INDIANAPOLIS — The New England Patriots are doing their due diligence on at least two top tight ends at the NFL Scouting Combine.
The Patriots are allowed 60 formal interviews this week at the combine, and they will meet with Minnesota’s Maxx Williams and Florida State’s Nick O’Leary on Wednesday night. Between the combine, Senior Bowl, East-West Shrine Game, pro days and individual workouts, the Patriots will meet with nearly every prospect in the 2015 NFL draft at some point.
Williams entered the draft after his redshirt sophomore season, and he caught 61 passes for 986 yards with 13 touchdowns in two seasons with the Gophers. At 6-foot-4, 249 pounds, Williams projects as a flex tight end in the NFL.
O’Leary is legendary golfer Jack Nicklaus’ grandson. At 6-foot-3, 252 pounds, he also projects in the flex role, which relies less heavily on run blocking. O’Leary caught 48 passes for 618 yards with six touchdowns in 2014, and he caught 33 passes for 557 yards with seven touchdowns in 2013. He is good friends with Patriots center and 2014 fourth-round draft pick Bryan Stork.
Check out the rest of the offensive linemen, tight ends and special-teamers that the Patriots have or intend to meet with this week:
Arizona State guard Jamil Douglas (informal meeting Tuesday night)
Duke offensive tackle Takoby Cofield
Louisville offensive tackle Jamon Brown
Florida State guard Bobby Hart (individual meeting with ex-Patriots O-line coach Dante Scarnecchia)
Florida State guard Tre Jackson (individual meeting with Scarnecchia)
Hobart guard Ali Marpet
Duke guard Laken Tomlinson
Notre Dame kicker Kyle Brindza (met with Patriots special teams coach Joe Judge and former special teams coach Scott O’Brien)
Thumbnail photo via Jim Dedmon/USA TODAY Sports Images
