Patriots news from the 2019 NFL Combine: A complete roundup
Mar 3, 2019; Indianapolis, IN: A wide angle general view of the linebackers going through their workout drills during the 2019 NFL Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium. (Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports)
From the NFL Newswire at 985TheSportsHub.com
The 2019 NFL Combine is just about done. Monday marks the last day coaches and scouts get to take a closer look at some of the top prospects in April’s NFL Draft.
The annual scouting mecca in Indianapolis has also become a breeding ground for reports on NFL teams and their offseason plans. The Patriots were the subject of many of the news reports and rumors that emerged last week.
Here’s a roundup of what’s come out about the Patriots during the NFL Combine so far. Check below for news & rumors on current players slated for free agency and top draft prospects who are reportedly on the Pats’ radar.
Free Agents
— The Patriots have had conversations with WR Phillip Dorsett about a possible return in 2019. (Kevin Duffy)
— WR Chris Hogan has spoken to the Patriots about a possible return. (Henry McKenna)
— The Patriots have not had conversations with DT Malcom Brown about possibly coming back. (Kevin Duffy)
— DT Danny Shelton could still be a candidate to return as he approaches free agency. (Doug Kyed)
— The Pats have not yet approached K Stephen Gostkowski about the franchise tag. Gostkowski was reported as a candidate to get the tag before hitting free agency. (Phil Perry)
— New England and P Ryan Allen have had “positive talks” about a potential contract extension. (Henry McKenna)
— The Patriots haven’t talked to LB Albert McClellan about a possible return. McClellan quickly became a special teams cornerstone after joining the Patriots in November. (Mark Daniels)
— With OT Trent Brown set to hit free agency and command a top-of-the-market deal, the Patriots could look to bring back Cameron Fleming, who will be a free agent again after playing one season with the Dallas Cowboys. (Jeff Howe)
Restructured Contracts
— The Patriots have not approached LB Dont’a Hightower about a possible restructuring of his contract, and he’s not likely to be willing to accept one. Hightower is due a base salary of $7 million and a cap hit of $10.9 million in 2019. (Doug Kyed)
— S Devin McCourty has not been approached about a possible restructure. McCourty is on the books for a $9 million salary and $13.3 million cap hit in 2019, the final year of his current deal. (Kevin Duffy)
Draft Prospects
Many prospects at the Combine have confirmed to reporters that they met with the Patriots in some fashion. They ranged from brief interviews to formal meetings, some of which happened before the Combine. Others are known to have met with the Pats through multiple reports out of Indianapolis. Here’s a list of players known to have met with representatives for New England.
Quarterbacks:
Will Grier, West Virginia
Tyree Jackson, Buffalo
* According to Henry McKenna of Patriots Wire, the Patriots didn’t have a formal meeting with a single quarterback at the Combine.
Offensive Linemen:
Tytus Howard, OT, Alabama State
Greg Little, OT, Ole Miss
Dalton Risner, Kansas State
Running Backs:
Miles Sanders, Penn State
James Williams, Washington State
Trayveon Williams, Texas A&M
Wide Receivers:
J.J. Arcega-Whiteside, Stanford
Marquise Brown, Oklahoma
Andy Isabella, UMass Amherst
Terry McLaurin, Ohio State
Stanley Morgan, Nebraska
Hunter Renfrow, Clemson
Riley Ridley, Georgia
Deebo Samuel, South Carolina
Tight Ends:
Noah Fant, Iowa
Isaac Nauta, Georgia
Irv Smith, Alabama
Kaden Smith, Stanford
Tommy Sweeney, Boston College
Defensive Linemen:
Zach Allen, DE, Boston College
Austin Bryant, DE, Clemson
Maxx Crosby, DE, Eastern Michigan
Jalen Jelks, DE, Oregon
Dre’Mont Jones, DT. Ohio State
Jonathan Ledbetter, DT, Georgia
Daylon Mack, DT, Texas A&M
Jerry Tillery, DT, Notre Dame
Gerald Willis, DT, Miami
Daniel Wise, DT, Kansas
Defensive Backs:
Nasir Adderley, S, Delaware
Chauncey Gardner-Johnson, S, Florida
Taylor Rapp, S, Washington
Rock Ya-Sin, CB, Temple
The NFL Combine concludes on Monday with workouts scheduled for the defensive backs. We’ll keep you updated with any notable reports as it relates to the Patriots.
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