The New England Patriots will be looking to bolster their running back, wide receiver, offensive tackle, and linebacker position with youth from the draft. The NFL combine is a crucial component of player evaluation.
The Patriots need a young bruising running back to take the place of LeGarrette Blount. Drafted running backs are also an extremely cheap alternative to a veteran free agent.
The New England wide receivers are actually the 4th oldest in the entire league on a snap-weighted basis, since Julian Edelman, Danny Amendola, and Brandon LaFell will all be over the age of 30 next season. A promising back-up is important for the team's continued development.
While the offensive line is extremely young overall, the Patriots could also benefit by drafting a high-upside project tackle to be the eventual replacement for the aging Sebastian Vollmer.
And even though the linebackers are extremely young, the Patriots prefer their depth linebackers to be able to perform on special teams and the top veterans available probably won't offer as much value or versatility.
We are compiling a list of prospects worth knowing for the early rounds and the combine probably won't change the rankings too drastically. There will be some instances where a really good or a really bad test score will cause me to go back and watch the film in a different context and that could adjust the rankings.
But if you like a prospect because of their speed in the open field, and then they run a blazing 40-time, remember don't count it twice when evaluating a prospect.
Here's the full list of players participating this week.
Tuesday, February 23rd
Special teamers, offensive line, and running backs arrive for physical exams and start daily team interviews
Wednesday, February 24th
Special teamers, offensive line, and running backs will have physical measurements and meet with the media
Quarterbacks, wide receivers, and tight ends arrive for physical exams and start daily team interviews
Thursday, February 25th
Special teamers on-field work out
Special teamers, offensive line, and running backs go through bench press event
Quarterbacks, wide receivers, and tight ends will have physical measurements and meet with the media
Defensive line and linebackers arrive for physical exams and start daily team interviews
Friday, February 26th
Offensive line and running backs go through on-field workouts
Quarterbacks, wide receivers, and tight ends go through bench press event
Defensive line and linebackers will have physical measurements and meet with the media
Defensive backs arrive for physical exams and start daily team interviews
Saturday, February 27th
Quarterbacks, wide receivers, and tight ends go through on-field workouts
Defensive line and linebackers go through bench press event
Defensive backs will have physical measurements and meet with the media
Sunday, February 28th
Defensive line and linebackers go through on-field workouts
Defensive backs go through bench press event
Monday, February 29th
Defensive backs go through on-field workouts