Patriots well-positioned to target receiver for Mac Jones on day 2

The Patriots upgraded the wide receiver position in free agency. But could they still stand to add one in the draft?

If Bill Belichick wants to target a receiver, there are still a number of highly rated prospects available on day 2 of the draft. Despite the additions of Nelson Agholor and Kendrick Bourne, and the presence of the emerging Jakobi Meyers, the Patriots could still use a young, cost-controlled, skilled receiver with the long-term upside of a No. 1 or 2 option in the offense. Several of the top receivers available seem like logical fits for New England.

Quarterback Mac Jones, whom the Pats selected with the 15th overall pick on Thursday, may not be the starter for much of the 2021 season. But he’s the clear favorite to take over from 2022-2025 and possibly beyond. So it could behoove the Patriots to develop him alongside a new young receiver.

We’ve already covered potential slot receivers in the draft for the Patriots, and you’ve heard of at least some of these names if you’ve been following the Patriots Draft Hub or the Felger and Mazz Big Board. Either way, keep reading for a list of potential receiver targets on Friday.

• Amari Rodgers, Clemson

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  The former Clemson wideout could be a candidate to slip well into day 2 of the draft due to unexciting measurables (4.52 40-yard dash, 7.07 three-cone time) and his 5-foot-9 frame. But Rodgers' running back build makes him hard to bring down with the ball in his hands, and his combination of competitiveness and football instincts could make him more NFL-ready than a lot of rookies.
  
  Scouting reports consistently describe Rodgers as a sure-handed receiver who can catch the ball away from his body and bring down 50-50 balls down the field. But they also describe a player who needs improvement breaking away from press-man coverage and catching more contested balls against physical corners. He seems to have the baseline qualities to develop those skills, though.
  
  The Patriots must love that Rodgers was a three-year starter and played in a lot of big games while catching passes from Trevor Lawrence. He seems like he'd be a good culture fit in New England as a starting slot, if not a true No. 1 receiver.

• Amon-Ra St. Brown, USC

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  St. Brown is unique from the other receivers on this list in that he's a bigger slot. Multiple sites list him at 6-foot-1, while NFL.com tops him out at 5-foot-11 1/2. But he's another classic "more quick than fast" receiver that holds more value to the Patriots than a lot of other teams.
  
  Scouting reports generally emphasize words like "smooth" and "fluid" when describing St. Brown. He may lack the top-end speed that you'll find in elite outside receivers, but he makes up for it with body control, ball-tracking, and savvy route-running. His skill set ultimately makes him more of a slot or possession receiver, but a talented and tough one at that.
  
  One detail that might inch St. Brown up the Patriots' draft board is that he was a five-star recruit coming out of high school who drew interest from Alabama, Notre Dame, and Michigan. The Patriots have taken highly recruited players whose draft stock fell for one reason or another in the past. They may look at St. Brown and see a player who's potentially just as good as anyone else who goes in the first or second round, and just needs the right development.

• Nico Collins, Michigan

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  If the Patriots take Collins, it's another hit for the Felger and Mazz Big Board. But he doesn't feel like as much of a fit for the Pats as other wideouts on this list. His NFL.com player comparison: N'Keal Harry.
  
  Collins is a big outside receiver whose best qualities project him as a purely vertical threat. His routes lack polish, and he hasn't looked as dominant at the first and second levels of the field as he did at the third. He doesn't seem like a fit for either Jones or Cam Newton, so selecting Collins would be another Harry-like departure. But he seems to have enough raw talent to make him a target for someone in rounds 2-3.

MORE: NFL Draft Day 2 Big Board

Matt Dolloff is a writer and podcaster for 985TheSportsHub.com. Any opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect those of 98.5 The Sports Hub, Beasley Media Group, or any subsidiaries. Have a news tip, question, or comment for Matt? Yell at him on Twitter @mattdolloff and follow him on Instagram @mattydsays. You can also email him at mdolloff@985thesportshub.com.