Patriots Draft Profile: Could Josh McDaniels Push For This Receiver?
The New England Patriots no longer need to overextend themselves while looking to build an arsenal for Drake Maye.
We just don’t think they’re done, though.
New England made its biggest splash yet when it inked veteran wide receiver Stefon Diggs to a multi-year deal last Friday. Diggs joins a class that already addressed several other needs in free agency, including potential cornerstone additions like Milton Williams, Harold Landry, Robert Spillane and Carlton Davis. We already floated a scenario of how they could fill that last remaining hole at left tackle, which could, in turn, lead to doubling down on offseason wide receiver additions.
Why not look to supplement the veteran addition with a high-ceiling rookie?
Jack Bech, much like another man we profiled, could be the man they look toward in that scenario, as there’s no doubt he has at least one fan at One Patriot Place.
OVERVIEW
Josh McDaniels drafted Eric Decker back in 2010, and though they barely had an opportunity to work together, there was a long-term admiration on both sides that eventually led to a short-term reunion nearly a decade later.
Bech could essentially serve as a redo.
We rarely find comparisons that we like so much, but this one feels almost perfect. Bech is coming off a relatively unremarkable career when it comes to his raw numbers (133 receptions, 1,869 yards, 13 touchdowns in 45 games played for LSU and TCU), but his performance at the Senior Bowl and athletic testing have us envisioning the exact role he’d be successful in at the next level.
McDaniels historically feasts with talented slot receivers, and Bech fits the same mold as Decker — a bigger, more physical player at the position who can be moved around depending on field position and personnel surrounding him. We love the fit, but let’s talk more about the player.
NFL SCOUTING COMBINE
Bech isn’t a freak athlete, but he did turn in a 9.26 Relative Athletic Score after the 2025 NFL Scouting Combine, per resident workout wizard Math Bomb.
Height: 6-foot-1
Weight: 214lbs
Hand: 9″
Arm: 31 1/2″
Vertical Jump: 34 1/2″
Broad Jump: 10′ 5″
3-Cone Drill: 6.84 seconds
20-Yard Shuttle: 4.21 seconds
Bench Press: 19 reps
STRENGTHS
Bech is about as physical a receiver as you’ll find in this draft — slot or not. TCU tasked him with being its primary chain-mover, which led to increased reps from the inside and increased production across the board in 2024.
Why was he so successful?
Bech is great at finding space against zone defenses, and not only finding that space, but owning it with body positioning and physicality at the point of attack. We enjoyed seeing him beat press coverage only to identify what the defense was running and exploit it with speed changes and leverage in his routes. It’s really great stuff.
Bech also has strong hands, which is a nice bonus since he needs to catch the ball.
WEAKNESSES
Julian Edelman, he is not.
Bech isn’t going to make many people miss in open space, which limits his ability to be used on gadget stuff. It’s also probably not wise to toss him out on the perimeter unless you’re using him as a blocker or in the red zone, so there are limits to his game.
TCU got one great year of production out of him, too, with his first three seasons serving as mediocre at best.
WOULD HE BE WORTH A SECOND-ROUND PICK?
No, probably not.
The Patriots have a really strong slot option in DeMario Douglas, while Diggs is almost certainly going to see a lot of time in that spot, as well. We can’t see them continuing to add players who will take reps away and disrupt the current ecosystem without providing anything new.
New England isn’t in a position to overlook talented players due to system fit, though, which is why they’d probably aim higher for wide receiver help. Bech is a good player, who would be great for a team like the Kansas City Chiefs or Baltimore Ravens.
If you’d like more individual profiles, check out the full series.