Justin Joly: Patriots' Draft Upside

0:00On April 3, the New England Patriots looked stacked at tight end on paper with Hunter Henry leading the pack, Julian Hill on a three-year deal, and some young deaf like Jack Westover. But heading into this year's NFL draft, it's actually a big need. Henry turns 32 soon and faded into playoffs, while the others are mostly unproven. That's why eyes are on prospects like Justin Jolie from NC State. Jolie is a 22-year-old senior who started as a wide receiver recruit, but switched to tight end in college. He bounced from UConn to NC State, racking up 166 catches for nearly 2,000 yards and 15 touchdowns over his career. Earned first team all ACC honors last year as the top tight end in the conference. Fans and scouts love his hands. They're a lead for snagging tough passes with great body control and route savvy. He creates separation in zones and lines up all over the field. Blockings his weak spot though, he needs more size and strength without losing his quickness.

1:02Still, his receiving skills stand out in a draft class full of similar guys. For the Pats, Jolie could slide in as a number two receiver behind Henry, playing big slot, or even H-Back to mess with defenses. He's versatile enough for Josh McDaniel's schemes, but his raw blocking might make them hesitate in rounds 3 or 4 where he's projected. Bottom line, Jolie's got high upside as a pass-catching thread who could carve out a solid NFL role, even if he never masters every tight end. Duty perfect radar for a team like New England looking to upgrade. From around the league, powered by AI, this is NFL News Today. I'm Corey with The Story.