Report: Patriots Expected To Target Receiver Early In 2015 NFL Draft

The New England Patriots might have shown their hand based on attendance at college pro days.

The Patriots are expected to select a wide receiver early in the 2015 NFL draft because “their presence at pro days that featured receiver prospects was clearly noticed by their counterparts around the league,” CBS Sports’ Jason La Canfora reported Friday. Belichick was in attendance at “several” of these pro days, according to La Canfora, and has been very “hands-on” in his approach.

Belichick has been spotted scouting Auburn, Georgia, Central Florida and Maryland‘s pro days, and each school has an appealing receiver prospect. Auburn’s Sammie Coates, Georgia’s Chris Conley and Central Florida’s Breshad Perriman are big, speedy wideouts, while Maryland’s Stefon Diggs is smaller but more versatile.

Belichick “grilled” and put the receivers he worked out “on the board,” several college coaches told La Canfora. Patriots director of player personnel Nick Caserio also attended many of these pro days.

La Canfora mentions Perriman, Louisville’s DeVante Parker and Oklahoma’s Dorial Green-Beckham as possibilities for the Patriots. They likely would have to move up in the draft to take Parker.

The Patriots are bringing back starting receivers Julian Edelman, Brandon LaFell and Danny Amendola, but their depth is shallow at the position, with Brandon Gibson, Brian Tyms and Aaron Dobson as the top reserves. Amendola is unlikely to be back in 2016, when his salary-cap hit is nearly $7 million.

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