Patriots coaches scouting potential first-round picks at Ohio State pro day
The New England Patriots picked two appropriate positional coaches to attend Ohio State’s pro day. The Patriots are sending their wide receivers and offensive line coaches to Wednesday’s pro day, per Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer. Troy Brown and Ross Douglas both are listed as wide receivers coaches on the coaching staff on New England’s website. […]
The New England Patriots picked two appropriate positional coaches to attend Ohio State’s pro day.
The Patriots are sending their wide receivers and offensive line coaches to Wednesday’s pro day, per Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer.
Troy Brown and Ross Douglas both are listed as wide receivers coaches on the coaching staff on New England’s website. Adrian Klemm was hired as offensive line coach this offseason.
Ohio State has potential first-round picks at both positions in wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba and offensive tackle Paris Johnson. Jr. Massive 6-foot-8, 374-pound offensive tackle Dawand Jones is a projected second-round pick. Center Luke Wypier, defensive end Zach Harrison, safety Ronnie Hickman and cornerback Cameron Brown also are among the Buckeyes’ top prospects this spring.
Both Smith-Njigba, a slot receiver, and Johnson, a left tackle, are projected to come off the board right around New England’s first-round pick at No. 14 overall. Despite signing wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster and tight end Mike Gesicki this offseason, New England could still use more pass-catching help, especially in 2024 and beyond. Smith-Njigba was one of the best and most productive wide receivers in college football as a sophomore in 2021 before hamstring injuries hampered his junior campaign. The Patriots seemingly have their starting tackles set in Trent Brown and Riley Reiff but need to find future left and right tackles. Johnson and Jones, a right tackle, could be good fits for those roles.
Ohio State’s quarterback, C.J. Stroud, is the current betting favorite to go No. 1 overall to the Carolina Panthers, who traded up for the selection with the Chicago Bears.
Featured image via Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
