The Patriots are set to pick 14th overall in the NFL Draft later in April, a position which will give them a number of options to choose from on both sides of the ball. They have recently met with one of the top pass-rushing and pass-catching prospects in the 2023 class.
New England hosted Georgia defensive end Nolan Smith earlier this week, as detailed by Aaron Wilson of KPRC2. The highly athletic defender has received widespread interest around the NFL following the Bulldogs’ national title and an impressive combine performance. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Baltimore Ravens and Jacksonville Jaguars have all met with Smith recently, in addition to the Patriots.
The interest might be there, but the 6-3, 235-pounder did not post massive pass-rushing numbers during his four years in Athens, with his best campaign coming in 2021. That season, Smith racked up 4.5 sacks and eight tackles for loss in 12 games. He was limited to just eight contests this past season due to a torn pectoral muscle, though that injury concern has done little to dull his rising star.
The Patriots ranked fourth in the league in sacks last season, with Matt Judon and Josh Uche each hitting double-digits. While Judon is under contract through 2024, Uche is entering a contract year and could be theoretically be replaced down the road.
New England also had a sit-down with Boston College wideout Zay Flowers, Wilson tweets. Flowers has already taken meetings with the Giants, as well as the Cowboys and Raiders. He is firmly on the first-round radar as one of the more elusive and effective downfield prospects in the class. Wilson reports that multiple NFL teams have graded the 5-10, 177-pounder in the top half of the opening round.
The Patriots struggled on offense in 2022, in no small part due to their lack of efficiency in the passing game. This offseason, the organization signed JuJu Smith-Schuster in a move which should help offset the loss of Jakobi Meyers. An impact addition in the draft would not be unexpected. Flowers -- who eclipsed 1,000 receiving yards for the first time in college back in the fall -- could significantly boost a Patriots offense which ranked 26th in the NFL in yards per contest (315) last season.
Given the interest already showed in Smith and Flowers, New England may face the possibility that both names are called before they are on the clock. If one or both are still available, though, keep these visits and this early April interest in mind.
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