Whereas the offensive finish of our Prototypical Patriots collection has been drastically altered when it comes to how we've tried to find out the perfect match for New England with Eliot Wolf serving as the brand new personnel chief on the town, we might not have the identical points on the defensive facet of issues.
Why? Head coach Jerod Mayo and defensive coordinator DeMarcus Covington are Invoice Belichick alumni. They could make adjustments to the scheme that existed underneath their previous boss, however in all probability they are going to be in search of the identical sorts of issues the Patriots have been in search of within the draft when the perfect coach within the historical past of the game was nonetheless employed at One Patriot Place.
Which means defenders of massive characters. Defensive measures with two gaps. Versatile, aggressive fuses. And those we spotlight right here: corners with next-level change-of-direction expertise and a wholesome urge for food for contact.
For years, the Patriots wished gamers who may change course with the perfect of them. Three-cone instances properly underneath 7.00 seconds have been commonplace, as have been brief shift instances within the 4.10 second vary.
Measurement hasn't been the largest situation for the Patriots on the place, however in the event you're checking in underneath 5-foot-10 and 185 kilos, you'll have higher motion expertise to make up for it. We're speaking 40 instances in 4.40s or sooner, vertical jumps approaching 37 inches and broad jumps over 10 toes. (Suppose 5-foot-8, 174-pound Marcus Jones, who didn't check final 12 months earlier than the draft. Clearly, he can fly.)
Explosive. Fast. Good tacklers. The kind of participant who can thrive in New England's historically powerful system.
That’s, typically talking, what they favored. And even underneath new management on the defensive facet of the ball, we'll make this checklist assuming they proceed to prioritize the identical traits.
With out additional ado…
Terrion Arnold, Alabama (6-foot, 199 kilos)
The most effective of Alabama round Terrion Arnold
He isn’t the quickest participant at his place with a modest 4.50 40 yard time. And whereas his shuttle time isn't as much as typical Patriots requirements right here (4.24 seconds), his three-cone time was an abysmal 6.69 seconds. Couple that with a 10-foot-9 broad leap, and it's clear he has ok lower-body explosiveness and change-of-direction to land right here.
He additionally has the type of man-to-man expertise underneath Nick Saban that Mayo would recognize. The Patriots might not have an opportunity to draft him as he’ll possible be a first-round decide, however lining him up in opposition to Christian Gonzalez would give New England the most effective younger cornerback pairings within the league.
Quinyon Mitchell, Toledo (6-foot, 195 kilos)
Toledo highlights cornerback Quinyon Mitchell
Mitchell may compete with Arnold for the primary nook of the 12 months. Only a cursory look at his bodily options would make it clear that he might be worthy of such an funding. His 4.33-second 40 time and 38-inch vertical are elite. He didn't do any agility exams throughout the pre-draft course of, which isn't an amazing signal, as prospects would usually take part in them in the event that they thought they'd do properly in them.
Nevertheless! Check out this rep from Mitchell on the Senior Bowl, the place within the blink of an eye fixed, he eases off the fuel after which again to prime pace. That is one other stage of physique management, steadiness and explosiveness in motion. He undoubtedly belongs on that checklist — even when he'll be lengthy gone earlier than the Patriots think about chasing a cornerback on draft weekend.
Cooper DeJean, Iowa (6-foot-1, 203 kilos)
Highlights from Iowa defensive again Cooper DeJean
DeJean is one other defensive again we don't have sufficient of when it comes to pre-draft testing (he's recovering from a damaged leg however plans to work out for groups on April 8) for this type of checklist. And but we put it right here anyway. He’s the best defensive again for the Patriots in some ways simply primarily based on his school expertise.
His dimension and clear athleticism on tape make it simple to check him taking part in wherever from the sting to the slot to the field as a security. The place he lands as a professional is anybody's guess, however for Mayo, who has put his defensive backs in several roles to play with opposing quarterbacks' heads, DeJean is an efficient matchup.
Javon Bullard, Georgia (5-foot-10, 198 kilos)
The most effective of College of Georgia security/cornerback Javon Bullard
Is it insurance coverage? Is it a taking part in nook? He began at each spots the previous two years for Kirby Sensible's Bulldogs. However he ended up on this checklist as a result of he appeared like he could be at his finest nearer to the road of scrimmage as a assured tackler and bodily man-to-man defender.
His massive pace will not be as particular as Jonathan Jones or Marcus Jones, however his capability to cease on a dime and go the opposite approach is particular. He posted an eye-opening 3.97-second shuttle time that would have the Patriots licking their chops come draft weekend.
TJ Tampa, Iowa State (6-foot-1, 189 kilos)
Highlights from Iowa State defensive again TJ Tampa
If the Patriots resolve to spend money on Tampa, they'd need to be fairly snug with some fairly mind-blowing straight-line pace. He ran a 4.58-second 40, however his agility was significantly better, hitting a 4.07-second shuttle and a 6.97-second triple. Each are far more inside the Patriots commonplace vary. Do not forget that Jack Jones — the Patriots' fourth-round decide who beloved his backpedaling capability — ran only a 4.52-second 40 in 2022.
If Tampa will get his fingers on a receiver in New England's scheme, which he ought to due to arms that measured over 32 inches, he would possibly have the ability to negate some perceived lengthy pace points and be an efficient No. 2 on the skin.
Kamari Lassiter, Georgia (6-foot-1, 186 kilos)
The most effective of Alabama cornerback Kamari Lassiter
An SEC defensive again with the flexibility to play inside and out of doors? An aggressive tackler? Capability to alter course off the chart? Lassiter — who ran a 6.62-second cone and a 4.12-second shuttle — checks all these bins. He ran the 40 in 4.5s at his professional day.
And it's a bit of undersized to deal with common out of doors energy duties. However he's a gritty defender who could be a pest for No. 2 wideout choices reverse whoever occurs to get Gonzalez's consideration in New England. As a Day 2 possibility, he might be the most effective within the class for Mayo.
Mike Sainristil, Michigan (5-foot-9, 182 kilos)
If you will get over Sainristil's diminutive body, you'll be amazed at his sheer competitiveness. As a group that drafted the clearly undersized Marcus Jones within the third spherical just a few years again, the Patriots is perhaps prepared to pounce on Sainristil sooner than others on this 12 months's draft. He's a neighborhood child from Everett, Massachusetts, with NFL-ready snaps and ball expertise. He confirmed off his transition expertise with a 4.01-second shuttlecock time to accompany jumps of 40-inches excessive and 10-foot-11 in breadth.
He was a fearless linebacker for the Wolverines and picked off six passes — returning two for touchdowns — as a university coach. With simply two years of taking part in cornerback after beginning his profession at Michigan as a receiver, Sainristil has loads of room to develop. Based mostly on the place he’s already, he might be Day 2 worthy as a future beginning nickel.
Myles Harden, South Dakota (5-foot-11, 195 kilos)
This muscular coyote occurs to maneuver like a rabbit on a soccer discipline. He doesn't have the longest strides to maintain up with the burners on the skin. But when Mayo needs change-of-direction retailers, Harden could be the man. He recorded a lightning quick 3.98 second shuttle time and 6.88 second triple cone.
He can find yourself taking part in security because of his willingness to throw his physique as a tackler. But when he can keep in protection on the subsequent stage, he has loads of traits the Patriots would possible covet.
Ryan Watts, Texas (6-foot-3, 208 kilos)
Together with his size and what he has on tape, there could also be groups that will moderately have Watts at security than cornerback. However his body — he has absurdly lengthy 34.5-inch arms — and athletic profile are too attractive to not a minimum of give him a attempt at cornerback on the subsequent stage.
For him to put up a 6.82-second three-cone time and a 4.13-second shuttle at his dimension is one-brow stage of fascinating. He may find yourself being a hard-hitting all-around chess piece on the again finish with particular group talents that would definitely make him a Day 3 decide.
AJ Woods, Pittsburgh (5-foot-10, 187 kilos)
Woods is a type of off-the-cuff finds that makes our Prototypical Patriots collection all of the extra attention-grabbing the deeper we get into draft weekend. After recording 4 picks and 29 move breakups for the Panthers, he went to the East-West Shrine Sport and confirmed properly, then put up some ridiculous numbers at his professional day.
He posted a 4.00-second shuttle and a 6.70-second cone time, proving what can already be seen on tape: He has NFL-caliber pace. On day 3? Airman-worthy.
Miles Battle, Utah (6-foot-3, 196 kilos)
The Ole Miss switch could also be an undrafted signee primarily based on traits, however he has the bodily presents that ought to give him a crack at an NFL roster. Recorded 4 move breakups, together with one decide final season for the Utes. A former receiver, he switched to defensive finish in 2020 and recorded 9 tackles in opposition to Alabama two years later.
There are expertise there to construct on, particularly while you have a look at his pre-draft testing knowledge and see that he ran a 4.37-second 40 with a 4.03-second shuttle and a 6.84-second three-cone.
Kaleb Ford-Dement, Texas State (5-foot-11, 178 kilos)
It's your uncommon prospect for seven years of school. He redshirted at Kilgore Faculty in 2017. After a cease at Previous Dominion, he had provides to switch to Georgia, Mississippi State and UCLA, however ended up at Washington State.
He then settled at Texas State as a redshirt senior and had three picks, together with one within the First-Responder Bowl in opposition to Rice. He made this checklist due to a cone time of 6.80 seconds and a shuttle time of 4.12.
Jayden Worth, North Dakota State (6-foot, 189 kilos)
Professional-caliber athletes coming from a program that’s repeatedly within the combine for FCS nationwide titles are usually not so typically ignored. The value shouldn't be both. He ran a 4.47 40, a 4.07 shuttle and a 6.93 cone time. Its vertical top of 37.5 inches and width of 10 toes have been additionally spectacular.
Whereas he began all 15 video games at cornerback final season, it's his work as a punt returner that would get him an NFL look. The Bison captain averaged 14.2 yards per return final season, together with 66 yards and 82 yards for touchdowns.
