5 Hidden Gems the New England Patriots Should Have Noticed at the Combine
Surprising to no one, the New England Patriots are just as attentive to the NFL Scouting Combine as any one of the other 31 teams. They may not be as reactive to it, but they are certainly cognizant.
Every year, there are more than a handful of workout warriors who distinguish themselves more for their performances in exercises wearing shorts and a tank top than for their performances in full pads on a football field. This process is as regular as migration, with everyone flocking to Indianapolis for this yearly festivity.
But some of those prospects are not just showing off skills they will most likely never directly use again, they are also showing the potential to perform feats that may help them fit in with a team. Here is a look at some of the players whom the Patriots should be looking at more closely following the 2015 scouting combine.
Deon Simon, NT, Northwestern State
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Whether or not the Patriots are able to reach an agreement on a restructured contract with nose tackle Vince Wilfork, they should be looking at the future with regard to the defensive tackle position.
They already began this process last year by drafting Dominique Easley in the first round, but Easley is more adept at getting through the line and into the backfield; the Patriots need someone like Wilfork, who can contain multiple blockers at a time in his spots and plug the gaps.
Deon Simon, a 6'4", 321-pound interior lineman, has tremendous 33-inch arms and finished No. 1 among all defensive tackles in the 225-pound bench press (35 reps), serving as further proof of his immense strength. It's no surprise that NFL.com's Lance Zierlein says he is a "big-bodied defensive tackle who could find a home as a two-gapping nose guard in a 3-4."
He's not the most explosive or agile, and he didn't finish in the top 15 in any other category besides the bench press. But if the Patriots feel confident they can coach up his leverage and rush the passer with more tenacity, they would be smart to pick him on the third day of the draft.
Chris Conley, WR, Georgia
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The Patriots already have wide receiver Brandon LaFell and tight end Rob Gronkowski incorporated in their offense, but they could still use a little more size to counterbalance the "pygmies" in Danny Amendola and Julian Edelman.
That's where Georgia wide receiver Chris Conley comes into play.
The Patriots would have had a hard time missing him at the scouting combine if they tried. His tremendous 45-inch vertical leap will only make scouts salivate over his ability to high-point passes—that's if his 20 touchdown catches in four years in the SEC didn't already cause them to wipe their chin. With 117 receptions and a touchdown rate of 17.1 percent, Conley has already proven he knows what it takes to score.
His size and physicality are not his only traits. He ran a 4.35-second 40-yard dash despite concerns over his ability to stretch the field vertically. That fast time may force scouts to rewatch film of the SEC product to see if what they see on the field matches up with what they saw in Indianapolis.
Conley would be a nice addition to the Patriots offense as a mid-round selection for his upside alone.
Jesse James, TE, Penn State
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Speaking of Gronkowski, the Patriots may have had their All-Pro tight end for a full 16 games in 2014, but that was the first time since his rookie season that he made it through the final game without sustaining an injury. At some point, they will need to address their lack of depth at tight end.
Penn State tight end Jesse James was the top performer in the broad jump (10'1"), the second-best in the vertical jump (37.5") and the bench press (26 reps) and had the fifth-best time in the 60-yard shuttle (12.15 seconds).
The 6'7", 261-pound tight end has almost exactly the same frame as Gronkowski, but his freakish workout numbers do not match up with his collegiate production. The Penn State product posted only 78 receptions and 11 touchdowns in his three-year career.
That may be why NFL.com's Lance Zierlein describes him as follows:
"Big, in-line tight end with room on his frame for more muscle, but he's limited by a lack of functional athleticism and a mechanical play demeanor. James isn't a plus receiver with great hands and he lacks the quickness to consistently free himself from man coverage, so he must become a more determined run blocker in order to have a shot at starting in the NFL.
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Zierlein gives James a 5.14 grade, which gives him a "better-than-average chance to make [an] NFL roster," but given the Patriots' relative lack of depth at tight end, his chances may be better than better-than-average.
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Trey Williams, RB, Texas A&M
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With both Shane Vereen and Stevan Ridley heading to free agency, the Patriots are at a crossroads where they must begin deciding whether to continue to press forward with their current running backs or move on to a new group. The NFL draft has typically been where the Patriots build their stable of backs, and this year's draft presents some depth at the position.
Texas A&M running back Trey Williams was a workout warrior in Indianapolis, posting top finishes in the 40-yard dash (4.49 seconds), the three-cone drill (6.84 seconds) and the 20-yard shuttle (4.12 seconds). And if those displays of athleticism weren't enough, he also averaged 6.6 yards per carry in his Aggies career.
NFL.com's Lance Zierlein sees the big-play potential in Williams but does not see him as a workhorse back:
"All-purpose running back with an ability to hit big plays from time to time, but no value as an every-down player. Some teams might view Williams as a luxury talent with minimal value due to his lack of size and natural position fit, while other teams will see him as a chess piece that they can deploy to create mismatches and use to stress defenses. His kick-return ability adds value, but there's likely a ceiling on just how highly he will be drafted.
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The special teams ability will certainly add some value to a Patriots team that's been without a dynamic kick returner for years, and his ability as a "chess piece" could be important if the team loses Vereen as a free agent. With all that said, the Patriots would be wise to wait until late on Day 3 of the draft to pull the trigger on Williams.
Justin Coleman, CB, Tennessee
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When the Patriots begin digging at the bottom of the barrel of draft prospects, the list usually starts with players who can contribute on special teams. That's an easy way for a player to add to his draft value, and cornerback Justin Coleman has that ability, having played outside contain on kickoff returns at Tennessee.
The 5'11", 185-pound corner ran a 6.61-second three-cone drill (fastest among cornerbacks at the combine), put up 20 reps of the 225-pound bench press (third-best among cornerbacks) and had a 3.98-second 20-yard shuttle (fifth-best), but he finished outside the top 15 cornerbacks in the 40-yard dash (4.53 seconds).
The Patriots would probably be looking at Coleman more for his special teams ability than his coverage ability, as NFL.com's Lance Zierlein points out that Coleman "has desired instincts and awareness in coverage, but lacks athleticism to match up against quicker targets in man coverage." For that reason, he would be a strong seventh-round pick or priority free-agent signing, but not much else.
Unless otherwise noted, all scouting combine information and draft notes provided by NFL.com and CBSSports.com.
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