The 2015 NFL Draft is just a few days away, and there’s plenty of reason to be excited about the festivities in Chicago if you’re a New England Patriots fan. Here’s our breakdown of everything Patriots fans need to know heading into draft week.
New England Targeting Wake Forest CB Kevin Johnson
According to the Baltimore Sun, the Patriots worked out Wake Forest cornerback Kevin Johnson, who’s projected to be a late first-round pick, in hopes of adding a starting caliber cornerback to replace Darrelle Revis and Brandon Browner.
Johnson recorded 44 tackles and one interception last season. He had seven career interceptions in four seasons with the Demon Deacons.
The 6’0″, 188-pounder also improved his stock at the NFL Combine, where he posted a 4.52-second 40-yard dash, a 6.79-second 3-cone, blazing 3.89-second short shuttle, and 41.5-inch vertical leap.
Jordan Phillips, Grady Jarrett draft options for New England at No. 32
New England is reportedly looking at defense first when it comes to the 32nd pick in the 2015 NFL Draft, and nose tackle appears to be the position they’re spending the most time surveying when it comes to setting up a draft board.
Here’s Doug Kyed of NESN.com with the report:
A lot can change in the next month, but sources indicate that the Patriots are spending a lot of time looking at nose tackles during pro day scouting. Oklahoma’s Jordan Phillips and Clemson’s Grady Jarrett are two names that have been mentioned. The Patriots also met with Washington’s Danny Shelton and Texas’ Malcom Brown at the NFL Scouting Combine.
Florida State’s Eddie Goldman and Iowa’s Carl Davis could be in play at No. 32 overall, too.
The Patriots did just spend a first round pick on Dominique Easley in 2014, but he’s a three-technique defensive tackle. New England is in need of a one-technique nose tackle like Jordan Phillips and/or Grady Jarrett after Vince Wilfork left via free agency.
New England targeting Arizona State safety Damarious Randall
The Patriots hosted Arizona State safety Damarious Randall on a pre-draft visit, according to FOX Sports’ Ross Jones, and have him high on their list of second day prospects.
Randall is rated as the No. 2 free safety in the class and is considered to be a a second- or third-round draft pick. The 5-foot-11, 196-pounder racked up six interceptions, defended 12 passes, and forced four fumbles in two years with the Sun Devils.
The Patriots aren’t in desperate need of a safety as they locked up starter Devin McCourty to a five-year, $47.5 million contract this offseason and extended strong safety Patrick Chung’s contract through 2017 during the season.
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