The Patriots once again find themselves in need of a game-changing receiver in the post-Julian Edelman era.
While Jakobi Meyers served admirably in the role, he lacked the explosiveness to dictate game plans and coverages. New England invested a 2nd-rounder in Tyquan Thornton last season, but he’s still unproven and may not be able to handle a WR1 target share.
Fortunately, while the 2023 wide receiver class isn’t the tallest we’ve seen, it’s full of dynamic playmakers who could provide a spark for New England’s group of big possession receivers.
One prospect who’s been heavily linked to the Patriots is Boston College wideout Zay Flowers, who New England coached in the Senior Bowl and brought in for a top-30 visit earlier this month. While addressing the media today for a pre-draft press conference, Patriots director of player personnel Matt Groh provided an interesting answer when asked whether Flowers is a wide or slot receiver.
“You gotta be able to move these guys around. Especially a player like Zay who can do a lot of things. It’s easy to pigeonhole these guys… There’s been some big guys that have been slot receivers. You look at a guy like Brandon Marshall, he made his living inside and did a really good job.”
Groh also acknowledged the Patriots’ perceived “type” at receiver over the past two decades and clarified that Flowers doesn’t necessarily have to be one or the other.
“I think there’s a certain type [of receiver] that certainly a lot of fans have seen around here with those smaller guys getting in and out of their breaks being inside. I think it was 4.42 that Zay ran at the combine, so we’re talking about a pretty fast guy here too who can stretch the field vertically from the outside. I don’t think Zay would want to be typecast as an inside or outside guy, so I’d just say he’s a really good receiver.”
While Flowers’ lack of size and shiftiness after the catch make him an easy projection inside, Groh rightly addresses the importance of speed in the receiver’s game, which helps set him apart from traditional slot receivers who rely more on quickness.
Zay Flowers's corner-post on film side-by-side with the same route at his Pro Day last week. pic.twitter.com/JiIo03Hxlp
— Evan Lazar (@ezlazar) March 27, 2023
The receiver had a productive collegiate career as primarily an outside receiver and deep threat in BC’s offense, leading the team in receiving three years in a row and earning First Team All-ACC honors in 2020 and 2022 (Third Team in 2021). Though he was able to show his dynamic YAC ability at times, he has a lot of untapped potential and could thrive in an Edelman-esque role with more chances to work in space.
Zay Flowers is meeting with the #Patriots tomorrow.pic.twitter.com/C0sJQr2knN https://t.co/AeNt3OxECJ
— Mike Kadlick (@mikekadlick) April 4, 2023
Flowers is projected to be a mid-to-late 1st round pick in next week’s draft. The Patriots could be aggressive and take him with the 14th overall pick, but it’s also possible they trade back for more capital and select the receiver a few slots later.
While addressing the wide receiver class overall, Groh said “All it takes is one,” meaning a team taking one receiver could result in a trickle-down where players at the position start flying off the board. He also mentioned the “different flavors” and that there are good receiver prospects throughout the draft. The Patriots have not been shy about their interest in the position the past month, with a list of top-30 visits that, outside of Flowers, includes:
- USC’s Jordan Addison (route-running savant; projected 1st-rounder)
- Mississippis’s Jonathan Mingo (big athlete with versatility; projected 3rd-rounder)
- Michigan’s Ronnie Bell (smart, dependable WR3; projected day 3 pick)
- Stanford’s Michael Wilson (high-character YAC threat and blocker; projected day 3 pick)
- Gardner-Webb’s T.J. Luther (raw deep threat; projected late-rounder, UDFA)
Flowers, Addison, and Mingo all project as moveable Z receivers who can threaten each level of the defense, so it’s not hard to see what New England is looking for in the early rounds of the draft. Flowers is my personal favorite among the group, but Addison’s separation ability and awareness after the catch would make him the team’s best receiver, and Mingo’s versatility could make him a mismatch nightmare. Whomever the Patriots select to bolster the wide receiver room, it’s hard to go wrong in such a deep and talented class.
