Nick Caserio: ‘There's some players I think we're going to like' on Day 2

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FOXBORO -- Nick Caserio strolled into the media workroom at Gillette Stadium and saw a few dozen sets of bleary eyes staring at him.

"I appreciate everybody sticking around," Caserio said. "I’m sure everybody’s anxious to get home."

It was just after midnight, meaning it was technically Day 2 of the NFL Draft. After selecting N'Keal Harry at No. 32 overall, Caserio, Bill Belichick and the Patriots were looking at five selections later on Friday: No. 56 and 64 in the second round; No. 73, 97 and 101 in the third round.

"There’s definitely some good players that are left here," Caserio said. "So, I think we’ll work through it. There’s some players that I think we like, that I think we’re going to like, and we have some flexibility. Maybe if there’s a player that we think we need to target a little bit earlier, we could potentially go up and get him. If not, we can kind of sit back and pick. We’ll look at it, but I would say there’s certainly groups of players and some positions maybe have a little more depth than others, so we’ll just have to look at it relative to where we think we are as a team. It should be interesting."

Might the Patriots double-up at receiver? Will they be looking to dip into the tight end class? Is it a swing tackle they're after? How about a pass-rusher or a defensive back to help a talented but veteran defense? Could quarterback be on their radar?

Here are a handful of the "Prototypical Patriots" we identified in this year's draft who are still available and could end up on New England's roster before the weekend is through. 

DEEBO SAMUEL, WR, SOUTH CAROLINA
With a solid build (5-11, 214 pounds) and explosiveness (39-inch vertical) to win contested catches anywhere on the field, Samuel seems like an ideal fit in New England. Did we mention he returns kicks? Prototype. Ohio State's Parris Campbell is another slot with good size (6-feet, 205 pounds) and home-run ability with the ball in his hands (4.31-second 40).
WATCH: NFL Draft Reel — Deebo Samuel

A.J. BROWN, WR, OLE MISS
Brown doesn't have the blazing straight-line speed (4.49-second 40), but he's fast enough. Plus, his change-of-direction numbers (4.25 short shuttle, 7.0-second three-cone) and jumps (36-inch vertical, 120-inch broad) are just about what the Patriots are usually looking for. A big slot with the ability to play outside, he'd be an intriguing fit in New England.
WATCH: NFL Draft Reel — A.J. Brown

MECOLE HARDMAN, WR, GEORGIA
Hardman is somewhat undersized at 5-10, 187 pounds, but he is clearly fast enough (4.33-second 40) and explosive enough (36.5-inch vertical) to play on the outside if the Patriots wanted a speed option on the boundary. UMass wideout Andy Isabella is another versatile wideout with crazy speed who can play both inside and out.

MILES BOYKIN, WR, NOTRE DAME
Boykin is one of the most athletic players in the draft, regardless of position. He checks every box the Patriots are looking for athletically, and his frame is difficult to matchup with (6-4, 220 pounds). If the Patriots want another contested-catch option to pair with N'Keal Harry, he'd make sense. Hakeem Butler from Iowa State fits a similar profile thanks to his long arms and his ability to be "open" even when he's not.
WATCH: NFL Draft Reel — Miles Boykin

TERRY McLAURIN, WR, OHIO STATE
McLaurin is a scary athlete himself. His comps on Mockdraftable.com are players like Chad Jackson and Bethel Johnson. Far from the most successful receivers to come through the Patriots' doors, but both were freaky athletes the team deemed worth of high-end picks. McLaurin is also thought to be one of the best kick-coverage players in the draft.
WATCH: NFL Draft Reel — Terry McLaurin

IRV SMITH, TE, ALABAMA
Smith appears to be a true "move" tight end, a role Aaron Hernandez (6-2, 245) once filled. He put up big numbers in the SEC and could end up in New England with a good recommendation from Nick Saban.
WATCH: NFL Draft Reel — Irv Smith, Jr.

KAHALE WARRING, TE, SAN DIEGO STATE
Warring is unrefined as a blocker, but he's a smooth receiver, and he more than meets Patriots typical thresholds here with his size, his hands (9.75 inches), his speed (4.67 40) and his explosiveness (36.5-inch vert).

JACE STERNBERGER, TE, TEXAS A&M
Sternberger is one of the players the Patriots have had in for a visit during the pre-draft process. His size and SEC production -- eighth in the class with 2.01 yards per route run, per PFF -- put him in the prototype conversation.

RYAN FINLEY, QB, NC STATE
Finley has an impressive body of work in a pro-style offense that the Patriots have dipped into in the past. It would come as little surprise if the team likes Finley in the middle rounds.
WATCH: NFL Draft Reel — Ryan Finley

JARRETT STIDHAM, QB, AUBURN
In 2017, Stidham earned Newcomer of the Year and second-team all-conference honors in the SEC. He also beat Alabama in the Iron Bowl that year. After a solid performance at the Senior Bowl, he could represent nice value for the Patriots on Day 2.
WATCH: NFL Draft Reel — Jarrett Stidham

JUSTIN HOLLINS, EDGE, OREGON
An elite athlete (4.5-second 40, 36.5-inch vertical), he's considered by some to have some off-the-ball flexibility. Judging by how valuable someone like Kyle Van Noy has become to the Patriots defense thanks to his ability to play on the line and off, Hollins could be a steal for the Patriots in the middle rounds.

CHRISTIAN MILLER, EDGE, ALABAMA
Miller's long arms (35 inches) and explosive jumps (38.5-inch vert, 118-inch broad) make him a relatively rare prospect physically. When you factor the fact that he looks like he has a variety of moves off the edge (8.5 sacks last season, Pro Football Focus' seventh in the class in pass-rush productivity), Miller could end up going to the Patriots in the third or fourth round with a good review from the 'Bama staff.
WATCH: NFL Draft Reel — Christian Miller

D'ANDRE WALKER, EDGE, GEORGIA
Like Miller, Walker doesn't meet some of the physical markers typically drafted by the Patriots. And like Miller, Walker was coming back from injury (groin) during the pre-draft process. But like Miller, Walker has long arms (34 inches) that might allow the Patriots to look past some of his other physical traits. And like Miller, Walker comes from a program Belichick respects, and he produced in the nation's top conference (24 tackles for losses, 13 sacks last two seasons).
WATCH: NFL Draft Reel — D'Andre Walker

ANTHONY NELSON, EDGE, IOWA
Nelson's length (35-inch arms), his explosiveness (35.5-inch vert, 118-inch broad), and his quickness (6.95-second three-cone, 4.23-second short shuttle) are rare. You can hear more about Nelson and his potential fit in New England in this episode of The Next Pats Podcast with Iowa strength and conditioning coach Chris Doyle.

AMANI HOOKER, S, IOWA 
Hooker is a versatile box safety with good instincts and great athleticism (37-inch vertical, 6.81-second three-cone, 4.1-second short shuttle) who could end up as a Patrick Chung-type wherever he goes.

CHAUNCEY GARDNER-JOHNSON, S, FLORIDA
Gardner-Johnson played all over the secondary -- deep safety, strong safety, slot -- in the SEC, and he can move. His 4.48-second 40, 36-inch vertical, 117-inch broad and 7.03-second three-cone time are all in the range of safeties the Patriots have drafted in the first three rounds over the last decade.
WATCH: NFL Draft Reel — Chauncey Gardner-Johnson

DAVID LONG, CB, MICHIGAN
Long checks every box -- the only corner in this class to do so -- that we looked for physically when comparing this year's class to Patriots corners taken in the first three rounds. Long may be a slot defender, and the Patriots just drafted one of those in Duke Dawson, but his 6.45-second three-cone time and 3.97-second short shuttle still might be worth a pick if Bill Belichick want to pour more into his secondary.

GREEDY WILLIAMS, CB, LSU
Considered one of the top corners in the class -- and likely putting him out of range for the Patriots at No. 32 -- Williams has the length and speed (4.37-second 40) to turn into an elite man-to-man corner at the next level. If he happens to fall, the Patriots could bite.
WATCH: NFL Draft Reel — Greedy Williams

JOEJUAN WILLIAMS, CB, VANDERBILT
With rare size to match up with bigger-bodied receivers, one could certainly envision the Patriots overlooking Williams' 40 time (4.55 at his pro day) and taking him in the first couple of rounds. Belichick himself noted recently that at some point the Patriots are going to have to keep up with the trend of receivers getting bigger and bigger, answering with a longer coverage option.
WATCH: NFL Draft Reel — Joejuan Williams

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