{"id":49337,"date":"2020-02-24T11:17:11","date_gmt":"2020-02-24T11:17:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.clnsmedia.com\/?p=49337"},"modified":"2021-08-29T05:49:59","modified_gmt":"2021-08-29T05:49:59","slug":"lazar-ten-patriots-related-things-watch-nfl-combine","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.clnsmedia.com\/lazar-ten-patriots-related-things-watch-nfl-combine\/","title":{"rendered":"Lazar: Ten Patriots-Related Things to Watch During NFL Combine"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Patriots and most of the NFL will converge for the scouting combine this week in Indianapolis.<\/span><\/p>\n

Patriots head coach Bill Belichick and Director of Player Personnel Nick Caserio, armed with a new contract extension, will be in attendance scouting the best players in the 2020 NFL Draft.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Belichick always has a hands-on approach, but New England\u2019s early exit from the 2019 playoffs has the coach even more entrenched in the draft this early relative to other seasons.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The Patriots have plenty of holes to fill and potentially significant needs depending on how free agency shakes out this March, and Tom Brady\u2019s free-agency will be the talk of the combine.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Along with Brady, and ongoing negotiations with the new collective bargaining agreement, there\u2019s plenty of league news to monitor in a busy time for the NFL.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

It\u2019s also important to weed out the stuff that matters from the activities in Indianapolis and the stuff that doesn\u2019t, including the scuttlebutt.<\/span><\/p>\n

Many rumors you\u2019ll hear come from players\u2019 agents trying to increase interest in their clients, and the physical testing is nowhere near as important as medicals and interviews for draftees.<\/span><\/p>\n

With that in mind, here are ten Patriots-related things to monitor over this week:<\/span><\/p>\n

1. Brady Watch and Other Free Agency Chatter<\/strong><\/h4>\n

Although the purpose of the combine is to get to know this year’s draftees, we\u2019ll keep our ears peeled for any real Brady news. According to Tom Curran and others, the Pats and Brady are expecting to begin contract negotiations as early as this week, so we might find out roughly where the two sides are at, and if any dark horses are entering the Brady sweepstakes. Brady\u2019s market might come to light over the next few days, and the same can be said about other free agents. Of note, the tight end market in free agency and the asking price for trade targets such as Cleveland\u2019s David Njoku or Tampa Bay\u2019s O.J. Howard will be of particular interest to the Patriots. The Pats would like to add veteran tight end help this offseason.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a02. Tua Tagovailoa Hip and Other Draft-Eligible Quarterbacks\u00a0<\/strong><\/h4>\n

Sticking with quarterbacks, after his first checkup came back clean, Patriots fans hoping to see Alabama quarterback Tua Tagovailoa fall down the board might be out of luck. Tagovailoa will not do any physical testing in Indy, but he\u2019ll have an all-important medical check where teams can inspect his surgically repaired hip themselves, and he\u2019ll go through the interview portion at the combine as well. The expectation based on his first checkup early this month is that Tua won\u2019t need to wait long to hear his name called in April. Barring a setback, Tagovailoa will be a top ten pick.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Besides Tua, Pats fans might want to keep an eye on Georgia\u2019s Jake Fromm and Washington quarterback Jacob Eason. Fromm has the clean mechanics, experience, and high I.Q. that the Patriots covet. Eason has a huge arm and makes in-rhythm anticipatory throws. Both could be in play for New England with Eason potentially sneaking into the backend of the first round.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

3. Is There a First-Round Tight End in This Class?<\/strong><\/h4>\n

After studying the top tight ends in this year\u2019s class, the options are a little barren at the top. There\u2019s no T.J. Hockenson or Noah Fant this year, and not a single tight end finished with a round-one grade from me based on the tape. Dayton\u2019s Adam Trautman currently sits atop my board, but it seems unlikely that a team would take a chance on an FCS product in the first round. There are some other intriguing options, such as Brycen Hopkins or Cole Kmet, that could separate themselves from the pack with an eye-catching combine. Hopkins gives off some Evan Engram vibes, assuming he tests well, and Kmet has the size and burst to be an every-down player. Will one of those three, or another, emerge as a clear-cut first-rounder? The information we get this week will go a long way in setting the Patriots\u2019 board next month.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

4. How Fast Is Henry Ruggs and Justin Jefferson?\u00a0<\/strong><\/h4>\n

Teams in need of a quarterback or offensive linemen in a stacked class at both positions could push some of the wide receiver talent down the board. If so, that would be great news for the Pats, starting with Alabama speedster Henry Ruggs. Ruggs wins at all three levels with a full route tree and is expecting to run one of the fastest 40-yard dashes this year. There\u2019s an outside shot of one of the \u201cbig three\u201d of Ruggs, teammate Jerry Jeudy, or Ceedee Lamb falling, but if Ruggs runs in the 4.2s, you can all but kiss that dream goodbye. We\u2019ll also be monitoring LSU\u2019s Justin Jefferson closely. Jefferson is the best scheme fit in the draft following the big three, but there are some concerns about his play speed and explosiveness. He can solidify himself in the round one conversation with a strong combine.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

5. Michigan OL Cesar Ruiz an Old-School Belichick Pick\u00a0<\/strong><\/h4>\n

Just my gut talking here, but this offseason feels like Belichick returning to his team-building roots. Two of the Pats\u2019 last three first-round picks were skill position players, with N\u2019Keal Harry at the top a year ago, and something tells me that Belichick would like to get back to drafting in the trenches, leaving the skill positions to free agency and trades. Every NFL offense has a tough time projecting college players into the pro game, and we saw that first-hand in Harry\u2019s rookie season.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

Cesar Ruiz, IOL, #Michigan<\/a>: <\/p>\n

\u2022 Sandbox Bully (+)
\u2022 Vice grip hands
\u2022 Center\/Guard versatility (++)
\u2022 Excellent short pull blocker
\u2022 Constantly scans for work (++)
\u2022 High level anchor strength
\u2022 Constant communicator upfront pic.twitter.com\/6RQPb3smH7<\/a><\/p>\n

— Jordan Reid (@Jordan_Reid) February 22, 2020<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n