The New England Patriots knew that there was work to be done when it came to the skill positions this offseason. If they wanted to give Mac Jones or whoever was under center in 2023 a chance to succeed, more talent needed to be added to the roster.
New England made a splash in free agency, signing JuJu Smith-Schuster to a three-year, $33 million deal. He will slot right into the lineup in place of Jakobi Meyers, who left in free agency and signed a deal with the Las Vegas Raiders. Nelson Agholor also departed, signing with the Baltimore Ravens.
Smith-Schuster was a good start at revamping the wide receiver group, the Patriots shouldn’t be done. Along with Kendrick Bourne and DeVante Parker, New England has a solid, if an unspectacular group of pass catchers.
If the opportunity presents itself to add an impact playmaker in the 2023 NFL Draft, the Patriots should not shy away from it. Who could they have their eyes on? Zay Flowers out of Boston College could be their target.
According to Adam Schefter of ESPN, Flowers is set to meet with the Patriots on Wednesday. He has also accepted an invitation to attend the 2023 NFL Draft in Kansas City, which gives off the impression that he is a shoo-in to be a first-round pick; it is just a matter of how high he will go.
Flowers is undersized, measuring only 5’9” and weighing 182 pounds. But, there is no denying the impact he could have with his production collegiately. In 2022, Flowers had 78 receptions for 1,077 yards and 12 touchdowns.
His speed and athleticism are both assets, which will help him overcome his lack of size. There will be some struggles in contested catch situations because of his stature, but Flowers has the skills to become a versatile playmaker at the next level.
Flowers has experience lining up all over the formation, as he can find success on the perimeter or in the slot. He even has some experience working out of the backfield, providing a chess piece for Bill O’Brien to deploy all over the field.
