Report: Patriots to meet with WR Slade Bolden, QB E.J. Perry ahead of draft

The Patriots are looking into to players that may fall in the later rounds of the draft.

The New England Patriots are set to meet with Alabama receiver Slade Bolden and Brown quarterback E.J. Perry this week, according to ESPN’s Mike Reiss and NFL insider Jordan Schultz.

Perry, who profiles as a career-long backup and will likely go in the later rounds, completed 66.5% of his passes of 3,034 passing yards, 23 touchdowns and 14 interceptions during his final season at Brown. He’s from Andover, Mass. and grew up a Patriots fans.

New England and Bolden met at the NFL combine. He profiles as a potential undrafted free agent after logging 42 catches for 408 yards and three touchdowns in his final college season. Former Patriots and current Crimson Tide offensive coordinator Bill O’Brien recently said he used Bolden much like he used Wes Welker in New England. That bodes well for Bolden as a potential fit — especially when considering Bolden roomed with quarterback Mac Jones at Alabama.

New England has Mac Jones, Brian Hoyer and Jarrett Stidham at quarterback. The Patriots have DeVante Parker, Kendrick Bourne, Jakoki Meyers (a tendered restricted free agent), Nelson Agholor and N’Keal Harry, among others, at recevier.

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QB prospect EJ Perry trains with Mac Jones, Jarrett Stidham ahead of NFL draft

The local quarterback prospect made some noise in the NFL Combine.

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Brown University’s EJ Perry was one of the surprise quarterbacks in the NFL Combine.

Perry is a local prospect who went to Andover High School and he’s coming off a season where he threw for 3,034 yards, 23 touchdowns and 14 interceptions at Brown. The most intriguing aspect of Perry’s potential is his athleticism — which is far above any quarterback prospect in this year’s draft.

“Athleticism scores for the 2022 quarterback class are official. Brown University’s EJ Perry earned the highest athleticism score among this year’s QB class (89), followed by Desmond Ridder (82) and Kenny Pickett (79),” Next Gen Stats tweeted.

According to Ben Volin of The Boston Globe, Perry has been working with New England Patriots quarterbacks Mac Jones and Jarrett Stidham ahead of the draft.

“His uncle, John Perry, coached for the Texans from 2014-20, and has been helping with his NFL connections,” Volin wrote. “Perry has been working out with the (New England) Patriots’ Mac Jones and Jarrett Stidham at Edge Performance Systems in Foxborough. And he has connected a few times with 17-year NFL quarterback Matt Hasselbeck, who was present at Tuesday’s Pro Day.”

Mark Daniels of The Providence Journal tweeted on Tuesday that the Patriots were present at Perry’s Pro Day.

Here’s the visual of Perry’s athleticism score.

Perry’s family ties and NFL connections will lead to exposure that typically isn’t there for smaller schools entering the draft.

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