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 together 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 broadly considered as one of many biggest 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 middle — 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 retaining defensive ends from stepping into their chest, as a result of they are often saved extra at a distance because of the prolonged attain.
To some, which means Campbell would transfer to protect within the NFL, much like Mankins (primarily as a result of the Patriots had Matt Mild 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 seen Campbell’s arm size as a difficulty at deal with in opposition to high competitors within the SEC.
Mankins, 43 and having fun with retirement at his Massachusetts farm, shared his viewpoint.
“It is a particular profit. I might 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 need to preserve these guys away from you. The longer the arms the higher.
“However there’s additionally guys with shorter arms who had nice careers and had been nice soccer gamers. It is a bonus to have the lengthy arms, however the guys that know how you can play effectively, they determine it out if they’ve slightly little bit of shorter arms.”
How the Patriots view Campbell’s arm size, by means of the prism of whether or not it impacts his worth because the potential decide at No. 4, is among the high questions surrounding the staff coming into the draft.
Utilizing that as a springboard, listed below are another high Patriots questions:
May Georgia linebacker/go 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 certainly one of his high objectives, 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 important cap prices for Milton Williams and Christian Barmore this season and into the longer term, 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.
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 means of April on Patriots.com. Kicker Adam Vinatieri and receiver Julian Edelman are the opposite finalists.
“I do not know if it’s going to ever occur or not, however it’s an honor to be included yearly,” Mankins stated.
Extra from Mankins:
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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 completely satisfied for and so they had been effectively deserving. They’re good buddies of mine; once you see Mike [Vrabel] and Vince [Wilfork] get in over you, there is no exhausting emotions. And Dante [Scarnecchia], I used to be so completely satisfied that he was in there.”
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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 discuss me, that is what I am the proudest of. These are the blokes who I wished their respect, and that is who I performed for.”
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On enjoying the 2011 season with a torn MCL and a playoff sport 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 wished me to be on the market, I would be on the market. I wasn’t getting paid to look at on the sidelines.”
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On being traded to the Bucs in 2014: “Everybody knew what was occurring. 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 awesome 9 years right here. Shoot, I nonetheless dwell within the space. I am going [to the stadium] for occasions. I beloved enjoying right here. I beloved enjoying for Invoice [Belichick]. I beloved enjoying with Tom [Brady] and quite a few different teammates; among the coolest guys I’ve ever recognized I performed soccer with. I had a good time and I might do it over again tomorrow.”
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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 “superb” chip to have contemplating that New England acquired it from Atlanta final August in trade 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 would 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 count on to land a starting-caliber participant in the event that they in the end decide at No. 4, the grade of the participant probably 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 everyone’s going to be speaking concerning the first-round decide from the time we decide them … in order that type of will get carried with them. I believe you need to have the perspective and demeanor to deal with a few of that.”
An AFC scout stated he would not have any considerations 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 might replicate the staff’s hope so as to add a “passing again” kind alongside Rhamondre Stevenson and Antonio Gibson.
One AFC scout famous Etienne (5-foot-8, 198 kilos) has that kind of ability set, significantly with regards to blitz pickup, whereas including he would slot in a zone or hole scheme. Etienne initiatives as a third-to-fourth-round decide.
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 potential goal inside what scouts name a deep class on the place.
Farmer initiatives as a third-round decide, with an AFC scout noting his skill to create motion on bull rushes, win with quickness, and maintain his floor in opposition to double-team blocks.
8. Voluntary camp: The Patriots have concluded Section 1 of their voluntary offseason program, which is restricted to energy and conditioning actions, with solely energy and conditioning coaches allowed on the sphere.
Subsequent, Vrabel and his workers 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 means of 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 middle 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 no less than 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 attempting to exchange Russ with Donnie, as Donnie had a unique kind of ability set on the place, and a unique kind of labor ethic than Russ. We known 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 type of a management factor. He grew to become our union rep and people had 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 complete 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.
