The Patriots addressed a glaring need on the first day of the draft, selecting Will Campbell at No. 4 overall.
And yes, Mike Vrabel plans on playing him at tackle, arm length be damned.
“He’s a left tackle,” Vrabel said. “That’s what he’s played. That’s what he’s done and so he’ll come in here and he’ll compete to be the left tackle just like everybody else is going to compete for their spots.”
The next biggest hole on New England’s roster is wideout, even with the addition of Stefon Diggs. With the sixth pick in the second round (38th overall), will the Patriots attack another major need? If they opt to draft a wide receiver, these are the biggest names still on the board:
Luther Burden, Missouri
6-foot-0, 206 pounds, 4.41 40-yard dash
A slot receiver, Burden had an otherworldly 2023 season (86 receptions, 1,212 yards in the SEC) and fell to earth a bit last fall (61 receptions, 676 yards). Still, Burden boasts strong YAC skills once the ball is in his hands and was projected by some to be a first-round pick. He’s the biggest name to fall to Day 2 among wideouts.
Lance Zierlein’s expert opinion: “Former five-star recruit who offers five-star athleticism and playmaking ability. Burden is a natural on the field with above-average speed and exciting ball skills to win at a high rate. He takes snaps off and short-circuits routes if he’s not the primary option, but he can separate and succeed on all three levels when it’s his time… Burden checks several priority boxes that typically foreshadow an impressive NFL career.”
Jayden Higgins, Iowa State
6-foot-4, 214 pounds, 4.47 40-yd dash
A prototypical X receiver — which the Patriots certainly could use — Higgins was productive during his four seasons at Iowa State, catching 227 passes for 3,317 yards and 28 touchdowns, while dropping only seven balls. Durability was a strong suit, too, as he didn’t miss a single game due to injury in college.
Daniel Jeremiah’s expert opinion: “He has strong, reliable hands and fights for the ball in the air. He draws a lot of pass interference penalties. He has sneaky stop/start quickness after the catch, too. His combination of body frame and athleticism reminds me of Nico Collins when he was coming out of Michigan in 2021.”
Jalen Royals, Utah State
6-foot-0, 205 pounds, 4.42 40-yd dash
Another outside wide receiver, Royals doesn’t have a huge sample size at the college level, but flashed some real potential. He only saw significant playing time in two seasons at Utah State, and was limited to seven games in one of them due to a foot injury. Still, he managed to catch 126 passes for 1,914 yards and 21 touchdowns in 20 games.
Dane Brugler’s expert opinion: “Overall, Royals combines smooth footwork with athletic body control, physical play strength and tracking skills to be a three-level threat as he expands his route tree. He has the talent to emerge as a team’s WR2 within his first few NFL seasons.”
Jaylin Noel, Iowa State
5-foot-10, 194 pounds, 4.39 40-yd dash
Primarily a slot receiver, Noel profiled as a quarterback’s best friend and two-year captain at Iowa State. Over those final two seasons, he caught 146 passes for 2,014 yards and 15 touchdowns. Noel was sure-handed despite the heavy-target rate, dropping no more than five passes in either of those seasons. The Patriots had him in for a Top 30 visit earlier this month.
Daniel Jeremiah’s expert opinion: “He is sudden at the top of routes, and he can tap into another gear with the ball in his hands. I love the overall urgency he plays with in all facets of the game. Everyone around the Iowa State program raves about his work ethic and competitiveness. Overall, Noel has the traits to become a playmaking slot receiver as soon as he arrives in the NFL.”
Jack Bech, TCU
6-foot-1, 214, No 40-yd dash
With experience playing both inside and outside, Bech blossomed as a senior at TCU, catching 62 passes for 1,034 yards and 13 touchdowns. Bech raised his stock at the Senior Bowl. He was voted the American Team’s top practice wide receiver, and then further cemented his status during the game, catching the winning touchdown and earning MVP honors.
Dane Brugler’s expert opinion: “Bech’s acceleration is more build-up than immediate, and he will need to prove himself versus NFL press coverage, but he is urgent as a route runner with the ball-winning skills and competitive personality that will play. He has experience both inside and outside, and his play style is reminiscent of Puka Nacua.”
Tre Harris, Ole Miss
6-foot-2, 205 pounds, 4.54 40-yd dash
A consistent producer on the outside, Harris topped 900 receiving yards during his final three collegiate seasons, one with Louisiana Tech and two at Ole Miss. As a senior, Harris missed five games with a groin injury, but still caught 60 passes for 1,030 yards and seven touchdowns.
Lance Zierlein’s expert opinion: “He’s fast enough to win over the top and talented with the ball in his hands to stretch short throws into longer yardage. His route-running and contested-catch success both took an upturn but they still need work at the pro level. Of greater concern might be a second consecutive season of time missed due to injury. Harris might be capable of expanding his route tree a bit, but he looks locked in as an ‘X’ receiver with big-game potential and a future home as a WR2.”
