Could Manti Te’o be a trade up target for the Patriots?
NEPD Editor: James Christensen
According to Alex Flanagan of NFL Network, the Patriots have reportedly expressed interest in trading up for Notre Dame linebacker Manti Te’o.
Wow – this should be interesting.
UPDATE: The Chargers have selected Manti Te’o – thus ending any speculation.
Where does Manti Te’o fall on day two of the 2013 NFL Mock Draft?
NEPD Staff Writer: Tony Santorsa
To little surprise, the New England Patriots traded their No. 29 overall pick and backed out of the first round in the 2013 NFL Draft.
The Patriots traded the 29th overall pick to the Minnesota Vikings for a second (52), third (83), fourth (102) and seventh round picks (229). According to the trade value chart, New England acquired 862 points while just giving up 640 points.
New England will now enter Friday with two picks in the second round (No. 52 and No. 59) and two picks in the third round (No. 83 and No. 91). One thing to take into consideration is that the Patriots might not have a top pick in the second round, but they now have enough ammo to trade up the board if they really like a prospect in the early end of the second round.
With that being said, let’s take a look at the 10 best remaining targets on defense.
All eyes were on Matt Barkley this week during his passing workout at USC’s pro day.
NEPD Staff Writer: Dan Hope
The pro day schedule is nearly complete, but the last full week of pro days was packed with major programs and star talent. The highest-profile pro day of them all, however, was USC’s pro day on Wednesday, where all eyes were on quarterback Matt Barkley, hoping to prove himself as a top-two quarterback in the 2013 draft class while also trying to prove his health following a shoulder injury that ended his senior season early.
Jarvis Jones is an explosive prospect… but is he over-valued?
NEPD Editor: James Christensen
As I mentioned earlier this week during my five under-valued prospects, we’ll be starting an exclusive Play The Draft league for readers of our network of sites this Monday.
Here are five prospects that I’d recommend staying away from putting on your Play The Draft team this season.
Matt Elam has a lot to prove at the 2013 NFL Scouting Combine.
NEPD Contributor: Peter Bukowski
Fans and sports media tend to get more excited about the NFL Combine than the average NFL team. Sure, teams still fall victim to so-called workout warriors (See: Poe, Dontari 2012), but the reality is most teams rely more heavily on what they see on the field than in this workouts.
What makes the combine great is players will surprise you. We knew Chris Johnson was fast at East Carolina, but all-time fast? His workout took him from a second round pick into the first with his explosiveness.
Workouts, whether outstanding or underwhelming, will usually make teams go back and look at the tape. You want the workout to underscore what you’re seeing on film.
The combine gives players a chance to show they have better speed than their film indicates, or perhaps they’ve gotten stronger and put on weight since they were playing.
While it isn’t the be all and end all, the combine does mean a lot at stake for the 300 or so college prospects who are lucky enough to attend. We took a look at prospects with the most to gain and the most to lose with their performance at the combine starting next week.
C.J. Mosley might have been the best player on the field. Unfortunately, he won’t be in the 2013 NFL Draft. (USA Today Sports Images)
NEPD Editor: Mike Loyko
The college football season wraps up tonight with one of the most highly anticipated National Championship games of the last decade. Not only does the game feature two of the most historic programs in NCAA history, but two of the most talented teams in terms of future NFL talent.
From Heisman finalist Manti Te’o to top ranked cornerback Dee Milliner, seemingly anywhere you look on the field there will be a player who will be in the NFL in the near future.
How did the top prospects fare in their final college football game?
Here are some scouting notes from the National Championship Game.
Is Manti Te’o a potential Patriot?
NEPD Editor: Mike Loyko
The 2012 College Football season wraps up with the highly anticipated match-up between two historic programs, the Notre Dame Fighting Irish and the Alabama Crimson Tide. In terms of draft talent there will be more NFL talent on the field tonight than during some Jaguars games (just kidding, kind of).
Both teams are loaded with prospects who will hear their names called early in the draft, whether it’s 2013 or years down the road. The Patriots will have their eyes on a number of players who they would like to bring to Foxboro next season. Here’s who they are.
2014 Patriots 7-Round Mock: Version 5.0 (and a Few Notes)
A Potential Move: Patriots Second-Year Wideout Mark Harrison
Mike Loyko’s 2014 NFL Draft Guide: Now Available
2014 NFL Draft Close-Up: Penn State Defensive Tackle DaQuan Jones
Edge of Development: Patriots Defensive End Michael Buchanan
2014 Edge Rushers: A Look at Michael Sam’s Game
2014 NFL Draft Close-Up: Oregon State Defensive End Scott Crichton
Making Sense of Patrick Chung’s Surprise Return to the Patriots
