With the Patriots reluctant to spend on receivers in free agency, they may be looking towards the draft to upgrade their underwhelming group of pass-catchers.
They’ve spent the last couple of weeks scouting two receiving prospects projected to be second-round selections, Boston.com’s Khari Thompson notes. Patriots assistant Ross Douglas attended Penn State wideout Jahan Dotson’s workout Thursday, and even helped run drills. Douglas’ hands-on approach with Dotson could mean the Patriots are zeroing in on him.
Douglas also took a close look last week at Georgia receiver George Pickens. Bill Belichick and Matt Patricia attended Georgia’s Pro Day as well.
With a deep selection of wideouts on the board, the Patriots may wait until the second round to add to their receiving corps. Dotson was highly productive in college, catching 91 passes for 1,182 yards and 12 touchdowns as a season.
Pickens, meanwhile, only played in four games after suffering a torn ACL last March. He caught five passes for 107 yards.
The Patriots could target a receiver at No. 21 overall, but Belichick has only drafted one wideout in the first round: N’Keal Harry. That has not worked out so well.
Meanwhile, we found out Thursday another veteran receiver, Marquez Valdes-Scantling, was too rich for the Patriots’ blood. He inked a three-year, $30 million deal with the Chiefs.
It seems as if Belichick intends to use the draft as his primary vehicle to improve New England’s weaponry. Maybe Dotson or Pickens will be the first dependable wideout he’s drafted since Deion Branch … in 2002.
