30 For 30: Patriots Hosting DE Tyree Wilson; Visits Result in Draft Picks?

Just because the New England Patriots hosted a rookie for a Top-30 Visit doesn't mean they will draft him in two weeks.

Richie Whitt | Apr 11, 2023

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New England Patriots

A year ago the New England Patriots hosted 13 incoming rookies for pre-draft visits to Foxboro.

Cole Strange wasn't one of them.

Even though they have the 14th overall pick in this year's NFL Draft and he's a lock Top 10-pick, this week they're meeting with Texas Tech edge rusher Tyree Wilson.

Which begs the questions, do these "Top-30 Visits" mean anything at all?

While Bill Belichick shocked the NFL by taking Strange - the lightly regarded offensive lineman from Chattanooga - in the first round, the Pats did rely on their 30 list in the later rounds. They took cornerback Marcus Jones in the third round and cornerback Jack Jones in the fourth. They also signed quarterback D'Eriq King to the practice squad as an undrafted free agent.

Past players that they brought in for pre-draft visits and then actually select including quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo (2014) and receiver N'Keal Harry (2019).

With 11 picks in this year's draft - including No. 14 overall - the Pats have lots of holes to fill on a roster that went 8-9 last season. They have brought in a dozen players for their 30 visits, including Georgia teammates Broderick Jones and Nolan Smith and receivers Jordan Addison (USC) and Michael Wilson (Stanford). Also on the list: another small-college offensive lineman in North Dakota's Cody Mauch.

The problem with trying to make a direct correlation between "visit" and "genuine interest" is that sometimes teams use them simply as intelligence-grabbing or even smokescreens to throw off other teams on their intentions. Bottom line: We certainly can't look at New England's list of 30 visits and use it as predictive as to who they will select during the NFL Draft April 27-29.

That said, the list of the Pats' 30 visits this Spring:

Jordan Addison, WR, USC

Cody Mauch, OL, North Dakota

Emmanuel Forbes, CB, Mississippi State

Jonathan Mingo, WR, Ole Miss

Cam Smith, CB, South Carolina

Jammie Robinson, S, Florida State

T.J. Luther, WR, Gardner-Webb

Scott Matlock, DL, Boise State

Zay Flowers, WR, Boston College

Broderick Jones, OT, Georgia

Nolan Smith, DE, Georgia