The New England Patriots are doing more due diligence at the tight end and defensive tackle positions.
Per reports from Justin Melo of SBNation, the team held a virtual meeting with with University of Cincinnati tight end Josiah Deguara.
https://twitter.com/JustinM_NFL/status/1251244657348149248?s=20
Deguara is graded at a 5.92 (backup/special teamer) and is projected to go in the fourth or fifth round of this coming draft.
His strengths and weaknesses per the NFL’s official website are as follows.
Strengths
- Takes run-blocking duties to heart
- Good angles up to second level and squares his target
- Finds his block fit and sustains with balance and footwork
- Counted on to help seal the edge in run game
- Basketball feel and fluidity in his route breaks
- Stems defenders out of place with sharp head fakes
- Monitors safeties and surveys spacing against zone
- Races to soft spots and demands the football
- Catches what is thrown at him and rarely has focus drop
Weaknesses
- Inconsistent hand placement at point of attack
- Gets grabby outside of the frame to finish
- Needs better pad level to create point of leverage
- May not have speed to consistently threaten the seam
- Has a little too much sauce in his routes
- Could struggle to separate against NFL man coverage
- Rigid in his body adjustments to throws outside the frame
- Lacks creativity after the catch and tends to bull forward
The team is also taking a look at Penn State defensive lineman Robert Windsor.
https://twitter.com/JustinM_NFL/status/1251547134438051845?s=20
Windsor grades out at a 5.46 (Chance to make end of roster or practice squad) and is not necessarily the best defensive lineman that will be available in the late part of the NFL Draft.
His strengths and weaknesses per NFL.com can be found below.
- Willing to play hurt and go hard
- Posted 15 tackles for loss and 10 sacks over last two seasons
- Play strength to win one-on-one blocks
- Spies runner to shed blocker based upon lane choice
- Adequate quickness to disrupt in backside gaps
- Loose hips with a tight end’s gait in pursuit
- Constant rush hustle brings opportunities
- Flashed winning wrist control as rusher against Purdue and Iowa
- Above-average agility once inside the pocket
- Production fell way off from big 2018 campaign
- Missing NFL mass and will get pushed around at this weight
- Not much jolt into initial contact
- Struggles to maintain gap integrity against extra blockers
- Allowed himself to be reached and stacked
- Needs feet in closer contact with the ground
- Doesn’t have quick-win hands or control point of attack consistently
- Rush production often occurred well after initial snap
