Locked On Patriots - Daily Podcast On The New England Patriots - New England Patriots Tight Ends: Hunter Henry, Jonnu Smith and 2023 NFL Draft Class

Episode Date: March 9, 2023

While the tight end position is not among the New England Patriots most pressing needs, the depth of the 2023 NFL Draft class may tempt them into making a selection. Host Mike D’Abate breaks down the Pats decision to keep Hunter Henry in the fold in the upcoming year before welcoming Clare ‘ClazzyClare’ Cooper to break down the tight ends at the Scouting Combine and which of them would make great Patriots.Find and follow Locked On Patriots on your favorite podcast platforms:Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/locked-on-patriots-daily-podcast-on-the-new-england/id1140512627Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1c5ZxFmwg3WbfxAU3tR5Ve?si=k196wH-yRqifUcQQz8SjIQStitcher: https://www.stitcher.com/show/locked-on-patriotsAnd follow host Mike D’Abate on Twitter, where he’ll be sharing the latest news about the New England Patriots and talking with fans.On Twitter: @mdabateNFLSupport Us By Supporting Our Sponsors!Built BarBuilt Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKEDON15,” and you’ll get 15% off your next order.FanDuelMake Every Moment More. Don’t miss the chance to get your No Sweat First Bet up to ONE THOUSAND DOLLARS in Bonus Bets when you go FanDuel.com/LOCKEDON. FANDUEL DISCLAIMER: 21+ in select states. First online real money wager only. Bonus issued as nonwithdrawable free bets that expires in 14 days. Restrictions apply. See terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit FanDuel.com/RG(CO, IA, MD, MI, NJ, PA, IL, VA, WV), 1-800-NEXT-STEP or text NEXTSTEP to 53342 (AZ), 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat(CT), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 (WY, KS) or visit ksgamblinghelp.com (KS), 1-877-770-STOP (LA), 1-877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY), TN REDLINE 1-800-889-9789 (TN) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The New England Patriots might be in the market for some tight endage in the 2023 NFL draft after all. Stick around. You're about to be locked in to the Locked On Patriots podcast. You are Locked On Patriots, your daily New England Patriots podcast. Part of the Locked On Podcast Network. Your team, every day. Hello to all of you, Foxborough faithful. Thank you once again for making Locked On Patriots a daily part of your New England Patriots coverage

and also your first listen every day. Remember, Locked On Patriots is free and available on all platforms, including YouTube, so smash that subscribe button, download, subscribe to, follow Locked On Patriots wherever you get your podcasts. Pats fans, it is always my honor, always my privilege to join you here each and every day as you take time out of your busy schedules to make Locked On Patriots a part of your Pats coverage. I'm your host, Mike DeBate, and I cover your New England Patriots for Patriots Country of Sports Illustrated.

Reach out to me. Let me know what's on your mind on Twitter at MDABATENFL. And while you're out there showing some love to the Twitterverse, please be sure to follow the Lockdown Patriots account as well at LO underscore Patriots. Pats fans' tight end is not among the most pressing needs for the Pats this year, especially heading into the 2023 NFL Draft. But this is a very deep class when it comes to talent. And a weekend report, which was kind of surprising, centered around the Patriots' potential future at tight end. And it actually got me thinking a little bit.

Could the Patriots select the tight end in this draft? Now, a few days ago, I shot down the rumor right here on Locked On Patriots that they would consider drafting Dalton Kincaid. I don't think the Patriots use first round draft capital on the position. I still don't think they're going to do that in order to get someone like a Dalton Kincaid or Notre Dame's Michael Mayer. I think the Patriots are going to have to use a first round pick to do so.

And I don't think they're going to do that. But what about round two? What about round three that could be in play and i'll tell you just how in just a moment but the report that i'm referring to surrounds hunter henry and anyone who's listened to the pod before knows that i've covered henry since he was a rookie over in los angeles and san diego really i've been very complimentary to hunter henry here on the pod, as has been my guest today, Claire Classey, Claire Cooper of Pat's Propaganda, and of course, a Claire perspective of Patriots podcast. She'll join me here in just a moment, folks,

because if you know we're talking tight ends, you know Claire's getting in on the act. She'll be here in just a moment. But NFL insider Jordan schultz was the one that made the report over the weekend really i think something a lot of us in new england took for granted and his report read and i quote patriots are not expected to release tight end hunter henry the team values him as a player and as a leader while new offensive coordinator bill o'brien plans to better maximize his pass catchingcatching ability. Yeah, I really don't think there's a whole lot to be very shocked about here, folks. It's not a bad update. It's not a good update.

It's just really an update. I think it really solidifies what we all thought. Hunter Henry under Bill O'Brien with another year with Mac Jones is a good opportunity for all parties involved to utilize each other to the best of their ability. Mac gets one of his most reliable, one of his favorite targets back. Bill O'Brien gets to utilize the two tight end sets that he loves to employ. And Hunter Henry gets to return to some of the glory days that he had early here in New England in the first half of the 2021 season when he was catching passes and really,

really developing a nice synergy with Mac Jones. The move that I'm looking at right now is something that I think in a lot of ways could be beneficial to the Patriots, and that would be either drafting a tight end for the future or maybe drafting one for the present. I'll tell you what I mean by that in just a second. team would save over 10 million if they parted ways with hunter henry so obviously there is a financial incentive to doing so i don't want to make it seem like jordan just completely pulled this out of thin air there is a financial reason to do it but it actually would create more problems than it would solve because the Patriots would save the $10 million in salary cap room. But at the same time, they'd have to put that right back into probably filling the same position without any certainty that the person coming in here is going to be any more efficient than Hunter Henry would be, whether it be a rookie or a veteran.

You're taking a chance at that point. You're better off going with a proven commodity, that's hunter henry at the tight end position so that's where this would actually make some sense if the patriots wanted to extend hunter that's the part that makes sense here you're going to extend his contract he enters the final year of his deal in order to do so i understand some of the criticism surrounding him, 37 and a half million. Maybe he hasn't quite lived up to that number just yet, but there is a lot of promise and a lot of potential here, especially now with O'Brien and Mac Jones. At 29 years old, you're getting him at a more favorable type of contract if he extends and does give you a little bit of financial room.

That's a possibility for Patriots. They could also use his final year in this contract as a bridge year. And I want to give a tip and a cap and a nod to the gods to my colleague, Alex Marth, over at 98.5 The Sports Hub. He brought this suggestion, and I think this is actually really, really intriguing. This is a very deep tight end class, folks. And just because the Patriots may not dip their toe into the pool early, it doesn't mean that they can't find potential gems later down the line.

Even guys that could come in and be tutored by Henry, maybe to be his eventual replacement. I'm talking guys like Old Dominion, Zach Kuntz. I'm talking about Miami's Will Mallory. Those guys could be had on day three, cost you a fraction of what it's going to cost to go out and sign a veteran tight end. And they could take a player like that to capitalize on the draft class and have that player develop, you know, with Henry and maybe even into Henry's replacement beyond this year. So there's a possibility that the Patriots may dip their toe into the tight end pool to get better in the future.

But what about if they really are looking at this year? Well, not a lot of people believe that's a possibility. And I think this is a real long shot, but they could be in the market for a tight end a bit sooner rather than later. If they do want to part ways with tight end John and Smith. Now, again, this is a move I don't think they will make. I think Jono has really given everything he can to assimilate himself into New England. I think year three could be a big year for Jono Smith. So I wouldn't do this move.

This is not something I'm endorsing. I'm just telling you that there's a scenario that exists that would be palatable, or at least I think might be palatable, to the Patriots if they see top-level talent that they feel they absolutely have to go for. If they do decide to cut John U. Smith, you can't do it before June 1st, folks. Not an option. It leaves $19 million in dead cap space. It's also going to come with a cap hit of nearly two million dollars so if any of you are thinking out there the patriots are going to cut janu smith to make cap room before wednesday's

start of the league year on march 15th that is not happening um the patriots could elect a trade the trade really doesn't give you that much as well it does free up 4.6 million in cap room but you're still dealing with a 12.6 million dollar hit in dead money so not a whole lot going on with the Patriots to try to clear room I don't expect any movement with Jonu Smith prior to June 1st but here's where this gets interesting a trade is going to be tough no matter what because Jonu hasn't really performed all that well in terms of statistics in the two years that he's been in New England but the Patriots could pull one off that does allow them to minimize their financial burden if the Pats decide they're going to trade John and Smith after June 1st they would incur a dead money hit of only 6.4 million dollars

while opening up 10.8 million in cap savings. If New England, and this is a big if, folks, I stress this, a very big if, but if they believe that they can find a trade partner willing to satisfy their needs, they may want a more NFL-ready prospect in the coming draft. Iowa's Sam Laporta is someone that's being heavily rumored to the Patriots. Also, South Dakota State's Tucker Kraft is becoming one of the more Patriots palatable picks. Patriots palatable picks. I like that. I love the alliteration there, folks.

Not to mention his last name. You know we'd love to see a Kraft catching passes here on the Gillette Stadium field. But that being said, I will caution. I do believe this is a real long shot, but there is a possibility out there. And it's realistic enough for us to discuss. And that is where the Empress of Tight Endage herself, Ms. Claire Clasiclair Cooper, will provide her combine analysis into letting us know who tops her Tight Endage leaderboard and who might make the ideal Patriot. Talking tight-ended with the Countess of Class when this episode of the Locked On Patriots podcast continues. But first, folks, today's episode brought to you by our friends over at FanDuel.

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bets. When you go to FanDuel.com slash locked on that's FanDuel.com slash locked on to learn more, make every moment more with FanDuel official sports slash LockedOn to learn more. Make every moment more with FanDuel, official sportsbook partner of the NBA. Patriots fans, the 2023 NFL draft class is receiving a lot of rave reviews. The Patriots have several positions of need, and this draft class is very deep at a lot of those positions. But on a national level, the patriots are also looking at a

tight end draft class that is being considered among the best in quite some time well the patriots may not have an immediate need at tight end after all hunter henry is not getting released folks they never were going to release him i don't know where that story came from but you've heard us talk about it several times here on the pod that Hunter Henry is here to stay. John O. Smith, not as certain. I still think the Patriots roll the dice and take their chances with him. But if the Pats are willing to dip into this very, very deep pool of tight end talent, who else would we welcome in to bring us the wisdom and counsel we all need to shift through it?

She is the empress of tight endage herself the countess of class miss claire clazy claire cooper from past propaganda and also a clear perspective of patriots podcast powered by fbc patriots claire thank you for joining me today and i know you are absolutely excited beyond belief to talk your favorite subject with us today well this is it why do you think my t-shirt says smile today because it's like big smiles because it's tight-ended wednesday doesn't it's not really illiterate but it doesn't matter it does not matter it absolutely does not matter because the midweek monarch here we got a little alliteration there so we'll take that

honest class empress of tight-ended you know we're working on it claire we got the we definitely have some of that going but bottom line this is a very deep tight end class and i know you did your due diligence about scouting as a lot of us were over the weekend with the 2023 nfl scouting combine and several tight ends leaped off the page notre dame's michael mayer obviously is right up at the top of the list you've got Dalton Kincaid that's getting an awful lot uh Luke Musgraves is getting an awful lot of uh attention there's a lot of big time tight ends in this draft but from top to bottom there's a lot of potentially mid-rounders or even hidden gems here that could help the New England Patriots um This is a position that the Patriots love to deploy, how shall I say, competent personnel at tight end. They love to utilize good tight ends, and Bill O'Brien, for one,

is very good at being able to get out of a tight end what he needs in terms of being productive on the field. When you look at this class, who caught your sharp eye this weekend as you scouted from the combine who should we be keeping our sharp eye on well this is it you said yourself at the beginning the time class it seems so deep this year and i think it was daniel jeremiah i may be misquoting so if it was someone else i apologize um who said that this is probably the the best draft class for tight ends in at least 10 years. And if you're wanting, if you're looking for a tight end, this is the year to do it.

And I think he's, you know, looking at the names, looking at the quality, looking at the skill set, you know, obviously Daniel Jermai is pretty much always right anyway because he's one of those, you know, top media guys. However, yeah, looking at what there is, there is depth and there is skill. And there's also versatility. There isn't just, they aren't all the same.

And that's what's making it even more difficult, is it depends what kind of tight end you want, what boxes you want ticking. But there's a few quite well-rounded tight ends as well. So that's always good. And the other thing that's quite positive for the Patriots is, as you said, they're mid-round sort of guys. With regards to the wants and the needs the top wants and needs should I say of teams this year

being quarterback there's it it gives that a bit more flexibility it gives that more availability for the Patriots to be able to take one and because there's such depth because there's such quality they don't have to look at taking like a first rounder you can look at more sort of second third round guys and still be coming away with sort of I want to say value for many I know obviously it's not a literal sense a kind of more a metaphor metaphorical sense but yeah the good value for many when it when it comes to that and I mean you threw out some really good names I mean you I think you threw out pretty much most of the top names. I mean, Michael Mayer, I've been on sort of for a while. I think I was on him for half of last year

because I'd already seen a little bit of him playing for Notre Dame, even not the whole year. So he's always sort of been my draft crush for a long time anyway. Now, he's got a downside. He isn't perfect. He has got sort of, you know, he's a good downside he isn't perfect he has got sort of you know he he's he's a good solid tight end he's well rounded the problem is he's not really out there as exceptional he's not seen as exceptional he's not super explosive so there's that edge that sort of dulls his

sharpness if you like for for but I think he's still going to be one of those first round tight ends or sort of one of the top pick tight ends so I think he's his class is really a little bit sort of too rich for the Patriots I don't really foresee them taking him unless he drops in the second round because people just don't want tight ends this is it we're looking at it from a Patriots perspective of they could do with a tight end it's's not the very, very top need as far as most people can send, but it's a high up need, you know, in that respect because of the sort of the contract that Hunter is on, runs out this year. The fact that Jonu hasn't been, as you said, you know, hasn't really been performing.

After this season, the 2023 season, sorry, the sort of the what's in the tight end cupboard, there isn't really anything you've got Matt Sokol on the practice squad if he you know if he comes back if he stays kind of thing so there's nothing really there we're going to have the cupboard is bare again and the last thing we want to do is go through that again so it's definitely a need when it comes to the Patriots but I haven't really looked myself at what other teams it's a really significant need obviously there's going to be teams out of the 32 there's other teams that need tight ends but how much and and we know that

quarterback is a big need this this season this offseason so how far is Michael Meyer going to drop potentially you know how far are these guys going to drop down the order really you mentioned um oh you didn't mention sorry is what i meant to say you didn't mention uh donnell washington now he was initially before the combine it was mentioned how kind of like he's really serious physical size serious physical physique but he's a bit more of like a big swing tackle that's what a lot of people looked at maybe he can't catch maybe he's a little bit slow the combine proved that he's not slow and he can actually catch with one hand twisted and you know he the one-handed catch that he made really kind of just it gives him that little bit of sparkle it really sort of polished him now i know the teams and scouts will realize that that's in a vacuum

and this is really something that the combine is there to help show fans what's there more than the actual teams, because they've looking at the tape. They've been looking at it for the past 12, 24, 36, 48 months on these guys sort of thing. So they don't need to see one single one-handed catch by this tight end. But at the combine, he really did perform well and he ran a for anybody that wants to do he ran a four six four and he's he is in the realms of haven't got his stats in under me i think he's six seven and three eights or something like that i haven't got

written down i do apologize he's really big anyway and for a really big guy, that's a, you know, that's a very good time. So questions on him sort of got answered at the combine. So he's another guy that maybe increased his draft stock as they say. So that's another guy that is he going earlier than initially anticipated. When I looked at the, the PFF draft guide, thanks Chudders, by the way, when I looked at the PFF draft guide, thanks Chudders by the way, when I looked at the PFF draft guide he was projected, or he's projected to go in

round three, now I know this is all sort of if, buts and can do nuts and they can only go on so much information and they only cover so many different individuals in the draft guide so it's a smaller stock of information but they've got him projected going in the third round I don't know if he's going to wait if they're going to wait that long if there's someone that's

really in need of a tight end he's he looks like the real deal as they like to say now I don't know if he's a Patriots real deal I don't know if I'm looking thinking he's going to go to the Patriots so that's a question for a little time anyway but um it's hard to reel off to you my top couple of tight ends because there were so many I know that before we did this at off air it was like oh you know give us give us your top couple it's really difficult because for somebody who loves tight ends as I do looking at all these looking at all this information looking at all these things listing off and finding out all this information looking at all these names listing off and finding out all this information I'm like oh he's good and oh but he ticks this this and this

box oh but he ticks this this and this box and oh but he's a really good guy he looks really good at the combine and oh he's really smooth and all of a sudden you've just got this list of names all these different all these different pieces of candy to choose from and oh you're telling me to choose one, and that's just not fair because there's too many, and they're all delicious and amazing. But yeah, sorry, calm it down. I do apologize.

You knew that this was going to get energetic because it's the I know, I know, I know, I know. And I apologize. No, I'm kidding. You know what? Let the enthusiasm flow. This is great. You guys all know this.

You guys all tuned into this folks because you knew you just did so okay so the list is quite significant there's as you mentioned the sort of the michael mayer the luke musgrave dalton kincaid who i was so sort of sad that he didn't we wasn't able to perform at the combine because i was really looking really hoping for the eyeball test on him donald washington as we've talked about took a craft he's been talked about sort of thing is because you know he's maybe more of the later round and that's what people are sort of looking for when it comes to the patriots the sort of third round maybe picks i'm hoping more the second round i'm hoping that they look maybe they get their corner back and then they get somebody in the sort the second round I'm hoping that they look maybe they get their corner back

and then they get somebody in the sort of second round when it comes to tight ends but I mean Brenton Strange another name that looks quite good at the combine Josh Weil of Cincinnati another kind of long guy he did a really smooth run one of my favorites Sam laporta oh he looks really powerful solid lower body a few people or i'll say a few people quite a few people there's a guy from old on old dominion sorry um zach kunz k-u-n-t-z very wary of saying that surname now tall guys six seven and three eights coming in at two five five so yeah i've got some heights written down i don't know why i haven't got them all written down and really athletic for his size too yeah and he tested something like um 10 out of 10 on the

oh there was a certain i saw it on social media there was a certain testing and he was compared and all of his stats were all in green and he's like kind of just ticks every single box it worries me that he kind of is lower on the list from sort of up until now and they're only taken into consideration sort of the the test results kind of thing to see how good he is so he looks really good but i'm i'm unsure on that guy I'm unsure if it's like um oh what did I say too good to be true that's that's kind of what I'm after at this point so but I mean they're literally Kyle Patterson of Navy uh sorry Air Force I apologize I'm so sorry all Air Force people all Navy people these guys just looked good and that is the thing that I

noticed this season over sort of the last couple of draft years that I've been able to look at is there's so many guys that look good. Now, some of the names that I've thrown out to you, you'll look at his tape and be like, Claire, what are you talking about? And it's like, I'm only going on what I saw at the combine. I haven't had a chance to look at the tape on most of these guys since the combine. And I won't have really seen their names before because as you guys know i don't really do college football so granted a lot of the names i've thrown at you you might look at and say i've seen him play college and he sucks and that's you're well within your rights and i wouldn't blame you but i'm literally just going

on what i saw at the combine how i saw the athletic ability of these guys and how much i enjoyed sitting down being able to watch all of this it was like yeah kid in a candy store when it comes to just tight-ended and just so many sweets there it was it was really brilliant so to be honest with you lower it's difficult to project who's sort of going to be lower round but my top one I want everybody to keep their fingers crossed because I really like the look of Sam Laporta. Now, I know he has a downside of I've seen some tape on him, you see, because I really liked the look of him. So I went and had a look at some tape on some highlights on the Internet.

Contested catches aren't his best thing. He seems to suffer when it comes to contested catches. Now, I'm not sure because I, as you all know, I've never played the game of football. If that's something that he can develop that he can grow that he can improve if that's the case then I really really want this kid because he looked really really good and he the benefit of being a Patriots fan is he's projected a second third round guy so he's projected in that area that it feels better to take a tight end when you're the patriot because it drops down the couple of needs we've ticked off the top needs and by the time we get to where we take a tight end we

took the ones we really needed sort of thing so it feels like it's doable and it's reasonable um that's a good one it's reasonable to take a tight end at that kind of time so yeah but I can't really give you just a couple of names because we've talked about all these and we've listed all these off there's just so much quality there this this year as we said as general Jeremiah said it's just it's just a beautiful delicious tight end class this year it really is I mean from top to bottom you have every type of tight end every type of need that this team could possibly want is there for the taking, whether it's in the early rounds or whether it's in the later rounds. Laporta is someone that really has caught my eye.

You mentioned Kraft. These are all prototypical Patriots, folks. But which one of Claire's eye catchers will actually catch on with the Patriots? Which one would make the prototypical ultimate New England Patriot? Better yet, folks, which one are likely to be New England Patriots? We're going to talk about that in just one moment when this tight-ended combined recap discussion here on the Locked On Patriots podcast continues. Patriots fans, the illustrious Claire,

classy Claire Cooper joins me here today. Columnist extraordinaire from Pat's propaganda recently celebrating her second anniversary with the site. Congratulations, Claire. And also don't forget the host of a Claire perspective, a Patriots podcast. One of the best listens out there.

If you haven't checked it out, definitely go ahead and do so. I also wish you a very happy International Day of the Woman Year on Locked On Patriots. Claire, we're talking your favorite subject. This is right in your wheelhouse and you've broken off the wisdom and counsel meter. This is way, way

beyond what I could have even hoped for. So you're already illuminating all of us with some great, great knowledge. But as prolific as this tight end class has a chance to be, and I do agree with Daniel Jeremiah, I think this is one of the best I've seen in quite some time. Ultimately, it's going to determine, or its success in New England is going to be determined by whether or not any of these tight ends find their way to New England and make good

New England Patriots. The last time there was a big tight end class for the New England Patriots, or supposedly a big tight end class for the New England Patriots, Patriots actually didn't dip into it at all. They go a little bit against the grain in a lot of these circumstances. But this one, I think there are several players that could tempt the Pats to maybe dip their toe into this pool. When you look at some of the players that you've scouted, that you've mentioned here today, or maybe some you haven't,

who do you think would make the best fit in New England for the Patriots, especially in a Bill O'Brien offense? See, this is why it was so tricky, because the class has such depth, and it feels like it's got the one thing that sort of really wanted to mention that i didn't get a chance to is how the the depth is here when it comes to titans versus the depth at the wide receiver class the wide receiver class this this year really is lacking in comparison to maybe the last two three years and i mean it's it's being compared to a seriously dynamic class that's been the last few years so when you're looking at a while when you're looking at a weapon as people like to say

ready commas for those that are listening when you're looking for that weapon I just think that this year when you look at the draft I know people don't want to but offenses can be kind of worked around a weapon that isn't a wide receiver you know the the top weapon as we keep saying can be a tight end now it's not usual it's not and it's not prolific throughout you know throughout the league because there aren't necessarily that many hits when it comes to top tight ends granted a lot of people are wary to take a tight end in the first round because this there seems to be so many busts over so many successes and most of the top tight ends that we've had or that we've seen didn't even come in the first round I think there's I don't even know

if I can mention any top tight ends in the league at the moment that actually were taken in the first round of the draft so that really sort of taints people's opinions when it comes to tight ends, I believe, anyway. But it's definitely the year sort of to take one, as we said, as Daniel Jeremiah said. And when it comes to the Patriots, I'm worried that the double-dipping with Asi Asi and Keane maybe have really sort of concerned people because yeah, when you, when you start to say the name Dalton Kincaid,

I think everybody starts to tense because it's like Dalton Keane. It's so very close. It's like, Oh, you're not going to say that. Are you? And with all due respect to Dalton Keane and you know, nothing against the guy, he just, he was injured and we just didn't really see much of him. So, but there's still that kind of, those two tight ends, and they even moved up to get one. Those two tight ends just didn't really work out.

And unfortunately, recently, Patriots have got tight endage that hasn't really worked out because you've got the likes of Devin Asiassi, Dalton Keane, Johnnie Smith, free agency. I know it's not a draft free agency, so their workings of tight endage hasn't been the most successful. So I know that people are looking at this draft class thinking, well, okay, yeah, there's some really good quality there, but we don't know if we want the Patriots to take a tight end. We want that wide receiver. No, listen, we want the tight end. We want this top tight end to work the offense round. And to that end, we'll have to refer to notes because there's just too

many names and there's too much information so i do apologize uh folks to you but i mean you've you've got individuals and i will go back to it because i know he is one of my favorites but if you go back to kind of um sam laporta he's going to be a weapon um you know on the seams flat roads crosses his speed and combined with his dynamicness in space that's a word that counts as a word we'll go with that we'll go with that we'll go with that but yeah you get my point folks obviously i can't read my own writing so it's really really tragic but you get my point you've got individuals that aren't necessarily just what you think of when you think of a tight end they're not just these guys that are here just to you know make blocks they're not these big guys

just to stand there sort of thing they are there for pass catching you know to get into the end zone and you know to really make an offense come alive and the thing is it it's difficult to pick even from a list like this for two reasons. Because the list is so prolific and because there's got different, there's got such skill sets and we've got such a, you know, there is still a variety of skill sets there. The tight end position we know is a really difficult position because it has to take into consideration so much of the offense. The other thing is not 100 100 sure how the offense is going to be run now yeah you can argue well you've got bill o'brien he's the same guy yeah fully appreciate that but he's coming back into the league he's coming back in from college he's coming back into the patriots after a sort of a sabbatical if you like with a different quarterback

now you'd say well he's still sort of the, he's still a football intelligent quarterback. He's not, you know, he's not necessarily a moving quarterback, that kind of thing, a running quarterback. But it's difficult to look at this list personally, if you like. There may be other people that have received much more experience and really pick out a sort of a shining example because things are so different in the league now things

are so different in the sport now sorry and the way that Bill O'Brien is going to run this offense could be so different to how we are used to seeing him run this offense of course there's going to be similarities of course you know there's going to still be the Patriots way he's still going to utilize it like that because he's got a football smart sort of quarterback who who isn't going to utilize it like that because he's got a football smart sort of quarterback who who isn't going to run you know that kind of thing in Mac Jones but I think it's difficult to really pinpoint who will work the best because of that I mean they picked up Jono Smith and I hate to keep using as an example but you can't help it he's an athletic dynamic oh he was, maybe is what I should say, but I mean that with no disrespect. You know, this athletic specimen of a tight end,

and people were convinced that they were going to go double tight ends, they were going to utilize them very similar to how Gronk and Hernandez were utilized, that kind of thing. And it fell so flat, it goes into the minus figures almost, just because it didn't work. So when you look at this list and you look at these tight ends and you look at the really dynamic guys, as much as you'd say, well, he might work because he's so dynamic, because he's so athletic,

that kind of fell flat in New England now. It fell flat before Bill O'Brien. So might it work now he's here it it's such a lot there's just so much to sort of take into account to take into consideration the one thing that I think that sort of really is the important thing is the skill set depth there at the draft and I just really hope that the Patriots hit on something this year because the last thing that we really want to look at is coming out of this draft class and they're not doing any dipping when it comes to tight endage maybe they pick up an undrafted free agent who ends up on the on the practice squad and then hunter henry runs out

his contract and you look back and you just think this was the best tight end class you were going to get in the last decade you know since gronk almost if you like i know that's a little bit more than a decade but since the you know since the coming of Gronk and stuff like that, there isn't such depth of quality. Sure, there might be a really good Titan next year. There might be two really good Titans next year. I know that I've been given a couple of names by Alex Bath, and Brock Bowers is one of them.

So, yeah, you're going to have a sprinkling next year of really good Titans. But are you really going to see the mass that you see this year of names? And I just think it's just important to take some. That's a good point. That is a very, very good point. I'm glad that you mentioned that because there are several targets that you can throw a dart at this year and actually hit the bullseye or not so much the bullseye,

but at least hit the mark in an area that's going to be able to allow you to improve your team i've been very vocal right from the beginning i think the patriots biggest need right now heading into the draft is on the offensive line at the tackle position i think the tackles that they want and free agency the guys that are worth the type of contract that they're worth are going to be priced out of the patriots range so what does that mean means you're are going to be priced out of the Patriots' range. So what does that mean? It means you're probably going to dip into the draft to be able to find adequate help. There's a deep class when it comes to offensive tackle.

So something to consider there. The other factors are, I think, that 1-1A or really 2-2A, I guess if you want to really get technical about the Patriots' needs, I would think a wide receiver and cornerback. So I'd have tight end pretty, you know, further down on the list because of what you have with Hunter Henry and with John O'Smith. But there are two factors that I think will factor into the decisions here. One is going to be what are the Patriots going to do with John O'Smith? We know that they're going to keep Hunter Henry in the fold this year. I think he's a perfect candidate for an extension. We'll get a little more financials on what that might look like later in the week, folks, so keep a sharp eye tuned to Lockdown Patriots for that info, but

we know that there is a leadership capability and also an on-field prowess and synergy with Mac Jones that keeps him here. We're not quite hearing the same thing when it comes to Jono Smith. And it makes me wonder if the Patriots see something in this draft class that would allow them to maybe take a tight end of the future, someone that could be a nice compliment to Hunter Henry in this offense, in a Bill O'Brien type offense, that could be interesting. I still think Jono is going to be the guy, but if the Patriots were to dip into it, two guys that you mentioned, you mentioned Sam Laporta.

I love all the things that you love about this kid. Adequate size, 6'4", 249, without any questions, 11.2 yards per catch. This kid is a tremendous route runner, folks. Go ahead, take a look at some of the film that he's got on him during his time with the Iowa Hawkeyes. You'll really, really fall in love with the way this kid catches the football. One of the most shorthanded pass catchers in the Big Ten in 2022. And that's not an easy conference to stand out in.

Sam LaPorta did that. I really like, the more I see of him, I really like Tucker Kraft. And not just because of his last name I think it'd be hilarious to have a craft catching passes in New England when there's a craft in the owner's box you know RKK is going to love that he will absolutely you know really really appreciate it but look there's a lot of projectionable skill set in Tucker Kraft that I think really makes him a good patriot run blocking duties able to do um you know his due diligence there but a very good pass catcher and someone that is versatile and

someone that is i believe tough and athletic enough to be a perfect compliment to hunter henry in the two men uh the two tight end personnel the 12 man personnel he's why just like hunter henry is but tip of the cap not of the gods to my good friend taylor kyle so i think had a very very good comparison he says he is hunter henry with a little bit more yak ability and a little more mean street as a blocker that type of similar skill set is what john o'smith was supposed to come in here with with more of the skill set as a move tight end in the red zone, this kid could come in and definitely do that. So those are my two picks out of this class. If the Patriots are going to make a dip into this, and it's going to be in the early rounds, or I should say

mid-rounds, these are two guys that I would definitely have my eye on if I'm going to win one Patriots. But again, Claire, you always bring the wisdom and counsel the way only you can, and especially when it comes to tight-endage prospects for the Patriots. I think you've given us all a lot to consider and a lot to watch, and I know this has been a blast for you this last week, getting a chance to get to know these players

as they head into the 2023 NFL Draft. Before I let you go today, any more parting wisdom and counsel for our adoring public when it comes to the tight endage class of 2023 i was just gonna add because obviously when i sat and watched the combine i made little notes just little random things that i sort of that i will test on guys so i went back quickly as you were talking and looked at what did i put for took a craft so i thought he sounds okay yeah he sounds all right he sounds like he's one of those and i put it's really funny because a lot of the time i'm just right nice nice nice run nice run i've got that tucker craft had solid legs i've got yeah solid lower body six four three and six four and three quarters and he did the um the

cone drill in just shy of seven seconds so yeah um quite good that's it i'm just trying to look for for what i actually put about him because i remember seeing him actually he he missed one catch in the gauntlet so that was a bit like he had nice tracking on the deep run over the shoulder catch i was i quite liked that one yeah um yeah nice long run look for the ball over the shoulders nice jumping catch see there's a lot of nice written next to his number because i i've got the numbers down more than the names but there's a lot of nice so yeah i could be on board if the if they announce the patriots take at whatever pick took a craft yeah i'm south Dakota State. I'm not adverse to that. To finish with you, the way that the draft,

the class is so deep. I'd love a double dip. Of course I would. Of course I would. It's such a silly thing. But I just mean as an objective Patriots fan, OK, semi-objective Patriots fan. I just like the double dip just because it's the worry of they're letting so much talent through their fingers and they really need to stock up. um i just like the double just because it's the worry of they're letting so much talent through their fingers and and they they really need to stock up the cupboard is so bare as i said after hunter henry finishes out his contract even if he's extended the cupboard feels so bare when you want two tight ends you need depth because you if you always want two tight ends on on the

field you need three tight ends because then you you need to switch one out and stuff like this so for me it definitely kind of needs i i feel it should be a double dip at tight end in the draft and i know that pretty much 99.3 percent of patriots fans who are listening to this are going oh my gosh this woman is crazy she's too into tight ends and yes folks i am but you all knew that so you can't be surprised and I will give you this parting one of okay don't double dip at the draft but maybe you could bring Ryan Izzo back as your Titan three Claire will not get off of the Ryan Izzo train he's gonna cut that out folks he'll probably cut that out so you oh no I'm not I'm leaving that in there no we're definitely leaving that in that is a part of the lexicon here on Locked on Patriots.

That is canon. It's in the can. It is ready, ready to go at a moment's notice. And we will bring that back out for our Greatest Hits episode coming out soon. So be on the lookout for that. But no, all kidding aside, I think you've made some great points and definitely given us all a lot to look at when it comes to this tight endage class. Folks, who do you believe out of this class might be prototypical patriots is it sam laporta is it tucker craft is it the earlier rounds is michael mayer the top gem of this class and will the patriots take a dip in there or will they look to the later rounds there's a lot of

options and claire has laid them out as well as anyone in the business. That is why she is the Empress of Tight Endage, and that's one of the big reasons why we love having her here each and every Wednesday. Folks, thank you so much for taking the time to make Locked On Patriots a daily part of your New England Patriots coverage and your first listen every day. Now that you've made us your first listen, please make your second listen, our good friends over at locked on nfl draft folks my colleagues damian parson and keith sanchez of the draft network continue to crush it all the information that you need check them out subscribe download follow wherever you get your

podcasts and also be sure to check out the podcasts of my illustrious co-host here each and every wednesday a clear perspective a Patriots podcast. She is the solo host of that show and does a tremendous job with some of the great guests all throughout sports media, not just in Patriots realm, but all over the NFL. So be sure to check that out wherever you get your podcasts. On behalf of the illustrious Claire, classy Claire Cooper, I'm Mike Debate. Continue to stay safe and stay well.

Be the change you wish to see in the world. Have a great day, everyone, and we'll see you again tomorrow right here on Lockdown Patriots.