The New England Patriots selected Eastern Illinois linebacker Kamu Grugier-Hill (KGH) in the 6th round of the 2016 NFL Draft and they weren't the only team hot on his trail.
"The day before the draft, [the Patriots] quietly flew linebackers coach Brian Flores to meet him for a private workout, mostly to confirm that he was a player on their short list to select entering the draft," ESPN's Mike Reiss shares in his Sunday Notes. "The Raiders, Chiefs, Giants, Cardinals, Lions and Colts were teams that either had Grugier-Hill in for a visit or put him through a private workout before the draft."
KGH is considered an athletic marvel and is expected to play both linebacker and safety in the NFL. His head coach at Eastern Illinois groomed a couple NFL-caliber safeties in the past and "felt confident telling NFL teams Grugier-Hill has the skill set to succeed in the pros, either as a traditional safety or in-the-box sub linebacker."
Patriots head coach Bill Belichick has already pointed out that KGH will have an immediate spot on special teams, and it's hard not to draw the comparison to 2015 special teams stud Brandon King. King was a safety that converted to defensive end in his final year at Auburn, and even played some snaps at defensive tackle.
King, like KGH, didn't have an obvious spot in a starting defense in the NFL, but versatility is valued by Belichick and can get a player a roster spot with special teams, and can also buy a player a year in the New England system to develop into a spot on the defensive side of the ball.
Perhaps KGH can be a linebacker of the future, or at least provide insurance as an in-the-box safety.
Reiss has plenty of other notes on Julian Edelman's foot, camp practices, and Drew Bledsoe. Check it out here.