FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — Fast-hit ideas and notes across the New England Patriots and NFL:
1. Draft questions: Patriots Corridor of Fame finalist Logan Mankins was speaking along with his spouse, Kara, not too long ago when she requested, “What was your arm size?”
The reply: 33⅜ inches.
“It is humorous as a result of my son is getting recruited proper now and he is been getting measured,” Mankins stated. “My spouse was like, ‘What was yours?’ and I am like ‘Shoot, I do not even know.’ I knew my hand was over 11, however I did not know what my arm [length] was.”
Mankins, the Patriots’ 2005 first-round draft decide who performed 9 seasons for the franchise and completed his profession with two seasons in Tampa Bay, was a seven-time Professional Bowler and extensively seen as one of many best offensive linemen to ever play in New England — proper there behind Professional Soccer Corridor of Famer John Hannah.
He was a left deal with at Fresno State however moved to left guard within the NFL (exterior of two emergency begins at deal with).
Mankins’ profession is well timed to revisit because the Patriots think about their choices with the No. 4 decide within the NFL draft on Thursday (8 p.m. ET on ESPN, ABC, ESPN App). The Patriots high want is alongside the offensive line — particularly at left deal with, adopted by guard and heart — and LSU OT Will Campbell’s bodily profile has sparked seemingly continuous debate.
Campbell’s arm size measured 32⅝ inches on the mix, then 33 inches at LSU’s professional day.
It is assumed that tackles with longer arms have a greater probability at maintaining defensive ends from entering into their chest, as a result of they are often stored extra at a distance because of the prolonged attain.
To some, meaning Campbell would transfer to protect within the NFL, just like Mankins (primarily as a result of the Patriots had Matt Gentle entrenched at left deal with, and later Nate Solder) or 2016 third-round decide Joe Thuney (32¼ inches), who had performed deal with at NC State.
To others, reminiscent of former Patriots offensive line coach Dante Scarnecchia, the shorter arms and 77⅜-inch wingspan do not definitively imply a transfer inside to protect (a place that’s historically not valued as extremely as deal with).
ESPN NFL draft analyst Subject Yates (who alongside Mel Kiper Jr. projected Campbell to the Patriots at No. 4 of their newest mock draft) stated he hasn’t observed Campbell’s arm size as a problem at deal with towards high competitors within the SEC.
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Mankins, 43 and having fun with retirement at his Massachusetts farm, shared his viewpoint.
“It is a particular profit. I’d have taken longer arms,” he stated. “At deal with, a few of these D-ends, you take a look at their arms and ‘holy smokes’ — they’re tremendous lengthy. You wish to maintain these guys away from you. The longer the arms the higher.
“However there’s additionally guys with shorter arms who had nice careers and have been nice soccer gamers. It is a bonus to have the lengthy arms, however the guys that know play effectively, they determine it out if they’ve a bit of little bit of shorter arms.”
How the Patriots view Campbell’s arm size, by the prism of whether or not it impacts his worth because the attainable decide at No. 4, is among the high questions surrounding the staff coming into the draft.
Utilizing that as a springboard, listed here are another high Patriots questions:
May Georgia linebacker/move rusher Jalon Walker be a wild-card choice at No. 4?
Coach Mike Vrabel has stated discovering methods to have an effect on the opposing quarterback is considered one of his high targets, and the versatile Walker brings it (34 pressures in 2024) whereas additionally incomes excessive marks from scouts for his management — a trait Vrabel naturally values.
Do they double-dip alongside the offensive line?
It is the highest want, and it is probably not shut.
How early will they aim a operating again?
It is a draft loaded with rushers, and Vrabel has stated the staff want to add to the place.
The place’s the worth at DT?
With vital cap costs for Milton Williams and Christian Barmore this season and into the long run, and a Vrabel-based historical past of utilizing waves of personnel throughout video games, balancing out the place financially with a rookie contract would make sense.
Who do they like because the No. 3 QB?
After buying and selling Joe Milton III, there’s an open spot to be stuffed on the depth chart behind Drake Maye and Joshua Dobbs, with the likeliest odds that it comes on Day 3 or instantly after the draft within the free agent pool.
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2. Mankins on Corridor: That is the third straight yr Mankins is a finalist for the Patriots Corridor of Fame, with voting persevering with by April on Patriots.com. Kicker Adam Vinatieri and receiver Julian Edelman are the opposite finalists.
“I do not know if it can ever occur or not, nevertheless it’s an honor to be included yearly,” Mankins stated.
Extra from Mankins:
Ideas on the final couple years as a finalist: “Truthfully, I do not fear about it an excessive amount of. Days go on. The final couple of years, the individuals who have gotten it, I used to be very blissful for they usually have been effectively deserving. They’re good associates of mine; whenever you see Mike [Vrabel] and Vince [Wilfork] get in over you, there isn’t any onerous emotions. And Dante [Scarnecchia], I used to be so blissful that he was in there.”
What he is most happy with from his profession: “I by no means give it an excessive amount of thought, however once I hear ex-teammates or coaches speak about me, that is what I am the proudest of. These are the fellows who I needed their respect, and that is who I performed for.”
On taking part in the 2011 season with a torn MCL and a playoff recreation with a torn ACL within the different knee: “It did not trouble me sufficient to not play. My job was to play soccer. If coach needed me to be on the market, I might be on the market. I wasn’t getting paid to look at on the sidelines.”
On being traded to the Bucs in 2014: “Everybody knew what was happening. It was a type of issues — the enterprise facet of soccer. Sadly there may be that facet. … I’ve no in poor health will. I had an amazing 9 years right here. Shoot, I nonetheless reside within the space. I’m going [to the stadium] for occasions. I beloved taking part in right here. I beloved taking part in for Invoice [Belichick]. I beloved taking part in with Tom [Brady] and quite a few different teammates; a number of the coolest guys I’ve ever recognized I performed soccer with. I had a good time and I’d do it another time tomorrow.”
How he would describe what he is doing now: “Elevating cows and farming hay and simply having a good time watching my youngsters develop as much as be — two of them younger adults and two of them soon-to-be adults. It is a good time in my life.”
3. Wolf’s steal: In reviewing what picks the Patriots personal coming into the 2025 draft, one NFC scout opined that the staff’s additional third-round decide — No. 77 — is an “wonderful” chip to have contemplating that New England acquired it from Atlanta final August in alternate for out of doors linebacker Matthew Judon. It was the most effective strikes made by Patriots govt director of participant personnel Eliot Wolf.
“Theft,” the scout stated.
4. Choose 4 in context: One shared viewpoint from interviews with an NFC scout and AFC scout is that the draft does not have an abundance of elite gamers at premium positions, with a notable drop-off after cornerback/receiver Travis Hunter and linebacker Abdul Carter.
So whereas the Patriots ought to anticipate to land a starting-caliber participant in the event that they finally decide at No. 4, the grade of the participant doubtless will not match others chosen in that spot in most prior years (assuming Hunter and Carter aren’t on the board).
5. Vrabel’s standards: Whereas Vrabel did not tip his hand on the staff’s intentions with decide No. 4 in his pre-draft information convention Tuesday, he did acknowledge the staff has assessed how prospects will deal with lofty expectations.
“The calls for on ‘first-round decide,’ I believe, is one thing that is identical to the quarterback. You do not have to be the face of the franchise, however all people’s going to be speaking concerning the first-round decide from the time we decide them … in order that sort of will get carried with them. I believe it’s a must to have the perspective and demeanor to deal with a few of that.”
An AFC scout stated he would not have any issues with Campbell or and Walker in that regard.
6. Etienne report: The Patriots had Georgia operating again Trevor Etienne on a pre-draft go to final week, which may mirror the staff’s hope so as to add a “passing again” sort alongside Rhamondre Stevenson and Antonio Gibson.
One AFC scout famous Etienne (5-foot-8, 198 kilos) has that sort of ability set, significantly in relation to blitz pickup, whereas including he would slot in a zone or hole scheme. Etienne tasks as a third-to-fourth-round decide.
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7. Farmer in trenches: Florida State defensive deal with Joshua Farmer (6-3, 305) was amongst those that visited the Patriots main as much as the draft, which places him on the radar as a attainable goal inside what scouts name a deep class on the place.
Farmer tasks as a third-round decide, with an AFC scout noting his capability to create motion on bull rushes, win with quickness, and maintain his floor towards double-team blocks.
8. Voluntary camp: The Patriots have concluded Section 1 of their voluntary offseason program, which is proscribed to energy and conditioning actions, with solely energy and conditioning coaches allowed on the sector.
Subsequent, Vrabel and his employees will maintain a voluntary veteran minicamp Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. That is solely allowed for brand new NFL head coaches, and Vrabel is taking full benefit.
One notable theme by the primary two weeks has been the presence of Barmore as he hopes to return from a recurrence of signs from blood clots in December.
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Former NFL participant Don Hasselbeck dies at 70
Don Hasselbeck, Tremendous Bowl XVIII champion and father of Matt and Tim, dies at age 70.
9. Hasselbeck’s Patriots legacy: Longtime Patriots heart Peter Brock (1976-1987) is planning to journey to Nashville early this week for memorial providers for former College of Colorado and Patriots teammate Don Hasselbeck (1977-1983), who died final week.
Brock expects to attach with at the least a dozen former Colorado teammates there, together with former Patriots teammates together with John Hannah.
Requested his recollections of Hasselbeck’s time with the Patriots, Brock stated: “They drafted him [in the second round] and we already had Russ Francis on the staff at tight finish. They weren’t making an attempt to exchange Russ with Donnie, as Donnie had a unique sort of ability set on the place, and a unique sort of labor ethic than Russ. We referred to as him ‘Russ Francis’ stuntman’ for some time, as a result of he would undergo the practices after which Russ would begin on Sunday, with Donnie filling in. He was a great technician. He was a great blocker.
“However the different factor he gave us was sort of a management factor. He turned our union rep and people have been instances we struck twice in his tenure right here. It wasn’t like he was anti-management. It was extra, ‘Let’s attempt to maintain this entire factor collectively.’ That is how he led; it wasn’t ‘us vs. them.’ He did very effectively with it and I believe that was one of many causes they traded him [to the Raiders].”
10. Do you know? The primary spherical of the 2024 NFL draft lasted 3 hours, 36 minutes, which was shorter than 2023 (3:40) however longer than 2022 (3:18). Groups get 10 minutes per choice within the first spherical, seven minutes per choice within the second spherical, 5 minutes per choice in rounds 3-6 and 4 minutes per choice within the seventh spherical.
