6 Rings One-Off Wednesday: Kadlick & Hart's Top 5 Senior Bowl Prospects
The NFL’s prospect showcase bowls continues on this week and, given the importance of this upcoming offseason is for New England, we'll be keeping a close eye on all things NFL Draft here at WEEI all winter and spring long.
Earlier this week, with the help of WBUR’s Khari Thompson on the 6 Rings & Football Things podcast, we took a look at some players participating at the East-West Shrine Bowl. (You can read and watch that here).
Today? We’re headed to Mobile, Alabama for the Senior Bowl.
On this week’s One-Off Wednesday edition of 6 Rings, Andy Hart and myself each brought five prospects we’re watching this week down in ‘Bama from a Patriots perspective:
Here’s a closer look at my five:
QB Bo Nix, Oregon
Ducks quarterback Bo Nix took full advantage of his fifth college football season this year in Eugene, throwing for 4,508 yards and 45 touchdowns while finishing third in the Heisman Trophy voting behind only Jayden Daniels and Michael Penix Jr.
Like his once-PAC-12 rival in Penix, Nix is likely using this week to stand out among the second-tier of quarterbacks in the class behind Caleb Williams, Drake Maye, and Jayden Daniels. So far, he hasn’t done a great job, struggling with accuracy and more specifically deep-ball accuracy.
If the Patriots pass on a quarterback at No. 3 overall, perhaps there’s a chance Nix is in the mix at pick No. 34.
WR Roman Wilson, Michigan
A National Champion and now an NFL Draft prospect player to watch, Michigan’s Roman Wilson has shined through the first several days of Senior Bowl practice with his catch-radius on full display. Take a look:
Currently projected as a third-round pick according to NFL Mock Draft Database, the 6-foot-0, 192-pound pass catcher caught 48 passes for 789 yards and 12 touchdowns this season for the Wolverines as JJ McCarthy’s leading target. He’s an intriguing prospect to monitor, given New England’s need for talent in the wide receiver room.
WR Ladd McConkey, Georgia
While Wilson’s stock is certainly on the rise, a player who’s competing to be the wide receiver of the week is Georgia’s Ladd McConkey.
The 5-foot-11,187 pound pass catcher has been the star of 1-on-1’s through two days in mobile with his crisp route-running and ability to separate being one of the highlights of the showcase thus far.
McConkey caught just 30 passes for 478 yards and two touchodnws this season for the Bulldogs, but an NFL team is sure to fall in love with his game over the course of the next several months.
OT Patrick Paul, Houston
Houston Cougars tackle Patrick Paul stands at a whopping 6-foot-7, 333 pounds and is a brick wall along the offensive line.
He’s an elite pass protector, an above average run blocker, and according to NFLDraftBuzz.com, allowed just six hurries, one QB hit, and zero sacks at left tackle last season.
The Patriots have a major hole at tackle with Trent Brown likely not returning and Mike Onwenu also potentially testing the market. Paul could fill it tremendously.
DE Laiatu Latu, UCLA
While New England’s three biggest needs this offseason are at quarterback, wide receiver, and offensive line, you still can’t completely ignore the defense in the draft.
Under now-defensive coordinator DeMarcus Covington, the Patriots’ defensive front was arguably their best position group in 2023 with guys like Christian Barmore, Deatrich Wise Jr., Josh Uche, Mack Wilson Sr., and Anfernee Jennings at the helm.
With Uche, Wilson, and Jennings on their way to free agency and Matthew Judon heading into a contract year off of a torn biceps injury, New England may need to re-load for 2024.
An option? UCLA’s Laiatu Latu, who’s been ripping it up at the Senior Bowl this week. Check it out:
The 6-foot-5, 265-pound defensive end tallied 13 sacks and two interceptions in 2023 and 10.5 sacks the season before.
Make sure to follow Mike on Twitter @mikekadlick, and follow @WEEI for the latest up-to-date Patriots and Boston sports news!
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