The New England Patriots have done their homework on first-round wide receivers in the 2014 NFL draft.
Oregon State wide receiver Brandin Cooks told NFL Network on Friday night that the Patriots visited and worked him out. Cooks, who said he can be better than DeSean Jackson, is expected to be selected in the first round of May’s NFL draft.
The Patriots held combine interviews with projected first-round wideouts LSU’s Odell Beckham and USC’s Marqise Lee. They worked out Florida State’s Kelvin Benjamin and Texas A&M’s Mike Evans.
It’s possible that the Patriots would have to trade up for any of those five receivers. It was assumed that the Patriots were set at the position after signing Brandon LaFell and re-signing Julian Edelman in free agency after adding second-rounder Aaron Dobson and fourth-round receiver Josh Boyce in last year’s draft. The Patriots also signed Kenbrell Thompkins as an undrafted free agent after the 2013 NFL draft.
The Patriots also were in Utah on Thursday working out BYU outside linebacker Kyle Van Noy.
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Van Noy is projected as a late first-round or early second-round prospect. He had 13 sacks as a junior and four as a senior with the Cougars.
The Patriots hosted Colorado State tight end Crockett Gillmore on a pre-draft visit earlier in the week, Draft Insider’s Tony Pauline reported. Gillmore had 47 catches for 577 yards and two touchdowns in 2013.
