Musket Fire
FanSided

Patriots: 3 slot receivers Pats can draft after Julian Edelman’s retirement

By Jack Long

MIAMI GARDENS, FLORIDA - JANUARY 11: Jaylen Waddle #17 of the Alabama Crimson Tide (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
MIAMI GARDENS, FLORIDA - JANUARY 11: Jaylen Waddle #17 of the Alabama Crimson Tide (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
3 of 3
Next
OXFORD, MISSISSIPPI – SEPTEMBER 07: Elijah Moore #8 of the Mississippi Rebels celebrates a touchdown during the second half of a game against the Arkansas Razorbacks at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium on September 07, 2019 in Oxford, Mississippi. (Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images)
OXFORD, MISSISSIPPI – SEPTEMBER 07: Elijah Moore #8 of the Mississippi Rebels celebrates a touchdown during the second half of a game against the Arkansas Razorbacks at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium on September 07, 2019 in Oxford, Mississippi. (Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images) /

1. Elijah Moore

Elijah Moore is one of the most versatile slot receivers available in the upcoming draft. This is a guy you can’t pigeonhole into a certain role. As great as he was as a slot receiver, Moore is a serious downfield threat anytime he is on the field.

Moore has been Ole Miss’ star receiver since 2019, with great numbers when it comes to yards and contested catches.

Sometimes a pro day can really help or hurt a player’s draft stock. Moore’s 40-yard dash and three-cone drill really helped show the speed and transition this player has.

One thing that Bill Belichick has to love about Moore is his sticky hands. This guy does not drop the ball and had the lowest drop rate among SEC WRs last season, per PFF.

Moore’s versatility and good hands should have him high up on the Patriots’ draft board when it comes to slot receivers.

Should the Patriots use draft capital on a slot receiver?

Even though he didn’t play too many snaps in 2020, Edelman’s disappearing presence was and will be immediately felt with this Patriots offense. The rugged safety blanket would have been huge for current quarterback Cam Newton.

In that vein, the Patriots should be looking to draft and develop that next stud receiver from the slot. The skill and versatility some of these young players possess could make them immediate impact guys who in the long-term could be stars in any organization.

Bill Belichick hasn’t necessarily had success drafting receiver talent in the early rounds, but after having watched his receiver room struggle all of 2020, this may be the year he goes big on drafting offensive pieces.

Home/Patriots Draft