One of the Patriots top needs is a true No. 1 receiver. An alpha for the group, and a top gun for Drake Maye.
Picking at No. 4, Mike Vrabel & Co. will be in position to grab one of the top prospects.
During the latest “Eye on Foxborough” podcast, former Patriots quarterback Matt Cassel, who is a college football analyst for NBC, offered a few suggestions based on his observations.
Cassel doesn’t see a deep receiver class, but he has two first-round favorites. Missouri’s Luther Burden III, and Arizona’s Tetairoa McMillan are at the top of his list.
Burden, at 5-foot-11, 205 pounds, was a big-time playmaker for Missouri.
“He’s big, he’s physical, he’s a true X,” Cassel said. “He has the ability to play inside, but he’s really an outside guy with big-play ability.”
McMillan, meanwhile, has sure hands and will draw the attention of opposing defenses. He’s 6-foot-5, 210 pounds. His tape is filled with highlight-reel touchdowns.
“This kid is explosive, he’s twitchy, but a long-rangy guy that can go up and compete for those 50-50 balls,” Cassel said. “That’s something I look at when you look at the wide receiver position for the Patriots. You need someone to be able to take the top off the coverage, but also demand double teams at times.”
He said a receiver with that kind of talent would help the run game, but also open up some passing lanes for big plays in Josh McDaniels’ offense.
“The intermediate passing game is an important aspect of what we do in that system. That’s what opens those things up,” Cassel said. “And when they load the box, and we’re running the ball successfully, that’s when those big plays happen.”
One other name Cassel said to keep an eye on for the Patriots was Emeka Egbuka from Ohio State’s national championship team. He’s primarily a slot receiver.
As for Colorado’s Travis Hunter, a two-way player, Cassel primarily sees him as a cornerback who will occasionally flip to receiver.
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