Report: Patriots’ pre-draft meetings include two talented Day 2 WRs originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston
The New England Patriots need to upgrade at wide receiver before next season, and acquiring one (or two) in the 2024 NFL Draft is probably the best remaining avenue to accomplish that objective.
If the Patriots select a quarterback with the No. 3 overall pick in the first round, then it would make sense to take a wideout on Day 2, either in the second and/or third round.
Two wide receivers who could be available on Day 2 of the draft include North Carolina’s Devontez Walker and Central Florida’s Javon Baker.
The Patriots are doing their due diligence on both wideouts in the form of 1-on-1 meetings.
Tony Pauline of Sportskeeda reports that Walker met with Patriots, New York Jets, Buffalo Bills, Dallas Cowboys and Jacksonville Jaguars last week.
Pauline also reported in March that Baker has meetings set up with the Patriots, Houston Texans and Kansas City Chiefs.
Javon Baker/WR/UCF has official 30 vistins set up with the @Patriots @HoustonTexans & @Chiefs. Teams feel he can play right away and like his catching radius (32 1/4 inch arms)
— Tony Pauline (@TonyPauline) March 23, 2024
Walker had some eligibility issues for North Carolina last season and didn’t play the entire campaign. But Walker was effective when he got on the field. He tallied 41 receptions for 699 yards with seven touchdowns in eight games. He was UNC quarterback Drake Maye’s No. 1 wideout. He’s fast, he’s a good route runner and he has pretty good size at 6-foot-3 and 200 pounds.
Walker also tested quite well at the NFL Scouting Combine earlier this year.
Walker is projected to go in the second round in some mock drafts. Our insider Phil Perry projected Walker would land with the Patriots (along with Maye) in the second round of his seven-round mock draft last month.
Baker is more likely to be a third-round pick. He caught 52 passes and set career highs with 1,156 yards and 11 touchdowns in 13 games…
Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/report-patriots-pre-draft-meetings-204501677.html
Author : NBC Sports Boston
Publish date : 2024-04-02 20:45:01
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