The New England Patriots have added two free-agent receivers in Chris Hogan and Nate Washington this offseason, but that shouldn’t preclude them from also selecting a wideout in the 2016 NFL Draft.
The Patriots reportedly are showing interest in many receiver prospects, including some of the top players who could be available when New England is picking at 60th overall.
Georgia wide receiver Malcolm Mitchell has an official visit scheduled with the Patriots, a league source told NationalFootballPost.com’s Aaron Wilson. Mitchell currently projects as a fourth-rounder, though NESN.com projects he’ll be drafted higher. He has a rare combination of athleticism and SEC production. He’s among the Patriots’ best fits in the draft based on NFL Scouting Combine and pro day testing numbers.
Mitchell is 6 feet, 198 pounds and ran a 4.45-second 40-yard dash with a 36-inch vertical leap, 10-foot, 9-inch broad jump and 6.90-second three-cone at the NFL Scouting Combine.
Rutgers wide receiver Leonte Carroo, a projected third-rounder, has a visit scheduled with the Patriots, a league source told Wilson. Carroo ran a 4.50-second 40-yard dash at 6 feet, 211 pounds at the NFL Scouting Combine.
Tennessee receiver Marquez North, another fit based on measurables, has a private workout scheduled with the Patriots, a league source told Wilson. North currently is projected to go undrafted, but his athleticism, size and upside could change that. He’s 6-foot-3, 223 pounds and ran a 4.48-second 40-yard dash at the NFL Scouting Combine with a 6.90-second three-cone.
The Patriots also have a private workout scheduled with Toledo wideout Alonzo Russell, a league source told Wilson. Russell, who’s 6-foot-4, 206 pounds, is a prospective seventh-rounder, who caught 36 passes for 618 yards with five touchdowns last season.
The Patriots previously have been tied to Tulsa wideout Keyarris Garrett, a projected third- or fourth-round pick, Ohio State wide receivers Michael Thomas and Braxton Miller, UCLA receiver Devin Fuller, South Carolina wide receiver Pharoh Cooper and Ohio State wideout Jalin Marshall.
The Patriots also privately worked out Alabama cornerback Cyrus Jones on Thursday, a league source told Wilson.
Thumbnail photo via Dale Zanine/USA TODAY Sports Images
