Foxboro, MA—-As the National Football League Draft approaches, teams are deep in the process of gathering and analyzing information. Draft boards aren’t built overnight—they’re the result of years of scouting, evaluations, and constant updates leading up to draft day.
One key piece of that process is pre-draft interaction. From all-star events and the NFL Combine to pro days, private workouts, and official visits, teams have multiple opportunities to meet and evaluate prospects. While most of these interactions remain private, some become public—and they can offer clues about a team’s potential direction.
For the New England Patriots, a small group of prospects has drawn repeated attention. Out of more than 140 known meetings, 22 players have had multiple confirmed interactions with the organization, suggesting a higher level of interest.
Positions of focus
A closer look at that group reveals clear trends in where New England is focusing its attention:
Offensive line
The Patriots have done extensive work on offensive linemen, including:
Greg Crippen (Michigan)
Jeremiah Wright (Auburn)
Max Iheanachor (Arizona State)
This suggests a strong emphasis on improving protection and building depth up front.
Skill positions
New England has also evaluated several offensive playmakers:
Mike Washington Jr. (Arkansas, RB)
Lewis Bond (Boston College, WR)
Eli Raridon (Notre Dame, TE)
The inclusion of multiple tight ends hints at a possible return to heavier personnel groupings.
Defensive front
On defense, the Patriots have shown interest in reinforcing the line and edge:
Tyler Onyedim (Texas A&M, DT)
Zion Young (Missouri, EDGE)
Keyron Crawford (Auburn, EDGE)
Secondary
The defensive backfield is another clear area of evaluation:
Andre Fuller (Toledo, CB)
Karon Prunty (Wake Forest, CB)
Avery Smith (Toledo, CB)
What it means
While pre-draft meetings don’t guarantee selections, multiple interactions often indicate:
Strong interest
Scheme fit evaluation
Character and background checks
Teams like the Patriots use these touchpoints to confirm what they see on film and determine how a player fits within their system.
Bottom line
The draft remains unpredictable, and teams guard their intentions closely. Still, patterns in pre-draft meetings can provide valuable insight. In New England’s case, the focus appears to be on building depth in the trenches, adding versatile playmakers, and strengthening the secondary—all areas that could shape their strategy when draft day arrives.
