The Patriots may be looking to a Hawaii native to bring speed and quickness to their defense.
According to ESPN.com, the Pats hosted the University of Washington's Daniel Te'o-Nesheim on a pre-draft visit to Foxboro.
The projected mid-round draft pick played defensive end at Washington, but scouts see Te'o-Nesheim as a combination defensive end-outside linebacker in the NFL.
The 6-foot-3, 263-pound Te'o-Nesheim could help the Patriots pass rush. He showed an ability to get to the quarterback in college, recording 30 sacks over four seasons. He also showed terrific quickness at this year’s combine, running a 4.75 in the 40-yard dash and posting a short-shuttle time of 4.18.
Not surprisingly, several NFL teams appear interested in Te'o-Nesheim. In addition to visiting New England, he has spent time with the Philadelphia Eagles and has a meeting scheduled with the Oakland Raiders.
Bill Belichick has plenty of options to improve his defense in the draft, and the team has worked out Indiana linebacker Matt Mayberry and will work out Syracuse defensive tackle Arthur Jones this week.
