{"id":31817,"date":"2019-03-02T19:08:51","date_gmt":"2019-03-03T00:08:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.clnsmedia.com\/?p=31817"},"modified":"2021-08-27T10:24:58","modified_gmt":"2021-08-27T10:24:58","slug":"lazars-combine-notebook-pass-catchers-future-patriots","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.clnsmedia.com\/lazars-combine-notebook-pass-catchers-future-patriots\/","title":{"rendered":"Lazar’s Combine Notebook: Which Pass Catchers Could be Future Patriots?"},"content":{"rendered":"

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INDIANAPOLIS — The second day of on-field workouts at the 2019 NFL Scouting Combine was a big one for the Patriots with pass catchers and quarterbacks taking the field at Lucas Oil Stadium.<\/p>\n

Earlier this morning, a report surfaced that the Patriots will release backup tight end Dwayne Allen, and we all know that Rob Gronkowski is nearing the end as well.<\/p>\n

At the wide receiver position, the Patriots only have one receiver, Julian Edelman, under contract that played in Super Bowl LIII excluding special teamer Matthew Slater.<\/p>\n

On Friday, a source said the Patriots were intrigued by both the tight ends and wide receivers in April\u2019s draft which makes sense given Allen\u2019s release and the number of interviews they had with pass catchers this week.<\/p>\n

With the offensive skill players on the field, we also got a chance to speak with the defensive line and linebackers that will go through workouts on Sunday.
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Here are all the things we learned from another day in Indy:<\/p>\n

PATRIOTS TO RELEASE TIGHT END DWAYNE ALLEN<\/strong><\/h3>\n

In a cap-saving maneuver, the Patriots will release blocking tight end Dwayne Allen to free up over $7 million in cap space, according to ESPN\u2019s Adam Schefter.<\/p>\n

Allen played 33 percent of the offensive snaps last season for New England but blocked over 70 percent of the time, and despite running 128 routes, was only targeted four times.<\/p>\n

The veteran tight end was one of the better run blockers at the position over the last two seasons, but given his 2019 cap hit ($7.3 million), the move isn\u2019t surprising.<\/p>\n

Plus, the Patriots are doing extensive work on this year\u2019s crop of tight ends and will most likely draft one in April.<\/p>\n

The team also has 2018 seventh round pick Ryan Izzo who projects as an in-line blocker and could take on some of Allen\u2019s responsibilities.<\/p>\n

The Patriots could bring Allen back at a lower cap number, according to Schefter.<\/p>\n

COMBINE ON-FIELD WORKOUT STANDOUTS AT TIGHT END POSITION<\/strong><\/h3>\n

With the Allen news adding more intrigue, the Patriots are squarely in the tight end market, and there were a few players that either surprised me or solidified themselves as top prospects on Saturday.<\/p>\n

Let\u2019s start at the top, the consensus \u201cbig three\u201d at the position all performed well with Iowa\u2019s Noah Fant, as expected, pacing the group.<\/p>\n

We all knew that Fant was a rare athlete, and his workout on Saturday didn\u2019t change much in my evaluation of him.<\/p>\n

He was a first-round pick before the combine, and he\u2019s still a first rounder.<\/p>\n

Fant had the best result among tight ends in the 40-yard dash (4.50), vertical jump (39.5 inches), broad jump (127 inches) and in the three-cone with an insane 6.81-second time.<\/p>\n

As for his teammate, T.J. Hockenson, he had an above average workout although nothing spectacular, which came as no surprise. Hockenson isn\u2019t going to \u201cwow\u201d you with his 40 time, but his smoothness and all-around capabilities were on full display during the drill portion of the session.<\/p>\n

From a Patriots perspective, the consensus in Indy is that both Iowa tight ends will be off the board before New England is on the clock at the end of the first round.<\/p>\n

If the Patriots want to go tight end early, they might have to settle for Alabama\u2019s Irv Smith, which isn\u2019t much of downgrade.<\/p>\n

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#Alabama<\/a> TE Irv Smith Jr putting on a clinic against press coverage. Stutter step move to beat the jam while following through with his hands. Gets the DB chasing instantly. Sells vertical\/seam route holding the safety before breaking off on the corner route. TEs doing WR things. pic.twitter.com\/kkAqdQIEgN<\/a><\/p>\n

— Evan Lazar (@ezlazar) February 14, 2019<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n