Pats Pulpit
Senior Bowl practices begin Tuesday.
The draft starts in Mobile. And here we are.
The New England Patriots head to the Senior Bowl with the fourth overall pick in this year’s NFL Draft. While the options they likely will consider atop the draft will not be in attendance, New England will get a first-hand look at many draft eligible prospects who project to come off the board throughout day two.
The Senior Bowl has been of heavy interest for the Patriots in recent years. Even with Eliot Wolf leading the personnel department last year, New England selected four players who appeared in the all-star game: Javon Baker, Jaheim Bell, Joe Milton, and Layden Robinson.
Mike Vrabel, who is expected to be in attendance this week, has also not been shy of picking players from Mobile during his time with the Titans. This year, that focus will likely be in the trenches — something Vrabel has made clear since taking over.
As the Senior Bowl is set to begin with practices running Tuesday through Thursday before the all-star game kicks off Saturday, let’s start by taking a look at prospects to watch at the Patriots biggest positions of need in the trenches and at wide receiver.
The biggest need on the Patriots current roster remains the offensive tackle position. Unfortunately, top prospects Will Campbell and Kelvin Banks will not be in Mobile to uncover more information about both players potentially being guards. If New England goes elsewhere with their top pick, this is an intriguing group of tackles currently projected to go in the back half of round one or early in round two.
Josh Conerly Jr. (Oregon): Perhaps the top tackle attending Mobile, Conerly saw his draft stock rise after an impressive back half of the season. In total, Conerly allowed just one sack and nine pressures — ending his collegiate career with just two allowed sacks to his name. The true junior, who won’t be 22 until November, is a good athlete at the position and has the physical tools/frame of a starting NFL tackle.
Aireontae Ersery (Minnesota): At 6-foot-5, 339 pounds, Ersery has all the power and play strength needed at the left tackle spot. Despite his size, Ersery has some explosiveness to his game — with his 10-yard split clocking in as a program record for lineman at Minnesota — but lacks top level foot speed. The flashes are there as he allowed just one sack, but Ersery was not as consistent in pass protection which makes him someone to watch during 1-on-1s in Mobile.
Armand Membou (Missouri): If not Conerly, the top tackle in the Senior Bowl likely goes to Membou. With 30 career starts at right tackle, Membou did not allow a sack this season behind his physical skillset. Some see a transition inside to guard at the next level, but the 20-year old should absolutely get a chance to stick at tackle (34-inch arms) where he still could be an impact...
