With the 2011 NFL Draft approaching, prospects are busy flying across the country on whirlwind trips to meet with potential suitors. For likely first round picks, this means non-stop travel with individual workouts and interviews along the way as they try to make a solid impression on teams ahead of the draft. One such prospect is Washington quarterback Jake Locker, who has been busy since showcasing his skills at the NFL Combine and Washington pro day in the last month.
Locker is a busy man this week, but his latest visit is an intriguing one. According to a report by ESPN, Locker is spending two days with the New England Patriots, owners of both the No. 17 and No. 29 pick in the 2011 NFL Draft.
This year, the Patriots have the No. 17 and No. 28 overall picks, which could afford them the luxury of filling an immediate need as well as potentially drafting a highly rated quarterback in the first round to groom behind Brady, the NFL’s reigning Most Valuable Player.
For Locker, New England could be an ideal fit as he’d have time to develop behind a proven and capable quarterback in Tom Brady. Locker will need time to learn the position and tweak his mechanics, but who better to learn it from than Brady and Patriots head coach Bill Belichick? If the Patriots are serious about Locker, and it appears they are, it’s likely they’re looking at Locker with the No. 17 pick as most mock drafts have the quarterback off the board by No. 25 at the latest.
One thing’s for sure, a visit to New England can only help Locker ahead of the draft. If Belichick is interested enough to take a good, hard look at him, you can bet other team’s eyebrows are raised.
Stay tuned to this StoryStream for more on Locker, including where he’s been working out and which teams are showing interest. For more on the Washington Huskies, head over to SB Nation’s UW Dawg Pound.