Patriots spending significant time with top wide receiver prospect
The New England Patriots will have an award-winning visitor next week. USC wide receiver Jordan Addison said Thursday on the “Rich Eisen Show” that his first pre-draft visit is lined up with the Patriots. Teams can host up to 30 prospects on visits. This comes on the heels of Addison talking to New England scouts […]
The New England Patriots will have an award-winning visitor next week.
USC wide receiver Jordan Addison said Thursday on the “Rich Eisen Show” that his first pre-draft visit is lined up with the Patriots. Teams can host up to 30 prospects on visits.
This comes on the heels of Addison talking to New England scouts as part of a formal interview at the NFL Scouting Combine. Patriots head coach Bill Belichick was not present at the combine, so Addison's visit should be his first time meeting the eight-time Super Bowl champion.
Addison, the 2021 Fred Biletnikoff Award winner and a 2021 Consensus All-American, is one of the top wide receivers in the 2023 NFL Draft. He’s a projected first-round pick, and the Patriots own the 14th overall pick. They’ve also shown interest in Ohio State wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba, TCU wide receiver Quentin Johnston and Boston College wide receiver Zay Flowers. New England added free-agent wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster this offseason but lost Jakobi Meyers and Nelson Agholor. Smith-Schuster, DeVante Parker, Kendrick Bourne, Tyquan Thornton, Lynn Bowden, Tre Nixon and Raleigh Webb currently make up New England’s wide receiver corps. Patriots quarterback Mac Jones could use one more playmaker in his offense, which also features running back Rhamondre Stevenson and tight ends Hunter Henry and Mike Gesicki.
Addison caught 100 passes for 1,593 yards with 17 receiving touchdowns and one rushing touchdown in 2021 with Pittsburgh. He transferred to USC and caught 59 passes for 875 yards with eight touchdowns as a junior before declaring for the draft.
The 21-year-old wide receiver ran a 4.49-second 40-yard dash at 5-foot-11, 173 pounds at the NFL Scouting Combine. He registered a 34-inch vertical leap and 10-feet, 2-inch broad jump at the even then ran a 4.19-second short shuttle and 7.05-second 3-cone at his pro day this month.
Addison primarily lined up in the slot during his time at Pittsburgh. That switched at USC as he spent most of his time split out wide.
NFL teams like Addison’s versatility and his production in two different systems with two different quarterbacks.
The Patriots have used just one first-round pick on a wide receiver during Belichick's tenure as a head coach, which has lasted since 2000, and that was on Arizona State wide receiver N'Keal Harry. Harry was eventually traded to the Chicago Bears for a seventh-round pick after flaming out in New England. He's currently a free agent.
New England used a second-round pick on Thornton last year. Thornton should have a chance to compete for a starting role this season.
