It's been said by many, from the national media to scouts, that Travis Hunter is the top prospect in this spring's NFL draft. The Heisman Trophy winner is a guy the Patriots would be foolish to pass on if he's available at the fourth pick. New England's wide receiver room remains a glaring weakness on the roster, and with quarterback-needy teams in Tennessee, Cleveland, and the Giants all set to pick prior to the Patriots; Hunter could fall into their lap.
But we all know that New England needs to have a Plan B in case Hunter winds up somewhere else, whether it's taking a top pass-catcher with the No. 4 pick, trading back further into the first round, or trying to find a diamond in the rough on the second day of the draft.
Fortunately, the wide receiver class in this draft is deep, and the Patriots could explore plenty of options to get help for Drake Maye if Hunter goes off the board early.
Wide receivers not named Travis Hunter who could help the Patriots
1. Arizona's Tetairoa McMillan
While some worry that the Arizona standout is just a 2.0 version of N'Keal Harry, McMillan has the combination of size and speed to be a surefire deep threat in the NFL. McMillan, who stands 6'4, silenced some doubters with an impressive 4.48 40-yard dash clocking at the combine.
The big question is, can McMillan consistently win at the line of scrimmage and create separation, a trait that Patriots' receivers have lacked over the last few seasons. Fortunately, analysts and scouts believe that McMillan has the hands to be able to get off the ball quickly and make contested catches down the field.
Taking him at fourth overall might be a bit of a reach, but if Hunter isn't available, he's clearly the top receiver in this draft.
2. Ohio State's Emeka Egbuka
Ohio State has produced plenty of talented wideouts in recent years - most recently Marvin Harrison, Jr. - and Egbuka has all the tools to be the next great pro out of Columbus.
His versatility to play in the slot and to stretch the field would be a dream in Josh McDaniels' offense since Egbuka can make catches in traffic and runs great routes. He led the Buckeyes with six catches in Ohio State's national championship win over Notre Dame. If he's available early in the second round, the Patriots should snatch him.
3. Texas' Matthew Golden
Scouts believe the Texas product plays a lot bigger than his 5'11 "frame. If the Patriots trade back later into the first round and McMillan is gone, Golden might be the right route for Eliot Wolf and Mike Vrabel.
Golden is another guy who can play inside but has the speed and separation ability to make plays down the field. He certainly put teams on notice with a 7-catch, 149-yard performance in Texas' win over Arizona State in the College Football Playoff.
Receiver-needy teams like the Patriots will be coveting Golden's services, and it wouldn't be all too surprising to see him come off the board before McMillan does.