Locked On Patriots - Daily Podcast On The New England Patriots - Alert: New England Patriots' Surprise Targets Officially Available!

Starting point is 00:00:00 The tag deadline has passed and the Pats are left with three huge names that would help them significantly in 2026. This is Locked on Patriots. You are Locked on Patriots, your daily New England Patriots podcast. Part of the Locked on Podcast Network, your team every day. What's happening? I am Nick Cattels, your host, been covering the Pats for the past 16 years, also the co-host of the Greg Bedard Patriots podcast. and welcome the Lockdown Patriots, part of the Lockdown Podcast Network, now the number one sports podcast network, your team every day.

Starting point is 00:00:43 On today's show, offensive linemen blew up the NFL combine, and that could only be good news for the Pats. In the second segment, a handful of wide receivers that showed out at the Combine that could result in their futures being in New England. But first, the Pats did not have a player that was worthy of franchising, but that doesn't mean they can't take advantage of the tag deadline. Franchise tag, transition tag. The deadline was on Tuesday.

Starting point is 00:01:13 And stemming from the decisions made by teams across the league, there are now three names available, three names available that I think could significantly impact and improve the Patriots for 2026. Let's start with somebody who did not necessarily have, have anything to do with Tag Day, but on Tag Day became someone who is available. And I'm very surprised. Someone who I did not think would be out there at Edge is reportedly available.

Starting point is 00:01:48 And I'm talking about Jonathan Grenard from the Vikings. Adam Schaefter of ESPN posted earlier on Tuesday, Vikings are now open to trading Grenard. They would like to keep Grenard, but they also have salary cap issues they're working through that have led to these trade conversations. I love, love, love, love, love, love, love, love, love, love, love, love the idea of Jonathan Grenard being a New England patriot. Yes, his sack numbers were way down in 2025. Yes, he has a shoulder situation and surgery that might cause some level of concern.

Starting point is 00:02:24 But he is a legitimate, bona fide, frightening defensive end. He is a legitimate, bona fide pass rusher at the NFL level. And even last year, which was, again, seen as a down year because his sacks were way, way, way below his standard. There is one analytic that jumps out at me. Bill Barnwell of ESPN posted that Grenard had an 8.4% quick pressure rate, which was fourth best amongst edges with 200, hundred pass rushes or more. So if you look at just the sack numbers, that will tell you one thing. But when you look at quick pressures, when you look at Grenard getting to the quarterback in

Starting point is 00:03:12 less than two and a half seconds, he was the fourth best in the NFL doing that with 200 pass rushes or more, i.e., he's still highly effective when he's out there. He's a three-down player. He can play on early downs. He can play against the run. If you want to use sack numbers again, he had 12 and a half sacks and 12 sacks in 23 and 2024, respectively. He's going to turn 29 years old in May.

Starting point is 00:03:42 So he should arguably have another two or three, maybe even four years of good football left in him. And when we look at the edge position for Mike Rable, we keep pounding this idea. The sweet spot seems to be, you know, 255, 260. that's what Mike Vrable likes. If you're hovering around 250 to 260, you fit very well into this scheme. If you get up field,

Starting point is 00:04:10 if you get to the quarterback quickly, if you're an aggressive pass rusher, you fit the mold of what Mike Vrable, Zach Corr, and Torel Williams are looking for. And yes, if you can play the run, even better. But when you look at Jonathan Grenard, he's 6'59 pounds. He fits.

Starting point is 00:04:28 That's the frame. contract-wise, very reasonable. Two years left, 38 million. So you're looking at 19 million per year the next two seasons if you traded for Bernard. What would it cost? ESPN's Jeremy Fowler reported that it would take a day two pick from the teams that he has spoken with that have had conversations with the Vikings.

Starting point is 00:04:52 Those teams feel like the Vikings are looking for a day two pick, so a second or third round pick. And I would be all in on trading a third round pick for Jonathan Grenard. And I would be willing to give up a second round pick for Granard. If you added a little bit of a sweetener from Minnesota's side with maybe a fifth or a sixth or something, I would absolutely be in on that idea. He would cost you less than Max Crosby. The money is manageable.

Starting point is 00:05:24 The production has been there. The fit within the defense is absolute. Now, the big question is, does he want a raise? Because Bert Breer of S. I reported the Viking situation with Grenard is a bit complex. Granard is seeking a market correction to his contract per sources. He's due $19 million and would like a raise. So if Grinard wants a raise, that's a different conversation. I would not be willing to give up a second round pick if Grinard's looking to break the bank.

Starting point is 00:05:55 But I would be good with a third round pick. to Minnesota for Gronard. And I think that would be a fair price. And you bring him in and he helps. He doesn't completely solve the edge problem, but he certainly helps and would give this team a significant impact in their pass rush. Just ask Will Campbell, who had quite the day against Jonathan Grenard in Minnesota during camp season.

Starting point is 00:06:22 All right, second guy. The Indianapolis Colts decided to put the transition tag on Daniel Jones. It's a calculated risk. The Colts are going to try to keep both Jones and Alec Pierce. But here's the thing. Once you put that transition tag on Jones, you cannot tag Pierce. If Pierce wants to go to free agency, he will go to free agency. And if you are peers, why would you not go to free agency? Don't you want to know how much you're worth? Even if you want to stay in Indianapolis, don't you want to drive up that price to make as much money as you possibly can, of course.

Starting point is 00:06:59 So this is a calculated risk by the Colts that they'll be able to keep both guys. Because if you give the transition tag to Daniel Jones, it's about $6 or $7 million less than what the franchise tag costs. You can take that extra money, that wiggle room, and negotiate with Pierce and get an extension done. The risk, though, again, Pierce can go to free agency and also risk reportedly wants to know, Pierce wants to know who is going to be his quarterback. And so when you put the transition tag on somebody, that player can negotiate with other teams.

Starting point is 00:07:37 So that's a risk as well. Reports say that Alec Pierce could get north of $25 million a year. But of course, don't forget, he's not going to cost you any draft capital. You don't have to trade for him like you'd have to trade for A.J. Brown. I would be interested in Alec Pierce. He turns 26 in May, big physical target downfield, 21.3 yards per catch in 2025, 22.3 yards per catch in 2024. He is a big play waiting to happen. Many in the NFL believe he's just scratching the surface and that he could bring more to the table than just vertical threat guy. And he is a great fit for Drake May. You think about the deep passing from May to have a target like Alec Pierce would mean an awful lot to your young quarterback.

Starting point is 00:08:24 third and final name, Trey Hendrickson of Cincinnati. The Bengals did not tag. They did not tag Trey Hendrickson. He is officially going to be a free agent. And if you're wondering, yes, I would be in on Hendrickson. Not if I acquired a Crosby or a Grenard, but just money-wise, I would absolutely be interested in Hendrickson. I would not be interested in Hendrickson if he was going to cost me 20 million plus a year. year. He's 31 years old. He had an injury riddled 2025. I do think football wise and character

Starting point is 00:09:03 wise, he's a perfect fit. And if he's willing to take a deal 15 million to 18 million a year, let's say a two-year deal with that kind of money, I would sit down at the table and I would work something out to bring in Trey Hendrickson. But if he's looking at, you know, 20, over 20 million a year and wants two, three year, three, four year deal with a ton of guaranteed money, I would be less apt to do that because of the age, the wear and tear. And again, some of the injuries he had a deal with last season. Now, some of that could have been him not wanting to play for Cinty, but I find that hard to believe with everything that you read about Trey Hendrickson. He's a guy who's got a motor. He loves playing football. I don't think that he would back out of a season with some shenanigans. But all three of those names, I'm interested. Jonathan Grenard, interested.

Starting point is 00:09:58 Alec Pierce, interested. Trey Hendrickson, interested. Depends on the cost. Again, we want to be aggressive. We don't want to be reckless. But those are three names that would significantly impact the Patriots in 2026 for the better. Wide receiver combine standouts that could help Drake May take that next step in 2026. We'll talk about that next.

Starting point is 00:10:22 This is Lockdown Patriots, part of the last. lockdown podcast network, your team every day. This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp. March is the time to celebrate women, especially around international women's day, and to recognize just how much they carry at work, in relationships and families, and in all the unseen roles they step into every single day. It's easy to celebrate women's strength, but it's just as important to make space for their emotional well-being.

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Starting point is 00:12:06 The Patriots, I don't think they need any more three, four, or five type wide receivers. They need guys who are going to make an impact. They need guys that are going to make an impact as soon as humanly possible. And I want to focus primarily on X receivers in the I. options in the draft at that position because at X receiver, this draft class is very, very deep. So let's talk about some guys who, you know, stood out for different reasons at the combine that could end up being options for the Patriots at number 31 or elsewhere. I begin with somebody who we might not have had a conversation about going back two weeks

Starting point is 00:12:48 ago, a week ago. And that's Denzel Boston out of Washington. You know, before the combine, he was looked at as a top 20. type guy in this draft. And you wonder, does he fall after what happened during the combine? Now, Denzel Boston, one of the biggest questions about him is his speed, right? Can he separate from receivers? Stack him separate at a high level. And Boston decided to not run the 40-yard dash at the combine,

Starting point is 00:13:16 which, of course, will bring even more questions. And now everybody is going to be waiting for his pro day. But with no 40-yard dash run, he didn't answer. He didn't answer the biggest question about his game. Now, Boston's vertical leap, according to Evan Lazar, was in the 43rd percentile at wide receiver. So he didn't show as much explosion in his vertical leap as you would hope. He also dropped a few footballs during the drills. So it begs the question with that type of performance by Boston, could he slip to 31?

Starting point is 00:13:53 And if you look at Denzel Boston, I think he would be your prototypical, like your perfect X receiver for the Patriots. He's 6 foot 4. He's 212 pounds. He has a big time catch radius. According to Evan Lazare, Denzel Boston caught 10 of 13 contested throws last year, the college level. He can block. I mean, kind of think of like Mack Hollins out of the slot. blocking and stuff. He can do that.

Starting point is 00:14:25 And pro football focus graded Boston as the number one wide receiver versus man coverage in this draft. So if Denzel Boston falls to 31, we'll see what happens at his pro day. I think he's an intriguing option for the Patriots.

Starting point is 00:14:43 Another guy I want to talk about, Chris Brasel from Tennessee, explosive downfield. He ran a 4-3740 at the Combine, 6 foot 4, 198 pounds, not a ton of dudes who are 6, 4, 200 pounds that run a 4, 3, 740.

Starting point is 00:14:59 He has the wingspan of a condor. Crazy, crazy wingspan. And if you want a receiver who can make the 50-50 plays downfield, that is Brazel. He can make those 50-50 plays. Yards per reception last year, 16.4 yards per catch.

Starting point is 00:15:21 And Mel Kuiper, he noted that while at Tennessee last season, Brazel had only two drops. So very sure hands, big time target, straight line speed with that 43740, the crazy wingspan, again, which would bring us to the whole catch radius thing. And Tennessee, there's a lot to question about Tennessee and fast receivers coming out of Tennessee and how much. they actually know about running routes and how good they are running routes. Well, the thing of note for Brazel is he went to Tulane before he went to Tennessee. That's a different offense. So there's belief that he can run different routes and he can do different things. But Brazel had a very good combine and he might actually be creeping up towards the end of the first round.

Starting point is 00:16:16 So again, if you're looking at number 31, if Denzel Boston drops, it's an option, Chris Brasel. If he ends up creeping closer to the top of the second, late first, he would also be an option. Let's look at somebody else who could be more towards the second round, third round area. And that's Skylar Bell from Yukon. Skylar Bell had a very good combine. He is 6 foot, 192 pounds.

Starting point is 00:16:45 So he is smaller than the last two guys we've talked about, but he's still six feet buck 92 big hands 10 inch hands he ran a 4 440 440 and he had a 41 inch vertical 41 inch vert 4 440 his relative athletic score was a 9.71 and it wasn't just his athleticism that stood out at the combine he was really good with the on-field drills showed strong hands executed things crisply. So those three names, Denzel, Boston, and Chris Brazel, end of the first round. They could be options there for you. If you're looking at more, second round, third round,

Starting point is 00:17:31 Skylar Bell is a name to keep in mind. Some other names, some other names from the Combine. Jordan Reed of ESPN wrote about Jeff Caldwell. Jeff Caldwell, man, oh man, did he electrify Indianapolis? A wide receiver from Cincinnati, he is a big. dude, 6 foot 5, 216 pounds. And when we talk about being that big, I talked about Brazel, you know, being 64198 running the 437. Well, Caldwell, 65, 216, he ran a 4-3-140. Out freaking rages. He jumped 42 inches in the vertical, 11 foot two broad jump. His testing was off the charts.

Starting point is 00:18:12 And as Jordan Reed wrote, Caldwell certainly brought himself. into the rounds two through four discussion. I texted back and forth with a scout who said that Caldwell was one of the biggest surprises of the day. He certainly helped himself and now could be drafted early on day three. So again, if you're looking at third round, late third round, early fourth round, Jeff Caldwell, 65, 216. Tremendous athleticism could be a target.

Starting point is 00:18:40 And finally, Bruce Feldman of the athletic wrote about Jacoby Lane, USC. We talk about Mackay Lemon. He's getting all the love, all the attention, all the not so much love, if you believe what some of you read in his interviews during the combine. But Jacoby Lane is the other guy at USC. And Bruce Feldman wrote, he's got one of the most impressive highlight reels of spectacular one-handed catches. And he had a really good combine. He's 6-4, 200 pounds.

Starting point is 00:19:09 He ran a 4-4-740, 40-inch vert, 10-9 broad jump. And Bruce Feldman wrote about, Lane, there are questions about his maturity and his consistency, but there is a whole lot of talent here. Now, of course, when you're talking about Mike Vrable, you're talking about character, you're talking about culture,

Starting point is 00:19:28 the questions about Jacoby Lane's maturity, you're going to have to drill down on those and figure out if he's going to fit in that locker room. But those are two more names, Jeff Caldwell, and Jacoby Lane, to go along with Scholar Bell, Chris Brasel,

Starting point is 00:19:44 and Denzel, Boston, at wide receiver. All right. Offensive line. Everybody wants to talk about offensive line. Well, coming up, some offensive lineman put on a show at the combine. And a few of those guys make a lot of sense for the pets. Get to that next. This is Lockdown Patriots, part of the Lockdown podcast network, your team every day. Hey, it's Matt Derry from the Lockdown Lions podcast. The people I love depend on me. If I'm gone, the financial responsibilities don't disappear. I didn't want my family figuring things out during the hardest moment of their lives. That's why I knew only one place to go. I chose life insurance through my friends at Ethos. Ethos makes getting life insurance

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Starting point is 00:21:13 All right. Don't forget to like, comment and subscribe as you watch here on YouTube. if you do watch on YouTube, appreciate every single one of you. The Patriots could draft both a tackle and a guard. They could double up at one of those positions. Now, I would think they will go with one tackle, one guard, but you never know. And the offensive linemen had an incredibly impressive combine.

Starting point is 00:21:35 And let's start with the late first round guys, because, again, it doesn't mean anything to sit here and talk to you about players. They're going to get drafted in top 10, top 15, top 20. You know, Caleb Lomu is an example. He's probably going top 20. So it doesn't make a lot of sense to talk about those types of guys. I want to talk about guys who the Patriots have a legitimate shot at drafting. Max E. Hanachor, 6-6-321.

Starting point is 00:22:02 We've talked a little bit about E. Hanachor in prior podcasts. But man, oh man, did he light up the combine? Again, 6-6-321. Arm length, not a problem. 33 and 7 eighth-inch arm length. and that's at the combine, which usually measures these guys short as we found out last year. And man, he crushed the combine. Sub 540.

Starting point is 00:22:26 1.73 10-yard split. If you're wondering, Will Campbell, who again was one of the most athletic tackle prospects we've seen at the combine, Campbell's 10-yard split was 1.75. Ehanichore 1.73. Evan Lazare pointed out, Patriots.com, that Ehanachore's vertical was in the 9.7.5. 90th percentile at tackle. His broad jump was in the 95th percentile. And when you look at relative athletic score, 9.87 through the roof.

Starting point is 00:22:59 And when you talk about Maxie Hanna-Chore, you talk about somebody who improved throughout 2025. And you have to understand this is a player that should continue to get better because he didn't play a lot of football before he got to college. As a matter of fact, he didn't play high school football. Field Yates posted on Ehenichore. Ehanichore did not play high school football, so he's still very much a developing player. Evan Lizarre, again, on Ehenichore.

Starting point is 00:23:28 Last season, Ehenichore Limited Texas Tech duo, David Bailey, who's going to be a top 10 pick, maybe even top five, and Ramello Height, who's absolutely going to get drafted, to just two hurries. So you look at that film against Texas Tech. You look at some of the film late in the season. he continued to get better.

Starting point is 00:23:46 And I think he is a very, very enticing name at 31. And if he gets there, it would be tough to pass him up. And I know you might not play him in 2026 if Morgan Moses stays healthy. But that ceiling, that athleticism, the tape continue to get better. I just, it'd be very difficult to say thanks, thanks, but no thanks to Max Ehanachure. All right, Blake Miller, somebody else. that we have talked about a little bit in prior podcasts from Clemson 6-6-317 you want to talk about arm length 34 and a quarter inch arm length he ran a 50440 his split time 10-yard split time was the same

Starting point is 00:24:31 exact 10-yard split of will campbell 1.75 again that is impressive he had a 32-inch vert 9-5 broad jump and you know i talked about max ehanachore being a 9.87 relative athletic score. Blake Miller was at 9.94. Outrageous. He's a really good pass protector. He is agile. And the question about Blake Miller, aside from, you know, you'll hear at high pad level,

Starting point is 00:25:03 he's not necessarily, you know, the biggest dude. But, you know, one of the things that you could look at, and I mean like, you know, wide wise, I mean, 6-6-317, he's a big guy. But one of the things that's going to get difficult here, if you are the Patriots, if you're looking at right tackle, you get the 31st pick. Miller might be seen as a little bit of a reach, not a huge reach, but a little bit of a reach at 31 maybe, because maybe you could get him early to mid-second round. But of course, the Patriots, they don't draft until late in the second round.

Starting point is 00:25:38 So that's what's going to be difficult. If you want to add a right tackle prospect that you feel could be ready for at the latest 2027, you might have to draft that guy at 31. But are you comfortable using your first round pick drafting somebody who might not play for you until 2027? Worst case scenario, 28. You know, do you really want to do that? So if you're looking at the Blake Miller's and the Max E. Hennon, chores of the world.

Starting point is 00:26:12 Very likely you're going to draft them at 31. And I'm not sure. I'm not sure if you're willing to do that if you're the Patriots. Now, let's look at a couple of guards. I do not think the Patriots will draft the guard at 31. Just off the idea that Col Strange was picked late in the first round. But I do not think the Patriots would invest their first round pick in a guard in this draft. Could be wrong. But I want to focus on what's more realistic, not impossible, but realistic.

Starting point is 00:26:47 So let's look at the middle round guys. And one dude that jumps out is Micah Morris from Georgia. First season he started at Georgia was this past season, a la Jared Wilson when the patch drafted him last year. He had only started at Georgia for one year. And when you want to talk about a left guard who's big, right? I've heard Evan Lazar say this, and I agree with him. You want to be a big. You want a big. bigger guy next to Will Campbell because Will Campbell is not wide. He's not a wide body, right? Michael Morris is 6534, but he's also extremely athletic. We're in a 173, 10-yard split.

Starting point is 00:27:26 That is the same as E. Hannah Chores. It is 0.02 seconds quicker than Will Campbell's. And when you look at Michael Morris's unofficial relative athletic score, higher than Miller's, higher than E. Hannah Chores, at 9.97. As a matter of fact, the unofficial 9.97 relative athletic score by Micah Morris at the Combine is the seventh best RAS at Guard. From 1987 to this past combine, very athletic dude. Played goal line fullback at Georgia. and fieldy-8s feels like Michael Morris is likely going to fall somewhere in the fourth, fifth round. You got two fourth-round picks.

Starting point is 00:28:13 You got Michael Morris there? I can see you pick Michael Morris. He's your left guard of the future. Another guy I'll bring up, Jennings Dunker, the dude with the mullet. I know you saw the mullet from Iowa, 65-319, 9.65 relative athletic score, former tackle, going to move inside. side to guard. He is somebody that I think would interest the Patriots, play style, attitude, character,

Starting point is 00:28:45 Mike Rable type guy. So those are some names at all offensive line. All right, that wraps up this edition of Lockdown Patriots. Thank you for making us your first listed and for being an everydayer. Reach out to me on Twitter at Nick C Radio. Don't forget to throw a comment in on the YouTube channel. Hit that like button and subscribe. And of course,

Starting point is 00:29:02 you can get one month free of the Everydayer Club with code free agency, no spaces, now through March 15th. Join the club. Check it out, lockdownpatriots.supercast.com. Have a great day and we will see you tomorrow.

Locked On Patriots - Daily Podcast On The New England Patriots - Alert: New England Patriots' Surprise Targets Officially Available!

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