INDIANAPOLIS - The wide receivers, running backs and quarterbacks took to the podiums at the NFL Scouting Combine on Friday, each representing a different level of need for the Patriots.

With Drake Maye and Joe Milton both in the fold the need at quarterback is low, as the Pats have two promising young players to work with. Colorado's Shedeur Sanders was the highlight of Friday's media session, exuding the kind of confidence you'd expect from a son of Deion Sanders.

"If you're not trying to change the franchise or culture, don't get me," Sanders told the gathered audience. The Patriots should hope Sanders entices a team to move up to select him in the top three picks, a move that could push his teammate Travis Hunter or Penn State's Abdul Carter into the fourth-pick range, but that might be wishful thinking.

All signs point toward Miami's Cam Ward and Sanders being the first two quarterbacks selected in April, with Ward a real possibility to go first overall to the Titans. But it's something the former Hurricane isn't too worried about.

"It really don't mean nothing," Ward said of going first overall. "A draft (slot) will never mean anything. At the end of the day, you've got to show what you can prove each and every Sunday. You can't just do it one year and show up the next. You've got to do different types of stuff on the field."

The receiver position is more of a question mark for New England, even with both Eliot Wolf and head coach Mike Vrabel expressing hope that second-year receivers Ja'Lynn Polk and Javon Baker could take significant steps forward after disappointing rookie seasons. That could be a big help for what is shaping up to be a down year for the receiving class.

But that hasn't stopped the Patriots from doing their due diligence by meeting with a number of prospects who confirmed they had met with New England's staff, including Miami's Xavier Restrepo, Arizona State's Tet McMillan, Washington State's Kyle Williams and Iowa State's Jaylin Noel, among others.

Restrepo told Patriots.com's Evan Lazar that he's a "big fan" of Patriots great Julian Edelman and had put in plenty of study on Wes Welker and how he navigated through traffic on the second level. A stout and polished slot receiver, Restrepo could make sense sometime on the draft's second day.

Running back wouldn't appear to be an overwhelming need for the Pats with Rhamondre Stevenson and Antonio Gibson both under contract for 2025, but this class might be too deep to pass up. While first-round stud Ashton Jeanty out of Boise State leads the way, there are plenty of other intriguing options who should be available in the draft's later rounds.

Drake Maye's former college teammate Omarion Hampton said he'd love to reunite with his quarterback in New England, while Rutgers' Kyle Monangai and UCF's RJ Harvey were also among those to confirm meeting with the Pats brass in Indy.

The position appears ripe for a second or third day developmental selection, one who the team might expect to get contributions from sooner than later.

Deuce's Dime Package

As is always the case, there were plenty of rumors flying as the NFL congregated in Indiana for a full week. Here are my Patriots takeaways from the week in Indy.

1. The consensus deepest positions in this year's draft are the defensive linemen, running backs and tight ends. The defensive linemen are the most intriguing to me for the Patriots. There's every variety they could possibly ask for, no matter what kind of defensive scheme Vrabel and defensive coordinator Terrell Williams plan on running. Georgia's Mykel Williams didn't do any on-field drills, and that will probably keep his stock hovering in the middle of the first round, but he has so much potential I can't help but wonder if he might sneak into the top-10, perhaps even all the way to fourth overall. Williams would be an easy fit as a hand-down defensive end who could stand up a bit as needed, somewhat like when Willie McGinest came out in the 1990's and settled into an "elephant" role along the line of scrimmage for a decade.
2. Williams is probably more likely to go in between the Patriots first and second pick unless they trade down but there are plenty of other players who offer a lot of upside and can be had later on. Texas A&M's Nic Scourton plays with his hair on fire, while Ohio State's Jack Sawyer is big and tough with leadership traits. The challenge will be developing these players into all-around contributors. As we get into the later rounds, all seem to be either stout run defenders or lighter pass rush specialists. The guys who are both will all go in the first round. Some projection will be required once we get past the top 50.
3. Reports this week that Davon Godchaux had been granted permission to seek a trade adds further uncertainty along the defensive front after Vrabel and Wolf both relayed that Christian Barmore is still working through his blood clot issues that cost him most of 2024. A quick look at the offseason depth chart behind Godchaux and Barmore shows Jeremiah Pharms, Eric Johnson, Jaquelin Roy and Marcus Harris. Pharms had a solid season in 2024 but he and the others have all been primarily practice squad players over the course of their careers. It illustrates how much work has to be done along the d-line. I expect the Pats to be aggressive both in free agency and the draft, targeting both interior defensive tackles as well as edge players.
4. Abdul Carter popped up with a "stress reaction" in his foot that will hold him out of workouts, but it shouldn't make much of an impact on his draft status and is unlikely to push him down anyone's draft board. The injury historically has little-to-no impact on long-term production according to sources. Not going to lie, when the news first came out I hoped it might be enough to scare a team off of his ridiculous talent. Unfortunately, Carter still seems like the favorite to go first overall.
5. It might not be a great wide receiver class but I still believe the Patriots can get a player they need this year by taking a shot on one of the speedy mid-rounders. Texas' Isaiah Bond, who said he's aiming to break the combine 40-yard dash record is one option, as are the previously mentioned Jaylin Noel and Kyle Williams. There might not be a future "number one" in that range, but if Josh McDaniels wants to sprinkle in a downfield threat who could complement their current core, there are some players with that potential. The team's two third-round picks look particularly appealing when it comes to this kind of swing.
6. I'd say the same thing for the tight end and running back groups. Again, not huge positions of immediate need but late on Friday of the draft, there should still be some needle movers available who could add quality depth and have opportunities to make immediate contributions. Mason Taylor of LSU and Elijah Arroyo of Miami are two players who could fit that bill.
7. Off-the-ball linebacker is an under-the-radar position to consider as well. While it's impossible to not imagine the impact that versatile Georgia product Jalon Walker could have, the team might have to go the developmental route later on in the draft. Boston College's Donovan Ezeiruaku had an outstanding on-field testing session, showing elite athleticism. He's more of an edge player on the second level, and his stock is probably rising to first-round status now, but if he falls to the early second round, he could make a lot of sense. Jeffrey Bassa from Oregon could be an off-the-ball player who fits in well as a Day Two selection.
8. Expect the free agency options to continue to thin out over the next week as teams look to lock up their own players before the arrival of a sub-par free agency class. But no matter who's left on the open market , all signs are pointing toward New England prioritizing the offensive and defensive lines with as many proven players as they can get.
9. Will Campbell's arm length will be a big topic of conversation this weekend, but it seems like more and more teams and analysts view him as a tackle no matter what the number comes in at. If Carter and Hunter are gone, it seems to me at this point (admittedly before free agency) that Campbell is the player that would make the most sense for the Patriots. He has the size and feet to play left tackle, not to mention the attitude. Campbell would provide a needed boost both on and off the field.
10. We're wrapping up in Indy but the offseason is just about to kick into gear. This week, expect full free agency positional previews as well as a free agency preview video. We're just over a week from when things will start to get crazy with the tampering period opening on March 10 and then the official start of the 2025 league year on March 12. Strap in, it should be a fun couple months and we'll have you covered from start to finish at Patriots.com.

DISCLAIMER: The views and thoughts expressed in this article are those of the writer and don't necessarily reflect those of the organization. Read Full Disclaimer