The New England Patriots wowed Oregon quarterback Justin Herbert at the 2020 NFL combine last week, according to his discussion with NBC Sports’ Peter King.
Herbert is a compelling prospect for New England, particularly when considering his size (6-foot-6, 238 pounds) and athleticism (4.68-second 40-yard dash, 7.06-second three-cone). But of course, the Patriots are sure to care more about his aptitude for the game than his raw, physical tools.
That’s where his meeting with the Patriots came in. Surely, he needed to impress. While we probably won’t know how he did until the draft (or long after), it’s fair to say the Patriots impressed him.
Here’s what Herbert said in a discussion with King:
FMIA: Who’d you meet at the combine who was impressive, or who you really wanted to meet?
Herbert: “Coach McDaniels with the Patriots. [Offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels.] That’s a guy I’ve always watched, always looked up to. I love their offense.”
Herbert said at the combine that stepping in for Tom Brady, who is a pending free agent, would be “a special opportunity” for whoever gets the job. Brady’s status with the Patriots seems to be in question, with the quarterback getting closer and closer to testing free agency,
But with Herbert, the question isn’t about whether the Patriots will be interested. If he fell to 23rd overall, it’s easy to imagine they would want him. But he’s extremely unlikely to fall that far. He seems like a target in the top 10 selections, even if Joe Burrow and Tua Tagovailoa are likely to go in those picks, too. The Patriots would have to jump high in the draft to get past quarterback-needy teams like the Miami Dolphins (No. 5), Los Angeles Chargers (sixth-overall) and Carolina Panthers (No. 7).
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