The New England Patriots have slowed their free-agent spending, but they remain hot on the scouting trail.
The Patriots don’t have a first-round pick in the 2016 NFL Draft, but they have 11 total selections, including four in the second and third rounds combined.
Here’s a list of players reportedly connected to the Patriots through pro days, meetings and private workouts:
USC LB/S Su’a Cravens: meeting, via National Football Post
— Cravens is projected as a second round pick in the 2016 NFL Draft. He ran a 4.65-second 40-yard dash with a 30.5-inch vertical leap at his pro day. The 6-foot-1, 226-pound hybrid defender only recorded a 27.5-inch vertical leap at the NFL Scouting Combine. He had 10.5 sacks and 32 tackles for loss in his final two seasons with the Trojans. He intercepted nine passes with 16 passes defended during his three-year college career.
Cravens also met with the Patriots at the NFL Scouting Combine.
Georgia OLB Jordan Jenkins: workout, via The Telegraph
— Jenkins projects as either an outside linebacker or defensive end in the NFL and is expected to be drafted in the third or fourth round. He ran a 4.77-second 40-yard dash at his pro day at 6-foot-3, 257 pounds. He also had a 38-inch vertical leap, 10-foot, 3-inch broad jump, 4.32-second short shuttle and 7.41-second 3-cone.
UTSA TE David Morgan: workout, via Time Warner Cable News
— Morgan, a projected sixth rounder, ran a 4.85-second 40-yard dash at his pro day, improving upon his 5.02-second 40-yard dash at the NFL Scouting Combine.
Michigan State DT Joel Heath: workout, via ESPN.com
— Heath had a stellar workout at the combine, with a 9-foot, 5-inch broad jump and 7.44-second 3-cone. He’s a projected seventh rounder.
Michigan State DT Lawrence Thomas: workout, via ESPN.com
— Thomas is another projected seventh rounder out of Michigan State. He ran a 7.55-second 3-cone at 294 pounds.
Notre Dame S Elijah Shumate: workout, via Houston Chronicle
— Shumate is a projected seventh rounder with great size for a strong safety at 6 feet, 216 pounds.
North Carolina Central CB Ryan Smith: workout, via National Football Post
— The small-school corner is another projected seventh rounder. He had a fantastic combine with a 4.47-second 40-yard dash, 6.88-second 3-cone, 4.09-second short shuttle, 10-foot, 2-inch broad jump and 36-inch vertical leap.
Hampton OT Torian White: interest, via DraftInsider.net
— White could be a late-round pick. He’s a transfer from UCLA.
Michigan LB Desmond Morgan: meeting, via DraftInsider.net
—Â Morgan had 300 tackles and 3.5 sacks in his Michigan career.
Georgia DE Sterling Bailey: meeting with Patriots head coach Bill Belichick and defensive coordinator Matt Patricia, via DraftInsider.net
—Â Bailey ran a 4.90-second 40-yard dash with a 7.39-second 3-cone at 6-foot-4, 281 pounds at his pro day.
Cal TE/WR Stephen Anderson: workout, via Houston Chronicle
—Â Anderson is a hybrid player at 6-foot-2, 230 pounds. He ran a 6.95-second 3-cone with a 4.13-second short shuttle at his pro day. He clocked a 4.60-second 40-yard dash.
UCLA WR Devin Fuller: workout, via National Football Post
—Â Fuller isn’t projected to be drafted, but he helped his stock with a 4.39-second 40-yard dash at 6 feet, 194 pounds.
Thumbnail photo via Dale Zanine/USA TODAY Sports Images
