FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — Fast-hit ideas and notes across the New England Patriots and NFL:
1. Dynamic Daniels: When Patriots coach Jerod Mayo envisions how the 2024 NFL draft — which proprietor Robert Kraft has referred to as essentially the most anticipated in his 31-year tenure — unfolds, he sees the Commanders because the wild card.
The Patriots have the No. 3 choose, their highest ever underneath Kraft. The Commanders are at No. 2.
“I do not assume anybody is aware of precisely what Washington goes to do. I believe everybody is aware of what Chicago goes to do at 1. However the remainder of it actually is simply up within the air,” Mayo stated.
Mayo is like many who assume the Bears will choose USC quarterback Caleb Williams at No. 1. He is making ready for a number of eventualities after that, and if the thrill popping out of the NFL’s annual assembly in Orlando, Florida, final week is any indication, the Commanders are too.
A part of the rationale Washington’s new regime, led by normal supervisor Adam Peters and coach Dan Quinn, attended professional days for LSU quarterback Jayden Daniels and North Carolina quarterback Drake Maye final week — simply because the Patriots’ prime decision-makers did — is that they are saying they’re nonetheless undecided on their plans.
Many view Daniels and Maye because the probably choices to go second and third, and if Daniels is by some means there for the Patriots, his first school coach thinks it could be the final word coup.
“If I used to be selecting No. 1, I am selecting Jayden Daniels. Perhaps I am a bit biased as a result of I do know the child,” stated Herm Edwards, who landed Daniels as a recruit at Arizona State in 2019 and coached him for 3 seasons earlier than Daniels transferred to LSU.
“When he got here to us, his entire deal was that he needed to be three [years] and achieved. I advised him, ‘Look, you must acquire extra weight. You want extra reps.’ So the nice half is that when he determined to go [to LSU] — he got here into my workplace and I gave him a hug and I stated, ‘It’s important to go’ — now he is performed 56 school soccer video games. That is plenty of tape and that helps him.”
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Daniels elevated his efficiency in 2023 to win the Heisman Trophy, finishing 72.2% of his passes, ending 236-of-327 for 3,812 passing yards with 40 touchdowns and simply 4 interceptions. He added 1,134 dashing yards on 135 carries (8.4 YPC) with 10 touchdowns.
In some methods, Edwards compares Daniels’ talent set to his closing season taking part in for the Philadelphia Eagles in 1985, when the staff was on the cusp of transitioning from pocket-passer Ron Jaworski to Randall Cunningham.
“When Randall acquired there, it was like, ‘Whoa, have a look at this dude.’ He was the athlete who might run and he might throw it, too, particularly down the sector. That is what Jayden does,” he stated.
“That is the man that will get off script and may make performs the protection cannot defend, that they have not seen. That is the toughest factor while you get a quarterback like this — you possibly can’t script what he’s going to do. You simply do not know, as a result of he does not know, till he sees it along with his eyes and says, ‘OK, I’ve to get out of right here and make a play.'”
One of many questions scouts have about Daniels is that if his fashion of play running-wise and slim body are constructed to final within the NFL as a result of he is likely to be weak to extra contact. Daniels did not take official measurements on the NFL mix in February, electing to attend till LSU’s professional day this previous Wednesday, the place he was measured at 6-foot-3 5/8 and 210 kilos — which is likely to be heavier than his taking part in weight at LSU. In distinction, Maye measured 6-foot-4 3/8 and 223 kilos.
Edwards stated that when Daniels first arrived at Arizona State, he was 189 kilos. He has watched Daniels develop since that point — in additional methods than one.
“I had him at 18. Now he is 23, so he is a younger man and he will get it, he understands the quarterback place. He performed within the SEC the final two years they usually did not beat him up. He was in each recreation and he is that sort of man, man,” Edwards stated.
Particular to the Patriots, Mayo stated a few of the issues he’ll be searching for when evaluating quarterbacks is how they be taught and take care of adversity. He additionally coined the phrase “tradition add” whereas noting the significance of assessing their management fashion and private character.
For this half, Edwards believes Daniels wouldn’t solely convey electrifying play but in addition a steadying presence.
“He is outgoing, however he is not loud. He is actual calm. He isn’t a confrontation man, such as you noticed with Tom Brady. He is extra the kind of come over and speak to the fellows and get it squared away. When it is going sizzling and it is exhausting, there isn’t a panic on this dude.”
2. Brady night time: The best participant in Patriots historical past deserves the best send-off, and plans are transferring ahead for Tom Brady’s unprecedented Patriots Corridor of Fame induction ceremony inside Gillette Stadium on Wednesday, June 12, at 7 p.m. ET.
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Subsequent week, Patriots season-ticket members shall be despatched ticket data, and they are going to be given most well-liked pricing for the occasion via April 12. If there may be remaining stock after the presale course of, it will likely be made accessible to most people later in April. For longtime New England sports activities followers, it seems like this might be much like the historic “Larry Chook Night time” in 1993.
3. Highsmith’s function: Final Monday, Mayo relayed one thing lately employed senior personnel government Alonzo Highsmith advised him based mostly on his entrance workplace expertise with the Packers (2012-2017), Browns (2018-2019) and Seahawks (2020-2022).
“He stated all of the unhealthy picks he is seen, it is actually been the place everybody wasn’t on the identical web page. You’ll hope you might get everybody on the identical web page — coaches and in addition scouts. In case you have one individual drafting, that is not [good],” Mayo stated. “… We’ve scouts throughout the board the place everybody has their totally different opinions. So that you wish to begin with listening to these, however at a while you must sort of shrink the group and are available to some widespread floor. We’re shut.”
Two days later, Highsmith was amongst a nine-person Patriots contingent of scouts and coaches at professional days for Daniels and Maye — a mirrored image of his standing as a prime aide to director of scouting Eliot Wolf and Mayo, and in addition how the Patriots are trying to realize that alignment.
4. ‘Programs change’: One of many themes from Kraft’s remarks on the NFL annual assembly — which shed additional gentle on his decision-making course of with Mayo — is his viewpoint on “how programs have modified” over the previous 10-15 years. That subject additionally got here up throughout Kraft’s look on “The Store,” the present starring LeBron James and businessman Maverick Carter, who’ve conversations and debates in a barbershop.
“Within the final decade, the gamers coming into the locker room are totally different,” Kraft stated as he sat alongside Raiders large receiver Davante Adams. “So the way you relate to them, the way you join … I believe [Mayo] can relate to younger individuals at present.”
Adams, coming into his eleventh NFL season, agreed with the general level, saying: “To ensure that the staff to appreciate and fulfill their full potential, you want any person they’re prepared to play for. You are seeing a distinction [from when I came into the league] … the way in which you speak to them, the verbiage or understanding you method them with; when you may have guys which have lived it a bit bit [as players] you possibly can unlock a bit little bit of one thing with a number of gamers.”
5. DMac’s superb draft: The Patriots held their annual pre-draft preview for season-ticket members on Saturday at Gillette Stadium, with former security and present NBC “Soccer Night time in America” analyst Devin McCourty serving each on the panel and as an interviewee of Mayo and director of school scouting Camren Williams.
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One of many highlights got here when McCourty described his superb draft for the staff, which drew an audible cheer from the sellout crowd of a number of thousand: “As a lot as I like protection, I’d like to see first spherical/offense, second spherical/offense, third spherical/offense. Simply maintain it rolling and go get offensive guys! That is the place it is wanted essentially the most.”
6. Teaching week: Mayo harassed the significance of the week forward for his teaching employees, and the way the coaches are making a major transition from draft preparation to X’s and O’s that may present up in the course of the season. The Patriots might have began their voluntary offseason program Monday, however Mayo elected to attend till April 8 so he might concentrate on the employees.
“I would like this week to be devoted to the coaches, as a result of now we’re not scouting as a lot,” he stated. “We introduced in 17 new coaches. It’s a steadiness between having these guys scout and in addition studying our personal offense and protection, and educating the opposite coaches.”
7. Reagor’s rise? With the NFL adopting a brand new rule to advertise extra kickoff returns, it might improve Jalen Reagor’s possibilities to stay on the roster as a depth-based receiver. Reagor had one of many NFL’s 4 kickoff returns for a landing final season (98 yards vs. Buffalo). General, the Patriots had simply 18 kickoff returns in 2023. In a mirrored image of how a lot kickoff returns have declined, take into account that from 2000 to 2009, the Patriots averaged 61.2 kickoff returns per season. From 2010 to 2019, they averaged 34.6.
8. They stated it: “They’re been nice [conversations]; Coach Mayo, and simply in there speaking with new offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt, and studying their stuff. Such a historic program and staff and historical past up there in New England, so simply getting an opportunity to know them, what they’re about, and their champion mindset of getting again to the glory days has been cool.” — Maye, at his professional day Thursday, on assembly with the Patriots
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9. Preseason plans: Nothing is finalized, however buzz on the NFL’s annual assembly had the Patriots possible internet hosting the primary two video games of the preseason, earlier than touring within the third week. Preseason video games can lack sizzle, but when the Patriots choose a quarterback at No. 3, it might spark extra curiosity in them as a result of that prospect would possible play a major quantity of the sport.
10. Do you know: Mayo (first spherical) and Vikings coach Kevin O’Connell (third spherical) have been a part of the Patriots’ 2008 draft class; this marks simply the second time within the widespread draft period {that a} staff chosen two gamers in the identical class who grew to become head coaches. The Bears’ class of 1981, with Mike Singletary (second spherical) and Jeff Fisher (seventh), was the opposite.
