Indianapolis – The attention at the NFL Scouting Combine is turning to the athletic testing inside Lucas Oil Stadium, with the linebackers and defensive line kicking things off on Thursday.

On Wednesday, news broke that the Patriots reportedly granted NT Davon Godchaux permission to seek a trade. According to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport, the 30-year-old nose tackle is not a "scheme fit" for head coach Mike Vrabel's defense. Vrabel and defensive coordinator Terrell Williams could bring a more aggressive approach to the defensive front. Historically, the Pats have been an odd front (3-4) two-gapping defense that prioritized space-eaters like Godchaux on the defense line. Now, they could favor more explosive gap-shooting linemen who can make plays in the backfield.

During his appearance on Patriots Draft Countdown, Vrabel discussed Williams's tendency to coach an "aggressive" defensive line that can make plays behind the line of scrimmage.

"We want to play on their side of the line of scrimmage," Vrabel said. "There's different techniques. There's different things that we'll be able to do whether we play a three-down front, four-down front, or five-down front. We want to have a lot of different things at our disposal to teach the players, and it might be some new teaching and that's okay."

Along with Godchaux possibly being moved in a trade, Deatrich Wise Jr. and Daniel Ekuale are unrestricted free agents this offseason. The Patriots could be headed for a significant overhaul on the defensive line under Vrabel after ranking 29th in team pressure rate and 16th in run-stopping success rate in 2024.

Luckily, it's a tremendous defensive line class, with some estimating that 20-plus defensive linemen project as NFL starters, meaning there will be starting-caliber prospects into day three of the draft. On Wednesday, Patriots EVP of Player Personnel Eliot Wolf quickly named the defensive line one of the strongest position groups in this year's class.

Before we get into the notes from Thursday's workouts, top prospects Abdul Carter and Mason Graham didn't participate. For Carter, doctors discovered a stress reaction in his right foot in Indianapolis. There doesn't appear to be any long-term concern for Carter, but he'll need to hold off until his Pro Day to work out for teams. Graham, on the other hand, did the bench press in Indy but will do his full workout at his Pro Day.

There seems to be an uptick in top prospects dropping out of athletic testing and on-field drills at the combine this cycle. Projected first-rounders Jalon Walker (waiting until Pro Day), Mykel Williams (ankle), and Kenneth Grant (hamstring) also sat out workouts at the combine.

Here are seven takeaways from Thursday's defensive line and linebacker workouts in Indianapolis.

1. Patriots HC Mike Vrabel Joins NFL Network Broadcast at the Combine

During Thursday evening's broadcast, the Patriots head coach joined NFL Network's Rich Eisen and Daniel Jeremiah in the broadcast booth. Vrabel discussed his approach to the No. 4 overall pick and said that New England's brass met with Heisman Trophy winner Travis Hunter in Indy on Wednesday night. On the fourth overall pick, the Pats HC left the door open for New England to trade down in the first round.

"This is the highest I've picked and been a part of. Having a quarterback, we have to look at the premier players. Obviously, if somebody wants to come up for a player, and if we think it's a good value for us, I think we have to look at every option," Vrabel told NFL Network.

As a team with several holes to fill that doesn't need a quarterback, it makes sense that the Patriots would listen to trade offers for their top draft choice. The question is, would a team be enticed enough by a player on the board to make it worthwhile to trade down? That trade partner would most likely be a QB-needy team looking to swoop in for either Shadeur Sanders or Cam Ward. We'll see if a trade comes to fruition.

2. Mason Graham Measures in at 6-3, 296 Pounds with 32-inch Arms

Although he didn't participate in on-field workouts, we now have official measurements on a potential option for the Patriots with the No. 4 overall pick. Graham is on the smaller side for defensive tackles, ranking in the 26th percentile for weight (296 lbs) and the 12th percentile for arm length (32"). Graham's arms were expected to be shorter, but he was listed at 320 pounds on Michigan's website, so the 296-pound number is surprising.

After seeing him at the podium earlier in the week, Graham isn't a "first off the bus" guy who will impress with his physique. Instead, he's a trust the tape player, with one of the best film libraries of any prospect in this year's draft. That said, there are some instances on film where Graham's power and ability to absorb double teams on the interior D-Line.

You try not to overreact to press conferences and measurables because the tape is king. However, when picking No. 4 overall, you want the prospect to be as clean as possible. Graham's smaller frame is now a part of the conversation with his evaluation.

3. Assessing Georgia Hybrid LB Jalon Walker as a Patriots Target

Another possible first-round target for the Patriots is the do-it-all linebacker from Georgia, whose playing style is reminiscent of Pats from the past in the hybrid linebacker mold.

Walker has the skills to play all over the defensive front, telling reporters he feels like he's a three-position defender: off-ball linebacker, edge rusher, and nickel. The tape and movement skills are phenomenal. However, Walker is slightly undersized at 6-1, 243 pounds with 32-inch arms.

As an off-ball linebacker, Walker has okay size. But he's likely locked into a very situational pass-rusher role rather than playing as a full-time EDGE. There are shades of Jamie Collins or even Dont'a Hightower in Walker's game, and his polish at the podium and leadership are reminiscent of Hightower. But he's in a much smaller frame than those two Pats legends.

If we're going to factor Graham's size into his evaluation, we also have to note that Walker doesn't have great size for the position, either. Again, it's probably best to trust the tape with both players, but this information matters coming out of the combine.

4. Evaluating Texas A&M Edge Rusher Shemar Stewart as a First-Round Pats Target

Most evaluators expected Stewart to put on a show at the scouting combine that could lead to a Travon Walker-like rise into the top 10, and the Texas A&M product didn't disappoint.

NextGen Stats unveiled a new Combine IQ metric that measures athleticism. The metric is on a scale of 1-99, with a "good" score in the 75 to 89 range, while elite athletic testers register a score of 90-99. Stewart received an 84 score, with a 4.59-second 40-yard dash and a 40-inch vertical jump at 6-foot-5, 267 pounds. Stewart ranked second among edge rushers behind only Arkansas edge rusher Landon Jackson (86).

On tape, Stewart uses excellent first-step explosiveness while unlocking his length to convert speed to power. He has the hip flexibility to sink and stun blockers with his hands to push the pocket and set the edge of the defense. The knock on Stewart is that he only had 4.5 sacks in his final season with the Aggies, while he needs to expand his pass-rush toolbox to develop a go-to move and counters.

Stewart is the type of traits-based prospect that, with the right coaching, say from a former linebacker-turned-head coach, can blossom into an impact pass-rusher in the NFL. It still feels like a reach for the Patriots to select Stewart at No. 4 overall, but he's an obvious candidate if New England trades down into the 8-12 range in the first round.

5. Other Edge Rushers That Caught the Eye in Combine Workouts

Moving down the board, the next edge rusher prospect worth discussing is James Pearce Jr. out of Tennessee, who registered a 74 score in Combine IQ. Pearce didn't perform as well in the jumps, so his score was slightly lower, with only a 31-inch vertical to gauge explosiveness. However, the Tennessee product put down the fastest 40-yard dash among edge rushers with a 4.47-second 40-yard dash and a 1.56-second 10-yard split.

The Vols edge rusher is an interesting case. Some of the best draft pundits, like NFL Network's Daniel Jeremiah, don't have Pearce going in the first round. The main reasons are that Pearce has great explosiveness, fluidity and a sturdy frame (6-5, 245), but lacks the nuance and instincts to win with more than raw athleticism. Pearce has first-round talent and was once viewed as a top prospect in this class but was sliding down the board. Maybe a strong showing at the combine will have his stock pick up steam again.

A few other standouts from Thursday night's workouts were Arkansas's Landon Jackson, who led all edge rushers with an 86 Combine IQ score. Jackson also had a 40.5-inch vertical at 6-6, 264 pounds. Jackson's length to win with an effective long arm/bull rush and play strength and instincts to win as a run defender are standout traits on film. UCLA's Femi Oladejo continues to have a fantastic pre-draft process. Oladejo had signature moments at the Senior Bowl and was impressive during position drills. Lastly, Boston College EDGE Donovan Ezeiruaku posted the best agilities among the D-Line group, with a 6.94-second three-cone. That quickness and bend are all over Ezeiruaku's tape. The BC product has serious juice to rush off the edge.

6. Other Defensive Line Prospects That Caught the Eye in Combine Workouts

With the strength of the draft being the depth along the defensive line class, it's possible that the Patriots could wait until day two to address their needs in the trenches. For example, the Pats could select Hunter or LSU OT Will Campbell in the first round, knowing they can bolster their defensive line with plenty of talent available outside the first round.

The top testers among the DTs were all in the "good" range of Combine IQ's metric: Ty Robinson (82), Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins (81), Jared Harrison-Hunte (80), Darius Alexander (79), and CJ West (79). From an athletic testing and film perspective, Alexander is the most appealing player of the group. The Toledo product also had a strong showing at the Senior Bowl, flashing his penetrating style from the three-technique position with an effective rip move and swim counter. Alexander is also a stout run defender on film, playing with good balance and pad level.

As for the IDLs who stood out during positional drills, Oregon DT Derrick Harmon and Ohio State's Ty Hamilton were impressive. Both power-five D-Tackles were very efficient movers and showed good footwork and body control through the weave drill to be quick through the bags. Going slightly further down the board, Harmon's Oregon teammate, Jamaree Caldwell, isn't built to be a combine standout at 6-2, 332 pounds. But he was an average tester (62 score) and showed explosive movements during drill work to project him as a nimble nose tackle.

7. Planting My Flag on Alabama LB Jihaad Campbell, a Possible Second Round Trade-Up Candidate for the Patriots?

Lastly, the Patriots need playmakers in the front seven, and Campbell checks that box with an excellent playmaking gear on film that translated to the combine. Campbell ran a 4.52-second 40-yard dash, which shows up on film with outstanding range, coverage ability, and pursuit speed to chase down ball carriers and spy quarterbacks. Campbell also can line up on the edge and rush the quarterback. He was too low on consensus rankings before the combine, with some having him out of the first round. Campbell is a great modern-day linebacker prospect with the size (6-3, 235) and athleticism (82 Combine IQ score) to be a stud at the next level. Could the Pats pull off a trade up from No. 38 overall to select Campbell?

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