At the NFL combine it seemed Alabama linebacker Rashaan Evans and the Patriots made some sense, especially when he compared himself to Dont'a Hightower.
Now, a month after the combine, it appears the Patriots are somewhat interested too, as they will host Evans for a pre-draft visit.
According to AL.com's Matt Zenitz, the Patriots are one of a few teams to have a pre-draft visit scheduled with the linebacker. Other teams include the Jaguars, Dolphins, Colts, Falcons and Saints, while he's already visited the Eagles and Cowboys.
"I actually saw how Dont’a Hightower came from the inside and they moved him to outside and he still had success at that," Evans said at the NFL combine. "So I think that was something I looked at as kind of a model for me if I would have played for them, I feel like I could do the same things that Dont’a does. And I think that’s good, too, because Dont’a’s really kind of paving the way for guys like me to show that Alabama players are as versatile as anybody else in the draft.”
As a senior he was elected captain and finished the year with 74 tackles, 13 for loss, and six sacks.
Evans is projected to be a first or second-round pick.