Mobile, Ala. – The Patriots offseason is in full swing, with a large contingent traveling to the college All-Star game circuit to continue evaluating the 2025 NFL Draft.
Although the personnel department begins the draft evaluation process during the fall season, the Senior Bowl and East-West Shrine Bowl (Dallas, TX) are where teams conduct initial interviews with prospects while assessing players vs. NFL-caliber competition. This week, it's a three-day practice circuit at Hancock Whitney Stadium, the home of the University of South Alabama, with Saturday's game wrapping up the draft showcase.
Leading the scouting staff in Mobile is head coach Mike Vrabel, EVP of Player Personnel Eliot Wolf, VP of Player Personnel Ryan Cowden, Director of Player Personnel Matt Groh, college scouting director Camren Williams, Vrabel's right-hand man John Streicher, and several Patriots national and area scouts. Coach Vrabel was the only coaching staff member in attendance, but it was still a noticeably larger group than in recent years. For example, Groh and Williams ran point for the Patriots at the Senior Bowl to kick off the 2024 draft cycle.
Later this week, we'll have more from the Patriots top brass in Mobile on Patriots.com. For now, let's focus on the prospects who caught the eye on the practice field on Tuesday. With the Patriots holding the No. 4 overall pick, it's worth noting that New England's first-round draft pick likely isn't at the Senior Bowl. Instead, the focus is more on players who could be targets with the Pats second-round pick, No. 38 overall, and beyond.
That said, there was quite a bit of buzz for the fringe first-round, early-second round offensive tackles in attendance in Mobile. Although the OT class isn't considered as strong at the top as last year's crop, Josh Conerly Jr. (Oregon) and Aireontae Ersery (Minnesota) headlined an intriguing second wave of offensive tackles on teams' radars. Ohio State's Josh Simmons is also interviewing with teams in Mobile. Simmons tore his patellar tendon last October, but otherwise, he would be a first-rounder.
Now that we've set the table, here are five takeaways from Tuesday's practice on day one at the Senior Bowl.
1. Assessing the First Practice for Conerly and Ersey in Mobile
As a tackle-needy team this offseason, the Patriots were paying close attention to the trenches with scouts at field level to take in offensive line drills throughout the day.
Starting with the top two Senior Bowl participants at offensive tackle, Conerly and Ersey each had their moments. At first glance, Ersery is tough to miss at nearly 6-foot-6, 339 pounds with 34-inch arms. His massive frame immediately catches the eye, as did his people-moving strength and ability to drop his anchor in pass protection. There were times when Ersery's high pads and wide hand carriage that showed up on tape were issues on Tuesday. But he's a monster of a blocker.
As for Conerly, he's an explosive mover out of his stance and plays with great bend/pad level to create leverage with his strikes. Conerly ended practice by discarding UCLA edge rusher Femi Oladejo easily in a showcase drill at the 50-yard line in front of the entire team. However, Michigan edge rusher Josiah Stewart beat Conerly in 1-on-1s with an inside rip move, which is concerning as Conerly's soft inside shoulder shows up on film.
Based on my first live viewing here, the two top tackles in Mobile were as advertised, with their strengths and weaknesses from the tape carrying over into practice, for better or worse.
2. Xavier Restrepo (Miami) and Jayden Higgins (Iowa St.) Emerge at Wide Receiver
The two best receivers on the field during either session were Restrepo and Higgins, who are both projected day-two selections in April's draft.
Restrepo was near the top of my Senior Bowl watch list because his game translates nicely to OC Josh McDaniels's offense. From a body type standpoint, Restrepo's game reminds me of Bills WR Khalil Shakir, with Restrepo coming in at a shade over 5-9, 200 pounds, while Shakir is 5-foot-11 and 196 pounds. They're both built like slot-receiving running backs, playing with a thicker frame and contact balance after the catch. Restrepo, like Shakir, also showcased separation talent in 1-on-1s.
As for Higgins, the Iowa State product is a fluid mover for a nearly 6-foot-4, 217-pound receiver. His game is reminiscent of Bengals WR Andrei Iosivas. Higgins can sink and cut at the top of the route like a smaller receiver with plus change of direction, but he also knows how to use his size at the catch point – a smooth athlete who makes it look easy.
To be frank, neither Restrepo nor Higgins projects as the No. 1 receiver that Patriots fans are clamoring for, but they could be nice complementary weapons. Restrepo, in particular, fits the mold of a high-volume slot receiver who moves the chains in McDaniels's offense.
3. Josiah Stewart (Michigan) and Shemar Stewart (Texas A&M) Stand Out at Edge Rusher
After ranking 30th in team pressure rate and last in sacks in 2024, the Patriots will be in the market for adding juice to the pass rush this offseason.
At the top of the draft, there's some love for Penn State product Abdul Carter, who could be off the board by pick No. 4. If the Pats don't land Carter in the first round, there are several top-100 edge rushers at this year's Senior Bowl. It's also worth noting that the Pats could have a more aggressive four-down linemen approach on defense.
With that in mind, the Michigan product's excellent first-step quickness was an issue for the tackles on the National squad. He beat Conerly clean with an inside move and won around the edge twice more in 1-on-1s and team drills. Stewart's lack of mass/length could be an issue for teams prioritizing setting the edge, but he certainly can get up the field.
Stewart, a top-32 prospect in this draft, made it look easy at times. Stewart got underneath LSU OT Emery Jones's pads for a nice bull rush in 1-on-1s and used speed-to-power to go through Jonah Savaiinaea (Arizona) to the QB in team. Stewart is likely to go in the back half of the first round if his strong week continues.
If the Patriots are serious about playing more aggressively on defense, Josiah Stewart is the type of prospect who could be on their board. He's built a little like Harold Landry.
4. Other Notables on Offense
- Alabama A&M OT Carson Vinson ended American practice with a quality rep to shut down an inside spin move by Shemar Stewart, and Vinson was amped up afterward. It was a great moment for a small-school prospect against a projected first-round pick. Vinson, a projected day-three pick, made an impression with that "win" to end practice.
- Miami TE Elijah Arroyo was a clear winner from day one. Arroyo could sneak into day two due to his receiving upside. At 6-4, 250 pounds, Arroyo is still developing as a run blocker but he's a natural hands catcher who showed he can separate against NFL-caliber coverage talent. Arroyo ran a nasty stick-nod route in 1-on-1s to dust a defender—one of the best reps from a receiver at any position on Tuesday.
- North Dakota State's G/C Grey Zabel will move inside at the NFL level after measuring in with 32 ¼" arms earlier in the week. However, Zabel looked outstanding at all three interior spots. His consistent balance, leverage, and strike power were a great watch, as were his movement skills to execute move blocks on the interior. I've got a draft crush forming with Zabel. He's the real deal. Unfortunately, the opposite rang true for fellow OT-turned-IOL Wyatt Milum. I thought Milum struggled with some quick losses as he tries to transition inside.
- NC State OT Anthony Belton and T/G Jalen Rivers (Miami) also showed well. Belton's heavy playing style might translate better at guard or right tackle, but he has more than enough length to stick at tackle, particularly right tackle in a downhill run scheme.
- Utah State WR Jalen Royals gave off some Jakobi Meyers vibes with his foot quickness and smooth transitions through the break point. Royals is a little squattier in his build than Meyers, but the route-running was reminiscent of the former Patriots wideout.
- At running back, SMU's Breshard Smith had the run of the day on an outside zone carry up the left sideline—an impressive display of burst. Devin Neal (Kansas) looked the part of a quick start-stop runner who might fit a gun-run scheme. Michigan RB Donovan Edwards also looked smooth on several reps as a receiving back out of the backfield.
5. Other Notables on Defense
- The American defensive line dominated 1-on-1 reps from this vantage point over the American O-Line. Walter Nolen (Ole Miss) was a practice wrecker, Deone Walker was a mammoth in the middle, and Barryn Sorrell (Texas) was a standout in a similar mold as Stewart (an undersized speed rusher off the edge).
- I loved the competition from UCF CB Mac McWilliams. He had an excellent interception in 1-on-1s, where he ran a better go route than the receiver and was fired up about it. During National practice, Bilhal Kone (Western Michigan) and Azareye'h Thomas (Florida St.) were very sticky in man coverage. Both measured over 6-1 and 185-plus pounds. In other words, enough size and length to play outside corner.
- Maryland S Dante Trader practiced well as a coverage safety guarding tight ends and running backs. He had a showcase rep that he won decisively covering LSU tight end Mason Taylor.
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
