the 40.
As for his faculty profession, Stowers was fairly productive after making the change from quarterback to tight finish. He had 111 receptions for 1,407 yards and 9 touchdowns in two seasons at Vanderbilt, profitable the John Mackey Award for the nation’s finest tight finish this previous season.
KC Concepcion, WR, Texas A&M
KC Concepcion didn’t compete within the athletic testing on the mix on Saturday, however he confirmed why he is likely to be a possible first-round decide when he did the gauntlet. The Texas A&M product appeared to take fewer than 5 steps off the road in the course of the drill, showcasing his sturdy route-running capability.
That route-running capability helped Concepcion document 61 receptions for 919 yards and 9 touchdowns this previous season. However, he additionally had 456 punt return yards and two touchdowns on 25 returns, notching Concepcion the Hornung Award for one of the best all-purpose play in faculty soccer.
Omar Cooper, WR, Indiana
Coming into the mix, Omar Cooper made an look within the first spherical in some mock drafts. He may’ve climbed into the primary spherical along with his displaying on Saturday, although.
Cooper ran a 4.42 40, which wasn’t one of many quickest instances on the place. Nevertheless, it’s time for a receiver who’s simply over 6 ft tall.
That pace additionally helps legitimize Cooper’s manufacturing from this previous season. He was Fernando Mendoza’s prime goal, recording 69 receptions for 937 yards and 13 touchdowns. A kind of grabs was one of many prime highlights in current faculty soccer reminiscence, toe-tapping at the back of the tip zone to assist Indiana beat Penn State.
Deion Burks, WR, Oklahoma
Deion Burks is little, however quick — very quick.
The 5-10 Oklahoma product ran a 4.3 within the 40, which was the third-fastest time amongst vast receivers. That wasn’t the one space the place Burks impressed. He additionally logged one of the best vertical soar (42.5 inches) and fifth-best broad soar (10 ft, 11 inches).
That sort of burst may make Burks an attractive gadget participant within the NFL. Oklahoma’s inconsistent quarterback play during the last couple of years possible didn’t permit Burks to indicate his full potential, although. He had 57 receptions for 620 yards and 4 touchdowns final yr, placing up lesser numbers in comparison with a number of different prime vast receiver prospects.
Nonetheless, for a Patriots’ offense that would use some pop, Burks is likely to be an fascinating possibility for them on Day 2 of the draft.
Jeff Caldwell, WR, Cincinnati
Jeff Caldwell seems to have been tailored for the mix.
The Cincinnati product measured at 6-5. But, he ran a 4.31 40, which was the fourth-fastest time amongst vast receivers. To place that quantity in perspective, that was the quickest 40 time by any participant on the mix who was measured at 6-1 or taller.
Similar to Burks, Caldwell confirmed out in a few of the different athletic testing drills. His 42-inch vertical was tied for the second-best on the place. His broad soar (11 ft, 2 inches) was second amongst vast receivers.
Coming into the weekend, Caldwell appeared to be an afterthought among the many vast receiver prospects, as you’ll’ve needed to undergo a seven-round projection so as to find his name in mock drafts. However, after a quiet yr at Cincinnati (32 catches for 478 yards and 6 touchdowns), Caldwell’s dimension and freak athleticism is likely to be an excessive amount of for groups to miss.
Chris Brazzell II, WR, Tennessee
Chris Brazzell additionally checked in at 6-5 throughout his top measurement this weekend, and he practically put up the identical quantity as Caldwell within the 40-yard sprint.
The Tennessee star ran a powerful 4.37 time within the 40. Whereas it wasn’t as quick as Caldwell’s, Brazzell’s 40 time was quicker than the likes of Jaylen Waddle and Ja’Marr Chase, regardless of being a number of inches taller than these two.
Brazzell didn’t take part in different athletic testing drills on Saturday, but it surely doesn’t seem to be he wanted to do rather more to determine himself as a robust candidate to be picked within the first two rounds. He had 62 receptions for 1,017 yards and 9 touchdowns this previous season. So, the manufacturing is actually there for Brazzell, too.
Max Iheanachor, OT, Arizona State
Much like Kenyon Sadiq, Georgia offensive deal with Monroe Freeling might need had such a robust efficiency on the mix that the Patriots may now not be capable of draft him. A number of draft analysts now have Freeling as a top-15 prospect, so New England might need to make a serious commerce as much as get him.
Max Iheanachor was among the many offensive linemen that had a robust day that may nonetheless be in attain for the Patriots in Spherical 1. His 4.91 40 was tied for the second-best amongst offensive linemen on the mix. His 30.5-inch vertical soar and 9-foot, 7-inch broad soar may not look spectacular. Nevertheless, the Relative Athletic Score considers these “elite” numbers contemplating Iheanachor’s dimension (6-5, 321 kilos).
Forward of the mix, Iheanachor had been considered as a possible first-round decide. Some mock drafts even had the Patriots deciding on him at No. 31.
Iheanachor was completely a proper ackle throughout his time at Arizona State, transferring there after starting his faculty profession at East Los Angeles Faculty. He allowed simply two sacks and 46 pressures in three years at Arizona State, per PFF, incomes second-team All-Large 12 honors this previous season.
Get the newest Boston sports activities information
Obtain updates in your favourite Boston groups, straight from our newsroom to your inbox.
