Welcome to Potential Patriots!

Each day leading up to the NFL Draft on April 27, the Herald will introduce prospects the Patriots are likely targeting position by position. The Pats have 11 picks this year, starting at 14th overall, their highest selection in more than a decade. As for their other picks, the Patriots could pad their depth at virtually any position.

Below is a breakdown of the Patriots’ best prospect fits at wide receiver:

Ht/Wt: 6-1, 196

Projected round: 1st

Scouting report: Smith-Njigba is an ideal fit for the Patriots’ old prototype at receiver which relied heavily on 3-cone performance. His 6.57-second time led all participants at the NFL combine and reflected his ability to immediately uncover as a slot receiver. Smith-Njigba is effective at all three levels, ranks among the smoothest route-runners in the class and can create yards after the catch.

If the Patriots prefer a burner — no team has drafted faster receivers by 10-yard splits in the 40-yard dash since 2011 — Smith-Njigba isn’t it. But he checks every other box for a team that may have swung and missed with 2022 second-rounder Tyquan Thornton, a speedster’s speedster.

Ht/Wt: 5-9, 182

Projected round: 1st-2nd

Scouting report: Experts project Flowers to come off the board in the mid-20s, though it’s possible he slides out of the first round entirely. In either scenario, he would be available to the Patriots via trade, should they move back from No. 14 overall or up from 46th. In that case, they’d be landing one of the most sudden athletes in the draft.

Flowers is an undersized dynamo who carved up defenses with his quickness and long speed as the Eagles’ No. 1 receiver for years. He’s extremely elusive and productive downfield despite his small stature, averaging 13.8 yards per catch and gaining 500 yards on deep throws alone last season, per Pro Football Focus. Flowers does carry concerns about his catch radius and history of drops, but he’s already visited the Patriots and would be an instant impact player.

Ht/Wt: 6-2, 208

Projected round: 1st-2nd

Scouting report: The Patriots love freak athletes at wide receiver, and few receivers in this class — if any — are as explosive as Johnson. His elite marks in the broad jump and vertical jump matched the burst he shows off the line and running after the catch. In the open field, Johnson sets up defenders for whiffs and bowls through half-hearted tackles. He’s also a team captain, a major plus with the Patriots, who recently haven’t dinged receivers like him for having unimpressive times in the 3-cone drill and short shuttle.

Ht/Wt: 5-10, 177

Projected round: 2nd-3rd

Scouting report: A poor man’s Flowers?

As a former Junior Olympic sprinter, Scott possesses the same long speed and short-area quickness as the undersized Boston College product. On the flip side, he’s only played receiver for three years, indicating there’s ample potential for his next team to develop in the NFL. Scott also served as a gunner on Cincinnati’s punt team, experience that always appeals to the Patriots. Scott has drawn comparisons to T.Y. Hilton and Tyler Lockett, and can play both the slot and outside.

NFL Notes: Robert Kraft expects Patriots to make hay in the draft

Ht/Wt: 6-2, 220

Projected round: 3rd

Scouting report: A big-bodied X receiver, Mingo broke out last season with plus strength, body control and a bevy of big plays. He projects as a possession receiver at the next level and is a reputed high-character player. Mingo was voted a team captain and finished with 861 yards and five touchdowns last year.

Ht/Wt: 5-8, 168

Projected round: 3rd

Scouting report: A year after selecting cornerback/returner man Marcus Jones, another undersized firecracker out of Houston, the Patriots will have a chance to draft his offensive counterpart. Dell is devastatingly quick, elusive and fluid in his movements. He led major college football with 17 touchdowns last year and 1,398 yards. Dell is a threat to score anytime he has the ball, but size concerns could scare teams away.

Ht/Wt: 6-3, 198

Projected round: 3rd-4th

Scouting report: The Patriots got an up-close look at Perry at the East-West Shrine Bowl, where he personified all the traits that make him a boom-or-bust prospect. He is tall, fast (4.47 in the 40), agile (6.81 3-cone) and smooth in his routes. Perry is also coming off back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons with double-digit touchdowns, but has a history of drops and can struggle with contact.

Ht/Wt: 6-2, 208

Projected round: 4th

Scouting report: Injuries limited Wilson to 10 games the past two years, but when he did see the field he flashed NFL potential on offense and special teams. He's strong and quick, and scouts consider him one of the smartest and best-blocking receivers in this class. As a former team captain who made an impact on special teams, Wilson is all but a lock to be somewhere on the Patriots' board.

NFL executive assesses Patriots’ offseason, 2023 odds: ‘The talent gap is still pretty significant’

Ht/Wt: 5-9, 182

Projected round: 4th-5th

Scouting report: Another sudden slot option, Tucker will be limited to a career over the middle and on kick and punt coverage teams, but his speed is special. He clocked a 4.37 in the 40-yard dash at his Pro Day, and logged almost 500 snaps on special teams, per The Athletic. He's another former team captain with plenty of experience and a clean projection at the next level.

Ht/Wt: 6-0, 192

Projected round: 5th-6th

Scouting report: Jarrett is a high-effort, developmental prospect who checks most testing boxes for the Patriots. He has sufficient physical tools, but never broke out at Maryland, despite starting 20 of 24 games over the pat two seasons. As a former five-star high school recruit with untapped potential, Jarrett is the type of player the Pats have taken a flier on in the later rounds.