With the 2010 NFL Draft just hours away, let’s take a final look at the list of college prospects that have had significant contact with the Patriots over the last several weeks.

For these purposes, we define ‘significant contact’ as either a prospect site visit to Foxborough, or a private workout with Pats coaches and scouts. Interviews at post-season all-star games, the Combine, or at college pro days are not tracked. We’ve only included contacts that could be confirmed by media report (links).

There are those that will tell you that any interest on the part of the Pats that is made public is simply a ruse, or a ‘smokescreen’, to mask their interest in another, unnamed player.

As we’ve asserted many times before, that’s just untrue. Last year, Patriots Daily tracked visits by Patrick Chung, Brandon Tate, Tyrone McKenzie and Rich Ohrnberger before they were selected by the Patriots. In 2008, pre-draft contacts with Jerod Mayo, Terrence Wheatley and Shawn Crable were also noted.

Okay, so maybe there are some mixed reviews there, but that’s not the point. When the Pats make their picks later this week, it’s likely that two or three of the selections – if not more – will come from this contact list.

Note – if you see any that we’ve missed, please speak up in the comments section, and include a link to the reported contact.

Team Visits – Offense

QB Tim Tebow, Florida
RB Montario Hardesty, Tennessee
RB Charles Scott, LSU
WR Dez Bryant, Oklahoma State
WR Arrelious Benn, Illinois
WR Eric Decker, Minnesota
C Maurkice Pouncey, Florida

Private Workouts – Offense

QB Tony Pike, Cincinnati
QB Mike Kafka, Northwestern
QB Zack Robinson, Oklahoma State
QB Rusty Smith, Florida Atlantic
RB Jonathan Dwyer, Georgia Tech
RB Manase Tonga, BYU
RB Dexter McCluster, Mississippi
RB James Starks, Buffalo
WR Andre Roberts, Citadel
WR Mardy Gilyard, Cincinnati
WR Scott Long, Louisville
WR Taylor Price, Ohio
TE Dennis Pitta, BYU
TE Aaron Hernandez, Florida
TE Nate Bynam, Pittsburgh
TE Scott Sicko, UNH
OT Nic Richmond, TCU
OG Phil Costa, Maryland
C Jim Cordle, Ohio State
OT Daniel Baldridge, Marshall

Team Visits – Defense

DE Brandon Graham, Michigan
DE Corey Wootton, Northwestern
DE Daniel Te’o-Nesheim, Washington
DE Hall Davis, Louisiana-Lafayette
DE Chris McCoy, Middle Tennessee State
DT Dan Williams, Tennessee
DT Tyson Alualu, California
DT Brian Price, UCLA
DT Cam Thomas, North Carolina
OLB Sergio Kindle, Texas
OLB Jerry Hughes, TCU
ILB Jamar Chaney, Mississippi State
LB Donald Butler, Washington
CB Kyle Wilson, Boise State

Private Workouts – Defense

DE Antonio Coleman, Auburn
DE Alex Daniels, Cincinnati
DT Al Woods, LSU
DT Torell Troup, UCF
DT Arthur Jones, Syracuse
DT Corey Peters, Kentucky
DT Aleric Mullins, North Carolina
DT Jeff Owens, Georgia
DT Ricardo Mathews, Cincinnati
LB Brandon Spikes, Florida
LB Jason Worilds, Virginia Tech
LB Ricky Sapp, Clemson
LB Kavell Conner, Clemson
LB Thaddeus Gibson, Ohio State
LB Dekoda Watson, Florida State
LB Matt Mayberry, Indiana
S Earl Thomas, Texas
S Kam Chancellor, Virginia Tech
S Myron Lewis, Vanderbilt
CB Kareem Jackson, Alabama
CB Chris Cook, Virginia
CB Dominique Franks, Oklahoma
CB Nolan Carroll, Maryland
CB Robert McClain, Connecticut
CB Brandon Ghee, Wake Forest
CB Sherrick McManis, Northwestern
P Brent Bowden, Virginia Tech
P Zoltan Mesko, Michigan

Even if the Pats don’t select any of the players from this list, the direction of their efforts may tell us something. For example, by our count, the Pats have made ‘significant contact’ with 66 draft prospects. 39 of them, or nearly 60%, are defensive players.

Of the defensive contacts, more than half were defensive linemen (18 contacts). Linebackers represented 28% of all defensive contacts.  20% of contacts were with cornerbacks. Safety was apparently the only defensive position not focused on (just 2 of 39 contacts).

Nearly half of the 27 offensive contacts were either running backs (22%) or receivers (26%). Oddly, only 4 of 27 offensive contacts were with tight ends, a position that is considered a top need for New England. Offensive line contacts were concentrated on late round or priority free agent prospects. The Pats also looked at 5 quarterback hopefuls, including Tim Tebow.

This would seem to indicate the Pats will focus on their front seven and their offensive skill positions in this draft.

Chris: Well, faithful PD readers, by this time you’ve evaluated a slew of mock drafts, so we figured it was our turn to put ourselves out there (with an appropriate New England bias, of course).

Let me begin by saying that the high level of talent in this year’s draft makes this mock a lot of fun. Pass rushers, receivers and running backs abound. I’d like to add that, if I really were in charge of the Patriots’ picks, I’d trade at least two toward 2011 because 13 of last year’s rookies remain on the roster.

Instead of bothering with specific numbers I just stuck to rounds. I figure there will be plenty of hopping around over the three-day draft, anyway. Enjoy, and if you have a different opinion of who the Pats should draft, feel free to engage in some lively debate in the comments section below.

FIRST ROUND

Jerry Hughes of TCU

Chris Warner: Jerry Hughes, OLB, TCU. Some talk about taking Brandon Graham here – and that might happen – but I like Hughes better as an all-around athlete. Lined up as a defensive end at TCU, but showed the ability to play on his feet. He can rush the passer or cover tight ends, giving the Patriots versatility at that spot. You’ll notice that I am NOT trading down from 22. Because that would be cruel to New England fans. (Pats front office, please take note.)

Greg Doyle: You have to like Hughes’ production and despite everything, he is still only 21 years old. So you are getting a young player, with upside and big college production. I do have a couple of concerns with him. First, I watched him closely vs. Boise State in his bowl game and thought he had a mediocre game at best. He also took a couple really dumb penalties including an after the whistle personal foul reminiscent of David Thomas versus the Colts in 2008. He also had some good moments of pressure against a hard to rush Boise team. Second, his great production came against mid-level college teams, not the elite. I just think it’s a bit of a gamble pick in the first round. He hasn’t played linebacker at all either. I see high boom or bust potential in him. I’d feel better about taking him in the second round.

My pick would be Jared Odrick. I see limited downside to him. Just a very productive, possibly slightly undersized but not significantly, hard working player who was productive against great competition. He’d slide into that 3-4 end spot and allow Mike Wright to be sort of a super sub at every spot on the line. I think worst case Odrick is a close to a decade solid starter. Best case is he’s a Pro Bowler. I don’t see a lot of risk in this pick, which is the main reason I’m favoring it now. As an alternative, Ryan Matthews at running back really intrigues me but it’s not as big a need for the Patriots right now as the defense is. If they could trade Maroney for a third, I might consider that direction.

Scott Benson: This year’s draft meme is clearly the defensive front seven, as it should be – unless the Pats get a lot better there in a hurry, they’ll continue to slide farther and farther away from another championship. Unfortunately, it’s not the only area in which they’ll need to quickly improve. Offensively, the Patriots have essentially reduced themselves to playing 3 (Brady, Moss and Welker) against 11 every week. So offensive skill players are also needed, and in a hurry, as they will likely be without Welker when they open the season. The good news (and isn’t some good news needed?) is they have 4 of the first 53 picks in what is regarded as a solid, even deep, draft. So to me, New England braintrust, the top priorities are these: 1) No avoidance. Give me players, not future picks. If you decide to trade back from 22 (and that may turn out to be in your best interest) it’s for picks you’ll make THIS YEAR. 2) No prototypes. I don’t give a shit what kind of ‘length’ you like. Shawn Crable has ‘length’, and he SUCKS. 3) No projects. Give me grown ups who have demonstrated productivity and consistency for a long period of time. Don’t give me Jason-Pierre Three Names and this ‘freak’ bullshit. Honestly.

Oh, I was supposed to pick a player there? Okay, I’ll take Graham. During Senior Bowl week, he looked like an eighth grader playing with sixth graders.

SECOND ROUND

Chris: Cam Thomas, DL, North Carolina. I just love the whole 6-foot-4, 330-pound thing he’s got going for him. He’s tough to move and fast in a straight line (5.14 in the 40), making him an ideal backup nose and a strong candidate to anchor one side of the line at defensive end.

Greg: Thomas is definitely a player I like who really stood out at the Senior Bowl and the more you check him out you see what a good player he is, if not flashy. He isn’t going to be a big time pass rusher. But he is a guy who could play end or nose tackle that will be very stout against the run. I might go this direction if I did the Matthews thing in the first round, but with my pick being Odrick, I think I prefer Thaddeus Gibson who I see as a high upside guy with tons of talent, who came out after his junior year and has room to grow and has actually played the outside linebacker position. That is my pick at 44.

Scott: I got my linebacker earlier so now I’m looking to fill that vacant RDE spot, so my pick here is the Cal DL Tyson Alualu. Productivity, versatility, consistency, maturity.

Jared Veldheer

Chris: Jared Veldheer, OT, Hillsdale. Like the rest of us, Matt Light isn’t getting any younger. Also like the rest of us, Nick Kaczur made some mistakes last year. Veldheer has a Vollmer-like reach (6-foot-8), quick feet for his size (4.51-second 20-yard shuttle), and the strength to hold down the edge (32 bench press reps). In fact, a comparison to Vollmer’s pro day shows quite a few similarities. A former high school hoopster, Veldheer could put in some time as a blocking tight end, too.

Greg: I like your reasoning on Veldheer, but with Light, Vollmer, Kaczur and LeVoir still on the roster I just see this as too early. Perhaps if they were to trade Matt Light, who is headed into his last year under contract, this might be the move. Instead, I projected Kam Chancellor here who is a big safety. While safety also isn’t a big need with Meriweather, Chung, Sanders and McGowan still around, I would overlook that by saying I don’t think they see Sanders and McGowan as long-term answers. And I think they feel they are lacking a big, physical safety presence since Rodney Harrison retired. Chancellor is a very big safety, around 230 lbs., but with excellent speed and playmaking ability. He was also a leader of Virginia Tech’s defense. Finding a big safety who can hit, run, cover and make plays on the ball isn’t easy. I think Chancellor fits the bill of being Rodney’s replacement they’re right now lacking.

Scott: At this point, I’ve got to diversify my ridiculously limited offensive attack, so the pick here is BYU TE Dennis Pitta, whose athleticism, short area quickness and feel for the passing game gives him the chance to be an immediate contributor. I’m guessing this will be considered by some to be a reach, but keep in mind those people would have you address your tight end need with a freaking basketball player.

Ben Tate

Chris: Ben Tate, RB, Auburn. Okay, okay, maybe this is early. But considering the Pats traded away their third- and fifth-round picks for Derrick Burgess’ garbage-time sacks (Who, me? Bitter?), this will be their last chance to pick up a big, fast back who has had success against the best defenses in college. Time to revamp the offensive backfield, starting with a steady presence who can hold up both physically and mentally for 16 games. Gaining over 1,300 yards vs. SEC defenses says a lot.

Greg: I like Tate a lot and I’m tempted to just agree with you. He is the best blocking running back in the draft and showed great running ability this season and in the Senior Bowl. He tested better than expected after the season as well before scouts. But I’m gonna stick with my defensive oriented first two days by projecting Alualu, the big defensive end from California. With two of the top 4 picks being 3-4 pure defensive ends, I think that would cure worries about that position and right now I have some. Ty Warren has slipped in recent years and battled quite a few injuries. Besides him, they only have the solid Wright established. Alualu, like Odrick, is a very hard working, tough, physical fighter of a player with good size and 3-4 end speed who’d really help solidify the position. I see both as Patriots-type players. Or at least the type of hard working players they were known for in their Super Bowl years.

Andre Roberts

Scott: Daniel Jeremiah of the outstanding Move the Sticks blog has been telling us for weeks that one of the most polished and pro-ready receivers in the draft is the Citadel’s Andre Roberts, so he’s my pick with #53. Like Pitta, he’s got the speed and quickness to go with the well-honed route tree, and the kind of character and maturity that has evidently been in short supply of late in Foxborough. Enough with leading these young players around by the nose. On the field, Roberts  can also step into the punt returner role that Welker will almost assuredly vacate.

Chris: Scott, as you’ll see tomorrow, you’re not alone on the Roberts pick, though Greg and I would consider a second-rounder a bit high to pay for him.

No third rounders, dear readers, so we’ll see you in Part 2 with rounds four through seven…

To some players, the dreaded “tweener” label means they fail to fit at any one position. Jerry Hughes is not one of those players. At Texas Christian, Hughes manned defensive end at an undersized 6-foot-2, 255 pounds. Still, he has few concerns about where he’ll play in the NFL, as long as he gets a chance to chase opposing quarterbacks.

The Mountain West Conference Defensive Player of the Year spoke about switching positions and how the people around him have helped with his development on and off the field.

I know that you’re getting a lot of questions about making a transition from defensive end to outside linebacker, but you’ve already had to deal with a pretty big transition in your career. Why don’t you talk a little bit about going from a high school running back to a college pass-rushing defensive end?

Absolutely. You know, I always thought that the biggest transition right there was switching from a position that likes to, you know, touch the ball, score touchdowns, be a little flashy, to a position that’s all, really, in the trenches. You’ve got to have a lot of heart and soul to play that position, because every snap of the ball, you’re always going against somebody two, three times bigger than you. So, I felt like for the most part the one thing I needed to do to learn that position was to put some weight on. You know, I felt like being 200 pounds going against guys that were 320, I probably wouldn’t win most of those battles, so I felt like putting on some weight would really help me. And then, also, just looking at it from a mental aspect, playing running back in my high school days, I tried to do my best to kind of avoid contact, being the guy making the defensive players miss. So it was a real mental battle for me to – coming from a guy who’d avoid contact – to say, okay, now I’ve got to put my nose in there, bang around with the big boys, and really kind of just make that whole transition from there. Once I was able to get that mind set of a defensive player’s mentality where I’m going out there to hit whoever crosses my face, I felt like the game really changed for me, and I finally got a better understanding for it.

So, I read somewhere that you were calling offensive players prima donnas now. That’s a big switch.

(Laughs.) Well, I wouldn’t necessarily say “prima donnas.” You know, some of those offensive players will come up there and hit you in the mouth, so, you know, you’ve kind of got to watch that statement. But you know, I just say it’s a lot bigger transition than what people can think, playing offense and then coming to the defensive side of the ball.

You’ve already done some standing up from your position at TCU, didn’t you?

Yeah, I did a little bit, depending on the type of coverage that was being called and things like that. It would all depend on the scheme of the defense that we were running at the time.

And isn’t the Horned Frogs’ defense a little unorthodox in terms of most college defenses?

Yeah, you know, it’s out of a 4-2-5 scheme. You really don’t see that a lot in college football or in the NFL for long, but a 4-2-5 is really similar to a 4-3 defense, where you’ve got four down linemen and now, instead of three linebackers, you’ve got two linebackers and a safety who’s kind of like that hybrid mix between a linebacker and a safety.

And how is your rehab going?

Rehab is going well. I just had a minor injury in the bowl game that set me back a couple of weeks where I just couldn’t be as active as I wanted to be. But I was taking care of it, working with the medical staff, and they’ve got me at 100 percent right now.

It certainly was disappointing from a fan’s perspective not to see you at the Senior Bowl. Was it disappointing for you not to participate in that?

Absolutely, because that’s one of those places where I wanted to be at, these things like that, competing against some of the nation’s best. When the trainers and doctors said, “You’re not quite ready,” it really hit me, because being an athlete, you always want to go out there and compete, (but I couldn’t) just knowing that if I was to go out there I’d not be 100 percent. It really hurt me because I had never really suffered any college injuries. I was very fortunate.

Have you gotten a chance to talk to NFL scouts, or do you feel like you might have missed out on that a little bit, missing out on the Senior Bowl?

Oh, no, I haven’t really spoken to any NFL scouts or anything like that.

How are you preparing for the combine? Any specific events, or trying to keep track of all the testing?

Just trying to be sharp all the way around, working on every individual event, so that way, come next weekend, I’ll perform at the best of my ability. I’m doing defensive end drills as well as linebacker drills – that way I’m getting to show my versatile side.

Do you feel like you’ll be at 100 percent?

Absolutely, you know, I’m feeling good right now. The medical staff has done a great job down here… So, I’m feeling 100 percent right now. I’m ready to go.

And how about your weight? Are you keeping it about the same, or are thinking about going up or down?

I’m keeping it the same.

Playing at TCU, you guys have been so successful. What do you think it will take for them to hold onto a top ranking, because it seems like getting wins isn’t a problem, it’s more like getting the respect is?

You’ve got to – those guys have just got to keep winning ball games. You know, the only way you can earn anybody’s respect is to just go out there and win ball games, because wins speak a lot more for themselves than just people talking about it. So, I feel like if they put together another 11-win, 12-win season, it will be hard to not position them into some of the BCS bowl games, things like that.

Being a Texas guy, was TCU always a big choice for you? What other schools were you looking at?

Nah, not really. I really didn’t hear too much about TCU, just because in Texas you always hear about the dominating powerhouses as in the UTs and the A&Ms. But as far as other schools looking at me, I had Texas Tech, North Texas, Arizona State, Iowa State.

What set TCU apart?

Oh, out of those schools, the ones I just named, you know, TCU was winning at the time. They set a mark where winning was accepted, and that’s the kind of tradition they were putting forth at that program. Also, all the coaches that were there from previous schools (I named) are all gone now. I think the coaching staff from Arizona State since they recruited me has been replaced, as well as North Texas, Iowa State and even Texas Tech. It was a great choice by me, you know, just being able to pick a school who’s had a very stable coach in Gary Patterson.

So what was the first thought in your mind when you were approached to play defensive end?

I wasn’t too high on it. Being a running back was something that I really wanted to do. My dad had played running back in high school, and I really just modeled myself after him, so I was not really pleased about the switch. But, you know, just speaking with my dad, he said, “You’re an athlete, not just a person who’s really set on one position. So if you open your mind up and you’re able to make that change, everything will just work (out) for itself.”

Do you think your father’s had a big influence on you and your career?

Absolutely. You know, he’s always been there, cheering for me, always giving me advice, just telling me things I could do better. He’s like a second coach. That’s always great to have, but at the same time it can have its negatives, also. But he’s always been a great father, a great dad. You know, that’s all you can ask for.

In terms of coaching, how do you think they got you into the right mindset as a pass rusher? You had so much success there, what to you think has been the key to your success in that role?

Probably my position coach (Dick Bumpas). Showing me different hand movements, different techniques that I didn’t know about, and really opening me up to being a successful pass rusher. And just, you know, reiterating (that I should) use my speed to my advantage, which can set up a lot of guys off-target by me using my explosive speed. So I feel like he did a great job of kind of molding me into the person, or the player, that I am today.

Well, I just want to tell you good luck next week. I hope it all goes well, and maybe we can hear from you after the combine.

All right, sounds great, man.

Thanks a lot, Jerry. I appreciate your time.

All right.

Email Chris Warner at chris.warner@patriotsdaily.com