With much of the NFL spotlight focused on free agency over the past week, preparation for the 2016 NFL draft has slipped a little bit under the radar. However, the New England Patriots scouting department has been connected to a number of players over the past week. Here's a rundown of some of the more notable names that have been connected.
(Note: These are merely names that have been thrown out. It doesn't mean the Patriots will necessarily pursue these players, especially when there are dozens of workouts and visits that don't go reported. It is, however, is small clue of who's been on the team's radar over the past week.