The New England Patriots will be scouting possible picks in the upcoming NFL Draft while more than 100 prospects get ready to exhibit their skills at the 2024 Reese’s Senior Bowl in Mobile on Saturday. Senior personnel adviser Patrick Stewart, college scouting director Camren Williams, and director of player personnel Matt Groh were among the Pats scouting crew present during the three-day practice window earlier this week. Troy Brown, the wide receivers coach for the Patriots, was also selected to be the American team’s offensive coordinator. The Pats will make a deliberate effort to keep their eyes on certain defensive standouts in addition to the numerous offensive players who have received their fair share of attention throughout this week’s festivities. Though they finished 4-13, the Patriots defense performed at a shockingly high level in 2023. At the end of the season, New England was ranked fourth in run defense and seventh in overall defense in the NFL, giving up just 93.2 running yards per game and 3.3 yards per rush. In light of this, the following three potential Patriots should get the attention of team scouts this week.
The Patriots may need a versatile presence in their defensive backfield with safety Kyle Dugger scheduled to enter unrestricted free agency at the beginning of the NFL season. Bullard, a 5-11, 180-pound hybrid defensive back, earned 56 tackles, two interceptions, and five passes broken up in 2023 for the Georgia Bulldogs despite playing through an ankle injury sustained in September 2023. Bullard is a tough, physical player with great instincts and field awareness, but he may need to add some bulk to his admittedly thin frame to be effective in the NFL. QUINYON MITCHELL, CB, TOLEDO While Mitchell may be a bit out of the Patriots’ grasp (many recent projections have him projected as a late Day 1 pick), Mitchell is among the class’s most promising cornerback prospects; in 2023, he racked up 41 tackles, one interception, and eighteen passes defensed; a year earlier, he was among college football’s most productive ballhawks, recording 42 tackles, five interceptions, and nineteen passes defensed.
Carter, a fifth-year senior, saw 548 snaps in 12 games for the Blue Devils in 2023. He earned 19 tackles, 10 assists, and 15 stops as a defensive lineman. Known for his skill in run defense, Carter projects as a 3-tech defensive lineman. During his four years with the Blue Devils, he totaled 87 tackles — 21.5 of which were for a loss — and 11 sacks. At his best, Carter is a tough player, with the size (6-3, 305) to sustain the double team. Carter could see the field as a If chosen, run defender for the Pats in a reserve capacity. The 2024 Senior Bowl will start off on Saturday at Hancock Whitney Stadium at 1 p.m.
