The New England Patriots are never ones to waste time or tears on pending free agents.
The Pats and head coach Bill Belichick, barring some type of unforeseen occurrence, are set to allow running backs Shane Vereen and Stevan Ridley to hit the NFL's open market on March 10.
With Vereen and Ridley likely headed to new NFL destinations, leaving LeGarrette Blount the only proven veteran presence on the roster, the team will most likely look to the 2015 NFL Draft as a means of adding an infusion of young talent to the position.
Auburn held its Pro Day today,
and two players at the tailback position garnered special interest from the Patriots, according to Tony Pauline of Walter Football.
Corey Grant - known as one of the fastest players in the SEC - ran the 40-yard-dash in unofficial times of 4.25 and 4.27. He also posted a 37-inch vertical and 22 rep on the bench.
Numbers that impressed the Pats, as Pauline reveals that sources have told him New England is among a very small handful of teams to have shown "great interest" in Grant.
He's expected to be a late-round selection, per Pauline.
"The Patriots have also shown a lot of interest in Auburn's 'other' running back, Cameron Artis-Payne. The fast-rising ball-carrier stood on his 40 time from the combine but ran the shuttle and 3-cone today (still awaiting times). During drills, he was quick-footed and caught the ball exceptionally well. Expect Artis-Payne to solidify himself as a top-100 pick."
Artis-Payne entered Senior Bowl week as a mid- to late-round selection due to his limited explosiveness, but thanks to his efforts there and at the NFL scouting combine, he has worked his way up draft boards.
While the Patriots already have youngsters in Brandon Bolden and Jonas Grey on the roster, the addition of Blount mid-season may signal that Belichick isn't happy with the development of his young ball-carriers and could lead him to look to the draft as a means of adding solid competition.
