Breaking Down the Most Important Pro Days for the New England Patriots

After the college football season, Senior Bowl and NFL combine are complete, scouts for the New England Patriots begin their annual journey to scores of college campuses. They are there to check out potential draft picks one more time at their pro timing days and perhaps conduct a private workout.

On March 20, Patriots scouts are certainly at Notre Dame, checking out the likes of Stephon Tuitt, Louis Nix III and Troy Niklas.

While many have already occurred, here are five of the juiciest pro days remaining on this year's schedule. Each has at least one target that the Patriots should be interested in the 2014 NFL draft.

March 24: Iowa

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Top Prospects to Watch: C.J. Fiedorowicz (TE), Christian Kirksey (OLB)

Fiedorowicz is one of the top "Y" tight ends in the 2014 NFL draft. He is a balanced prospect without any major flaws in his game. Blocking is his bailiwick, but he is a solid receiver as well.

If you're looking for a tight end to stretch the field, Fiedorowicz isn't your guy. That said, he runs solid underneath routes, has strong hands and is a major threat in the red zone. Scouts from New England are going to want to see him run well and show polish in his routes.

Kirksey excels as a linebacker despite his small 6'2" frame. He has enough speed to be an effective flow linebacker and is able to pick his way through trash. He doesn't have a lot of rush moves, but he finishes the job when he gets a free run at the quarterback.

Coverage is a forte for Kirksey, so the Patriots are going to want to see some good change of direction skills in the three-cone and shuttle drills.

March 27: Louisiana Tech

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Top Prospects to Watch: Justin Ellis (DT), IK Enemkpali (DE)

At 6'2", 334 pounds, Ellis is just a huge football player. His size is his greatest strength, but he needs to sacrifice some of his girth to get himself in shape. If he can gain some endurance, he can contribute as a two-down player who is dedicated to eating up blockers inside.

Expect NFL scouts to try and wear Ellis out in drills to see how he responds. If his motor has improved, he has a lot of raw skills to work with.

Enemkpali is a developmental odd-front outside linebacker who wins on the edge with effort, tenacity and strength. He is extremely raw and looks poor when asked to play in space.

Positional drills will be important at his pro day. If he can impress with his agility and show off fluid hips—he looks stiff on tape—he could become a target on Day 3 of the draft.

April 2: South Carolina

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Top Prospects to Watch: Kelcy Quarles (DT), Victor Hampton (CB)

Jadeveon Clowney might get the majority of the attention on the Gamecocks defensive line—and rightly so—but Quarles has turned heads this season. He has nice quickness for an interior defensive lineman, but he is strictly a 3-technique in my opinion. He gets put on skates against double-teams and—like Minnesota lineman Ra'Shede Hageman—has a tendency to allow his pad level to rise.

At his pro day, the New England Patriots are going to want to see some quickness and agility while checking on Quarles' weight and conditioning.

Hampton isn't a big guy—he measures just 5'9"—but he plays bigger. He has always reminded me of an Asante Samuel that likes to tackle. He gambles a lot but seems to win more than he loses.

One thing the Patriots will want to check out is a final look at Hampton's character and work ethic. A positive review from those around him at South Carolina would go a long way to dispelling any concerns off the field.

April 8: Penn State

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Top Prospects to Watch: DaQuan Jones (DT), Allen Robinson (WR)

Jones is an absolute force on the inside. He controls the line of scrimmage and hammers offensive linemen with his strong hands and quick jabs. 

He is stout against the run and has developed a strong bull rush. He won't wow you with many spin moves or run the arc very well, but he excels at what he does. The Patriots will likely want to evaluate his conditioning; controlling weight was a problem at times during his time in Happy Valley.

The Patriots are likely fully stocked at the receiver position, but they could possibly make an exception for Robinson. He has experience working in an offensive system similar to New England's while playing under former Patriots offensive coordinator Bill O'Brien.

Robinson was very productive in college but will likely drop into the middle rounds on draft day. Per NFL.com, he ran a 4.60 40-yard dash—NFL teams will want to see that improve—and he has had some problems catching the ball.

April 9: Louisiana State

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Top Prospects to Watch: Zach Mettenberger (QB), Trai Turner (OL)

Mettenberger is still rehabbing after a torn ligament in his knee ended his senior season. He is on track to throw at his pro day to talented receivers Odell Beckham Jr. and Jarvis Landry, who would be on this list if the New England Patriots hadn't already loaded up on the position in free agency.

Working in a pro-style offense under former NFL coordinator Cam Cameron will have prepared Mettenberger for all the throws he has to make, but NFL teams are going to want to see him throw well against air after surgery.

Not being able to run or jump shouldn't be too much of a problem; he isn't exactly known for his mobility.

Turner is an intriguing guard prospect—he'll only be 21 years old as a rookie—with a lot of upside. He has the build and strength but has sloppy technique and balance that will get him knocked around in the NFL if he doesn't correct them.

If an NFL team can be patient with a prospect, Turner has the potential to turn into a monster run-blocker at the next level. New England will want to see him show some better agility in movement drills.