5WRto watch in 1st round
Deep threat needed to keep pace with elite teams
New Patriots offensive coordinator Bill O’Brien needs a new toy for the offense. And not just any toy.
The Patriots don’t currently have a threat in their passing game that defenses fear.
Having that kind of offensive weapon has become a must if a team is serious about being a contender.
Both the Chiefs and Eagles, this year’s Super Bowl combatants, have at least one of those weapons. So do the Bengals and 49ers, their opponents in the AFC and NFC championship games respectively.
The Patriots? They’re still looking. They have DeVante Parker, Kendrick Bourne and 2022 second-round pick Tyquan Thornton as the primary receivers under contract, with Jakobi Meyers and Nelson Agholor headed to free agency.
Hunter Henry and Jonnu Smith are the tight ends.
The group isn’t bad, but it’s lacking that one stud who’ll draw added attention.
Barring a trade, the draft can help solve the problem. Last year, six wideouts were taken in the first round. And picking at No. 14, there are several appealing options who could be available in that spot.
With the NFL’s Scouting Combine on tap next week, here are the names to know.
Quentin Johnston, TCU
He’s 6-foot-4, 215 pounds and the type of explosive outside-the-numbers big play threat the Patriots crave.
He’s a former basketball and track star whose athleticism is off the charts. He’s a downfield playmaker who routinely comes away with jaw-dropping catches in traffic.
In the college football semifinal versus Michigan, he had six catches for 163 yards and a touchdown.
With quarterbacks and offensive tackles likely going off the board early, it’s possible Johnston, considered the top receiver in the class on many draft boards, could drop as low as 14.
Jordan Addison, USC
Was a two-year contributor at Pitt before transferring to USC. His best fit is likely as a slot receiver, and he projects as a game-changing weapon in that spot. He packs a lot of toughness and feistiness in his 6-0, 175-pound frame.
Mac Jones would love Addison and his ability to consistently separate from coverage no matter where he lines up.
He’s a terrific route runner, has impressive ball skills, and possesses lightning-quick feet which allows him to win at all levels of the field.
Jalin Hyatt, Tennessee
He has the speed to take the top off any defense. He’s an explosive player who gets to top speed quickly.
He was a dominant player in the SEC in his first-year as a full-time starter in 2022, so Bill O’Brien, who spent the past two years at Alabama, should have good intel on him. He finished with over 1,200 receiving yards and 15 touchdowns.
He’s dynamic with the ball in his hands. He’s also played almost exclusively in the slot during his career, and with Meyers headed to free agency, could fill that role should the Patriots not re-sign their top receiver.
Hyatt isn’t a lock to go in the first round, but given the league’s thirst for receivers and offensive weapons, he might not make it to the second round.
Zay Flowers, Boston College
If the Patriots didn’t see enough of him at Chestnut Hill, the coaching staff got an even better look during Shrine Bowl practices.
So they have a pretty good beat on Flowers, who is another dynamic playmaker with game-changing speed who can separate on quick hitters and vertical routes.
His 5-foot-9, 182-pound frame may be a concern. But Miami’s Jaylen Waddle has done just fine at 5-10. Ditto Tyreek Hill.
Flowers is another in the tweener category, meaning he could go in the first or second round, where the Patriots are picking at No. 46.
Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Ohio State
He’s an elite route-runner, who while not a speed demon still creates plenty of separation thanks to his quickness and explosiveness off the line.
He’s made his living in the slot, with great start/ stop abilities and prowess in short areas. He was a bigtime chain mover for the Buckeyes, which certainly wouldn’t hurt the Patriots.
He comes from a loaded offense, but that shouldn’t diminish his advanced skillset and ability to get open in the pros.