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With the NFL draft closing in, ESPNBoston.com is narrowing its list of prospects that it projects as the best fits for the Patriots at areas that seem likely the club could target:

Player: Markus Wheaton

School: Oregon State

Position: Wide receiver

Listed height/weight: 5-foot-11, 189 pounds

Scouts Inc. rank: 11th (scouting report)

Draft projection: Second round

Why he’s on our list: Receiver is arguably the Patriots’ greatest need, and Wheaton is one of the fastest and most complete prospects at the position. He was one of the team’s 30 pre-draft visitors at Gillette Stadium and served as a team captain with solid intangibles. He is dangerous with the ball in his hands, whether down the field or in the running game.

Recommended link: Alan Dumonjic, on Rotoworld, writes on comparisons between Wheaton and Mike Wallace.

Key stat: Averaged 13.5 and 13.7 yards per reception in each of the last two seasons at Oregon State. (school bio here).

Workout stat: He posted a 37-inch vertical leap.

Steve Muench of Scouts Inc.: “The 5110 and 189-pound Wheaton is on the leaner side and certain teams may project him as a slot receiver, but he can line up on the outside or the inside in our opinion. He does a nice job of using his hands and feet to get off the line when corners try to reroute him at the line of scrimmage when he lines up on the outside. Plus he can add a little bulk to his frame and he can compete for jump balls considering that he has a 37-inch vertical. The bigger issue when it comes to the measurements is his 8.5- inch hands and his 2012 Oregon tape gives front offices plenty to think about. He dropped several passes, muffed a punt and struggled to field the ball cleanly throughout against the Ducks. It’s not as bad as it seems though and a broader look at his body of work shows the Oregon game is the exception not the rule. He flashes the ability to catch the ball away from his frame and he rarely dropped passes he got his hands on outside that disappointing performance. The biggest reason he projects as a fringe second round pick is speed. He ran a 4.45 at the Combine and he’s not just a track star. It shows up on tape. He’s got the second gear to run under the deep ball and run away from pursuit when he gets a seam after the catch. He has limited experience as a return man and again his ability to field kicks is a concern but he has the potential to develop into a big-play threat in the return game as well. Finally, his ability to change directions quickly shows up in the ability to separate from man coverage and make defenders miss in space.”

With the NFL draft closing in, ESPNBoston.com is narrowing its list of prospects that it projects as the best fits for the Patriots at areas that seem likely the club could target:

Player: Jesse Williams

School: Alabama

Position: Defensive tackle

Listed height/weight: 6-foot-3, 323 pounds

Scouts Inc. rank: 7th (scouting report)

Draft projection: Second round

Why he’s on our list: In a draft that is considered deep along the defensive line, Williams is a bigger-bodied tackle who played under former Bill Belichick assistant Nick Saban. With Vince Wilfork (31) and Tommy Kelly (32) having two years remaining on their contracts, and Kyle Love and Brandon Deaderick scheduled for unrestricted free agency after the 2013 season, thinking to the future is likely to be part of the Patriots’ mindset. Williams has potential to be a rock in the middle for years to come.

Recommended link: Andrew Gribble from the Birmingham News writes on Williams’ strength and speed from Alabama's Pro Day.

Key stat: Didn’t miss a start over the last two seasons with Alabama.

Workout stat: Timed at 4.9 in the 40-yard dash at his Pro Day.

Steve Muench of Scouts Inc.: “His backstory is interesting. A native of Brisbane, Australia he grew up playing rugby and took up football when he was 14-years old. He signed with Hawaii in 2008 but he had a falling out with the program and he attended Western Arizona Community College for two years before transferring to Alabama in 2011. In terms of the measurables, a right knee injury prevented him from running at the Combine but he reportedly ran in the 4.9s at his Pro Day. At 6033 and 323 pounds that’s an impressive time. He was able to bench and he put up 225 pounds a respectable 30 times in Indianapolis. In terms of the film, he is scheme versatile but he is a prototypical 4-3 nose tackle at his best stopping the run. He rarely gives ground one-on-one and he can get off blocks in time to make the play. Teams don’t have to take him off the field on third down either. Though he doesn’t show the ability to consistently win with his first step and shoot gaps he is an effective bull rusher who can move quarterbacks off the spot and he closes well when he gets a clear path to the quarterback. He also has what defensive line coaches covet and that’s a great motor. He flies around the field whether he’s chasing the run or rushing the passer. One last point worth mentioning is he has had problems staying healthy and durability concerns could cause him to slide a bit.”

News came from ESPN NFL Insider Adam Schefter this morning that Jets cornerback Darrell Revis had been granted permission to take a physical with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, the latest development in the ongoing trade discussions between the two teams. A deal appears close -- if not imminent -- at this time, although specific compensation terms between the two teams and details of a new contract for Revis in Tampa Bay are yet unknown.

Operating under the assumption that the deal does in fact come to fruition, here are a few thoughts as it relates to the Patriots and the NFL as a whole.

1. To start, this is a monumental transaction. Trades in the NFL are relatively infrequent -- at least compared to its major-sport counterparts -- and especially trades that involve a player of this magnitude. There are many who believe (and count me in this group) that -- when healthy -- Revis is the best defensive player in football, regardless of position. He has virtually every trait desired in a prototypical cornerback, and he has the ability to dramatically influence a game week-in and week-out. He can take away an opponent's top receiver, which in turn improves the defense's pass rush as well. He has excellent ball skills, is a force with the football in his hands when he turns it over, and is a stout cornerback against the run to boot. For all those reasons, there's little debate that he was the Jets' best player on their roster.

2. From the simple standpoint that the Jets' roster loses its best talent, this is a positive for the Patriots. Revis performed at a high level against the Patriots, notching two interceptions in nine career games, but that figure alone doesn't tell the whole story. During the 2009 and 2010 seasons when the Jets reached the AFC Championship game, their defense showed itself capable of (at least on occasion) of slowing down the Patriots' passing attack. Revis played a big part in that, and not having to face a player of his caliber twice a season is something Bill Belichick and Tom Brady probably have no issue with. At the NFL owners meetings in March, Jets head coach Rex Ryan commented on the departure of Wes Welker to Denver, saying, "I'm just glad Wes Welker isn't there. I hated Wes Welker. I'm kidding ... kind of. Actually, I'm a huge fan of Wes Welker. He had historical success. That's some big shoes for (Amendola) to fill." Belichick could have similar feelings towards the Revis deal.

3. Unlike Welker leaving New England (save a possible compensatory pick in 2014), the Jets will receive compensation for Revis. The specifics of such compensation are not currently clear, but previous reports have indicated that the package will include multiple draft picks in either 2013, 2014 or both, one of which will almost assuredly be a first-rounder. Until we know the actual compensation, our scope of this trade isn't complete. Moreover, while the deal right now dampens the Jets' immediate future (and makes life tougher on coach Rex Ryan), it will give them building-block draft choices to rebuild their roster going forward. In a way, the Revis trade is another move that signifies the franchise's overhaul. While the Patriots remain among the NFL's elite, two teams in their division (Buffalo as well) look to be building from the ground up.

4. Echoing what Mike Reiss wrote earlier today, I was of the belief that the Jets would be better served to hold on to Revis and attempt to make them their franchise cornerstone going forward. Cornerbacks of his caliber are nearly impossible to come by, and while his contract demands may sound steep, the state of the salary cap may prevent him from landing such a deal anywhere. We'll find out soon if Tampa Bay is able to meet his desires.

5. It was hard to imagine a scenario in which the Jets would be competitive in 2013 with Revis on their roster, particularly with the roulette of mediocre quarterbacks currently in place. But we've seen more than a few instances of franchise turnarounds in the NFL, and there's little doubt that he would've helped that process along. While the Jets will have an opportunity to build the roster back up with the compensation they are likely to receive, there's little doubt that, right now, the team took a step back in talent. That's welcomed news in Foxborough.

Quick-hit thoughts around the NFL and with the Patriots:

1. Everyone knows that the early rounds offer the best odds to draft a projected starter, and the Patriots’ 2013 draft will almost certainly be defined by what they do with their top selections. But let’s not overlook this point either: This projects as a unique year in terms of the club’s potential aggressiveness in rookie free agency. The numbers tell the story. With 68 players under contract, and then an NFL-low five draft picks (for now, at least), that would up the roster total to 73. With teams allowed an offseason roster limit of 90 (which includes unsigned draft choices), it potentially opens the door for as many as 17 rookie free agent signings. For a comparison, the Patriots signed just seven rookie free agents immediately after the draft last year, 12 in 2011, and nine in 2010. So while the draft ends on Saturday, some of the Patriots’ most important work will come post-Saturday. You never know, you might find another BenJarvus Green-Ellis ... or even better a Wes Welker or Victor Cruz.

2. Patriots’ best rookie free-agent signings in Bill Belichick’s tenure: long snapper Lonie Paxton (2000); guard Stephen Neal (2001), cornerback Randall Gay (2004), defensive lineman Mike Wright (2005), outside linebacker Pierre Woods (2006), Green-Ellis (2008), linebacker Gary Guyton (2008), center Ryan Wendell (2008), quarterback Brian Hoyer (2009), linebacker Dane Fletcher (2010), defensive lineman Kyle Love (2010), defensive end Justin Francis (2012) and running back Brandon Bolden (2012).

3. When it comes to having just five draft picks (1, 2, 3, and two 7s), I don’t think this is the type of situation Bill Belichick wants to be in on an annual basis. He has spoken in the past about how he values flexibility to trade in all directions on draft day, and that flexibility comes with having a full arsenal of picks, and often more. With no picks in rounds four (Aqib Talib trade), five (Albert Haynesworth trade) and six (Chad Johnson trade), it sets up a scenario where a trade up the board in the early rounds is highly unlikely this year unless Belichick is willing to give up a pick in a future draft. And based on his past draft-day activity with the Patriots, the chance of that happening is slim. Belichick has never traded a future pick as part of a draft-day deal.

4. Not expecting to see Patriots tight end Aaron Hernandez in organized team activities or mandatory minicamp over the next two months after his recent shoulder surgery. Word is that Hernandez can expect about a four-month recovery period. One would expect Hernandez to be managed carefully once training camp opens, possibly even opening on the physically unable to perform list, but there is enough time for him to be ready for the season barring any unexpected setbacks.

5. Given what has been reported as the potential return for Jets cornerback Darrelle Revis, I still don’t see the compelling reason for the Jets to make the move, although it seems that viewpoint might be in the minority. In a draft defined more by its depth than star quality, the Buccaneers’ first-round pick (13th overall) isn’t an overwhelming value from this view. That's why I think it makes more sense to keep Revis this year, give Rex Ryan a legitimate chance to save his job, and attempt to stay in the mix to sign Revis next year at a time when the salary cap isn’t expected to rise much and a record-breaking offer might be hard to come by. After all, top cornerbacks were getting around $5 million per year this offseason (even if Revis doubles that, it's still within reason). The Jets seem to be conceding that they couldn’t sign Revis once he becomes a free agent. So much can change over the course of a year that anything is possible, and I wouldn’t just give him away.

6. Here were some of the draft-specific things that stood out to me from various news conferences with NFL general managers over the last week or so:

Chargers general manager Tom Telesco: “This year it’s really unique. I’d say the first 15 picks or so … we don’t really know who may go in the first 15, which is a little different. Usually the first four or five, you can pretty much pinpoint, and after that you have to start doing some educated guessing. But this year, the first round from a fan’s standpoint, it should be really exciting. For us, it just means probably more preparation than usual because it’s hard to get a really good feel for what will happen in the first 15, certainly the first 10.”

Bills general manager Buddy Nix: “There are more safeties, good safeties, available this year in the draft than I’ve seen in the last 10 years. Sometimes you have three guys in the first 3 or 4 rounds. This year we have them all through the draft.” (Ravens general manager Ozzie Newsome said his club is likely to select one at some point.)

Falcons general manager Thomas Dimitroff: “There is not necessarily a 'wow' factor, but there are very solid players in the draft, not only in the first round, but 2-3-4 rounds. It’s a good defensive draft along the front, with good cornerbacks and safeties. Some good offensive linemen too. It’s a good solid depth draft.”

Ravens assistant general manager Eric DeCosta: “There are 32-35 extra players [who are] draftable [in our evaluation]. The pool is greater, almost an extra round.”

Dolphins general manager Jeff Ireland: “We’re going to try to upgrade the offensive line.”

Browns CEO Joe Banner: “What we’re really trying hard to do is resist the temptation of doing something quickly and not being able to sustain it versus trying to have some degree of patience; [to] build a team that should be sustainable and has the right strengths to compete against the best teams in the league.”

Lions general manager Martin Mayhew: “You don’t have those seven immediate impact starters that change your franchise at the top of this draft. … We didn’t give as many first-round grades this year as we normally would have. It’s deep, though. It goes deeper into the second round this year.”

Colts general manager Ryan Grigson: “Defensive line, offensive line and secondary, I feel like it’s better than last year … The game is won and lost in the trenches and this is a really good trench draft.”

7. I enjoyed listening to Grigson, now in his second year with the Colts, from the perspective of learning more about his philosophy and approach to building a team. One thing that came through clearly is that the Colts want to get bigger on defense this year. “No more running the ball down our throat,” Grigson said, later noting the importance of being stout at the point of attack, with players who set the edge (that’s one reason they liked Green Bay linebacker Erik Walden) and have a bigger body type. Because the Colts were one of the league’s smallest defenses under the prior regime, it’s been a dramatic shift since Grigson and head coach Chuck Pagano came aboard.

8a. It will be interesting to see the financial terms of linebacker James Harrison’s two-year contract with the Bengals, which was signed Friday. Harrison had turned down a pay cut from the Steelers earlier in the year which would have brought his $6.57 million salary down to around $3.7 million. After receiving little interest on the free-agent market, it’s hard to imagine Harrison will come very close to $3.7 million in pay for 2013.

8b. Harrison’s presence should provide an additional spark to Steelers-Bengals games in 2013, both of which are scheduled for prime-time. Division foes meeting in prime time twice a season is rare, as it’s happened just three times before – Steelers-Oilers in 1990, Cowboys-Giants in 2011 and Seahawks-49ers in 2012. There is, of course, the possibility that the Week 15 Sunday night matchup gets flexed out of the prime-time spot.

9a. Did you know, Part I: One Las Vegas oddsmaker noted that if the season began today, the defending champion Ravens would be 7.5-point underdogs in the season-opener at Denver. It would mark the first time in nine years that the defending champ opened the following season as an underdog.

9b. Did you know, Part II: North Carolina offensive tackle Brennan Williams, the son of former Patriots defensive lineman Brent Williams (1986-1993), is a projected middle-round pick in this year’s draft.

9c. Did you Know, Part III: The Jets lead off their annual pre-draft press conference by providing the number of prospects they’ve scouted. This year’s numbers, via senior personnel executive Terry Bradway: 1,426 players evaluated, 271 different schools, 5,000-plus reports, more than 300 interviews, with 220 players on their main draft board.

10. With the Patriots opening at the Bills this season, here’s the type of personnel switch that figures to be looked at closely at Gillette Stadium: Buffalo was working 2011 second-round draft choice Aaron Williams at safety, not his natural cornerback position, in the team’s first minicamp. Williams was drafted with the second pick of the second round, right after the Patriots selected Ras-I Dowling (to this point a disappointment because of injuries). The Bills like the idea of having a cover corner at safety given all the spread passing games in the NFL. Although there are some differences, a connection could be drawn to the Patriots moving Devin McCourty to the position.

The 2013 ESPNBoston.com reader mock draft is scheduled for Monday, April 22. The draft will start at 11 a.m. ET.

As has been the case over the last three years (2012, 2011, 2010), we have three regular commenters participate. Last year it was "Mr. Scratch," "PatsFanTRichter" and "DinoScapelli." In our first two years, "401PATSFAN" and "gln826" were involved.

We started the 2013 process by inviting all five back. "Mr. Scratch" and "PatsFanTRichter" are confirmed to participate again, while "DinoScapelli" and "gln826" have work/time commitments that didn't fit this year. We never connected with "401PATSFAN."

All five will receive an invite again next year as part of this annual "tradition."

To fill the fourth slot this year, we welcome in "Clark12to81", who was selected by fellow commenters for his insightful contributions on the ESPNBoston.com Patriots blog.

This will be the draft order:

1. Chiefs -- Mike Reiss
2. Jaguars -- Mr. Scratch
3. Raiders -- PatsFanTRichter
4. Eagles -- Clark12to81
5. Lions -- Mike Reiss
6. Browns -- Mr. Scratch
7. Cardinals -- PatsFanTRichter
8. Bills -- Clark12to81
9. N.Y. Jets -- Mike Reiss
10. Titans -- Mr. Scratch
11. Chargers -- PatsFanTRichter
12. Dolphins -- Clark12to81
13. Buccaneers -- Mike Reiss
14. Panthers -- Mr. Scratch
15. Saints -- PatsFanTRichter
16. Rams -- Clark12to81
17. Steelers -- Mike Reiss
18. Cowboys -- Mr. Scratch
19. Giants -- PatsFanTRichter
20. Bears -- Clark12to81
21. Bengals -- Mike Reiss
22. Rams -- Mr. Scratch
23. Vikings -- PatsFanTRichter
24. Colts -- Clark12to81
25. Vikings -- Mike Reiss
26. Packers -- Mr. Scratch
27. Texans -- PatsFanTRichter
28. Broncos -- Clark12to81
29. Patriots -- Mike Reiss
30. Falcons -- Mr. Scratch
31. 49ers -- PatsFanTRichter
32. Ravens -- Clark12to81

It's natural, perhaps even our first instinct, to try to grade a team's performance in a given NFL draft following its final selection. After all, the draft is about filling perceived needs, and players selected are often viewed through the needs-based lens.

But what we've come to find out is that drafts take time to properly evaluate. Who knew that Alfred Morris (a sixth-rounder from Florida Atlantic), not Trent Richardson, would be the most productive rookie running back in 2012?

Not even one year is enough time to accurately assess a class. Rob Gronkowski, Aaron Hernandez and Stevan Ridley are all fine examples of players who blossomed during their second season in the NFL.

So how long does it take to size up a draft class? There's no perfect answer, to be fair, but three or four years seems like a sufficient starting point.

Going with the three-year lens, Pete Prisco of CBSSports.com recently released his "regrading" of the 2010 NFL draft, broken down by team. The Patriots were among the teams that he most "undergraded," as the team received a B-plus mark following the draft.

With the aid of hindsight, the class is looking exceptional, with Gronkowski, Hernandez, Devin McCourty and Brandon Spikes leading the way. For that reason, Prisco has regraded the Patriots draft as an A effort.

Writes Prisco:

"The Patriots nailed it in this draft. They had 12 picks, and of those 12 players they landed four starters and Aaron Hernandez in that draft. The four starters are safety Devin McCourty (drafted as a corner), tight end Rob Gronkowski, linebacker Brandon Spikes and punter Zoltan Mesko. Getting Gronkowski and Hernandez make this draft. They also landed backups Jermaine Cunningham and Brandon Deaderick."

The piece is a reminder that while it will be tempting to stick a grade next to the Patriots' draft class at the conclusion of the process next Saturday, a more accurate assessment will be made down the line.

To see Prisco's full 2010 draft regrade, CLICK HERE.

For those with an interest in the X's and O's of football, former NFL safety and current ESPN Insider contributor Matt Bowen has a unique breakdown of how to best defend the Patriots' two tight end package in the red zone, catalyzed by Rob Gronkowski and Aaron Hernandez.

Bowen breaks down various coverages of note, positing that the best way to contain the dynamic duo is through a Cover 2 defense, which he describes below.

"In the red zone, Cover 2 turns into 'Red 2': Rush four, drop seven to landmarks and read the quarterback. Both CBs will play a 'soft squat' (no jam, sink at the snap) and trail the No. 1 WR vertically until they are threatened with a throw to the flat. With the Mike (middle linebacker) opening his hips to the passing strength, and carrying the inside vertical, "Red 2" turns into a five-deep, two-under defense. Create a wall in the end zone, limit the vertical game, squeeze throwing windows, take advantage of the short field and force the ball to go underneath. It's boring and it doesn't look exotic on the chalkboard, but the goal of Cover 2 here is simple: defend the end zone and make the quarterback dump off the ball."

In addition to coverage specific breakdowns, Bowen highlights preferred route concepts for the Patriots, complete with illustrations that paint a vivid picture of the development of the play. Among those denoted are the "Smash-Seam," "Flat-7/Double Smash-Seam," and "Pin" concepts, which Bowen details more completely in the piece.

The piece is a comparable to a glimpse inside of a defensive meeting room, as Bowen brings playing experience to his work and articulates his insight in a way that is easy to understand.

We'd suggest checking out Bowen's other work as well.

To read the piece, CLICK HERE (Insider content).

With the NFL draft closing in, ESPNBoston.com is narrowing its list of prospects that it projects as the best fits for the Patriots at areas that seem likely the club could target:

Player: Jamar Taylor

School: Boise State

Position: Cornerback

Listed height/weight: 5-foot-10, 192 pounds

Scouts Inc. rank: 4th (scouting report)

Draft projection: Second round

Why he’s on our list: The Patriots’ history of drafting cornerbacks reflects how Bill Belichick values the position. The club looks to be in good shape for 2013, but when considering that Aqib Talib is on a one-year deal, there is an element of planning for the future as well. Taylor was a team captain and appears to have some of the desired intangibles the Patriots might seek.

Recommended link: Chadd Cripe of the Idaho Statesman writes on Taylor’s work ethic paving his path to the NFL.

Key stat: A team captain, he led Boise State in pass breakups and interceptions in 2012.

Workout stat: Had 22 reps on the bench press at the combine, tied for tops among cornerbacks.

Steve Muench of Scouts Inc.: “Taylor impressed with a strong showing the week of the Senior Bowl and he built on that momentum with a strong workout at the Combine where his 4.39 40 tied for fourth fastest time for corners this year. He’s versatile in that he has the instincts and closing burst to play zone in addition to the quick feet, fluidity and balance to match up in man. He’s not a ball hawk at this point but he has above average hands and he fields the ball well for the most part. The biggest concern is his ability to match up with bigger receivers. At 5105 and 192 pounds bigger receivers will have some success pushing him around and boxing him out underneath. There are also concerns about his ability to compete for 50-50 balls downfield and in the red zone. Although he has a 35-inch vertical and he is aggressive, he has shorter arms (30.6) so his timing has to be near perfect when he elevates and even then he will be overmatched against elites like Atlanta’s Julio Jones. Two other knocks on Taylor: He didn’t face elite competition at Boise State and he’s had some problems staying healthy.”

Here is the update on the fourth annual ESPNBoston.com reader mock draft.

As has been the case over the last three years (2012, 2011, 2010), we have three regular commenters participate. Last year it was "Mr. Scratch," "PatsFanTRichter" and "DinoScapelli." In our first two years, "401PATSFAN" and "gln826" were involved.

We started the process by inviting all five back for 2013. We have two confirmations ("Mr. Scratch" and "PatsFanTRichter") and one decline ("DinoScapelli"). Still waiting on "401PATSFAN" and "gln826."

Please confirm in the comments section of this blog entry -- we'll make Saturday at 6 p.m. ET the deadline -- and we'll go from there ("Clark12to81" is our first fill-in; please confirm you are good for this). One more blog entry will be posted Sunday to set up the draft order.

We're going to lock in Monday, April 22 for the draft.

For others who might be interested, we'll start by getting this mock set up, then potentially put together a complementary piece after it is completed.

Patriots wide receiver Julian Edelman and actor Bradley Cooper visited Boston Marathon bombing victim Jeffrey Bauman Jr. at the hospital Thursday. Edelman tweeted this photo:

Visited #survivor #stud #hero Jeffrey Bauman Jr. today. He was looking great and is a true inspiration. #strong twitter.com/Edelman11/stat…

— Julian Edelman (@Edelman11) April 19, 2013

Following up with a few more links and perspectives relating to the Patriots' 2013 regular season schedule.

1. Toughest road ahead? That's what Football Outsiders says for the Patriots, who they declare to have the hardest schedule in 2013. The reasons? The Patriots play three of the AFC's elite teams (Baltimore, Denver and Houston) and the two divisions the AFC East plays this season, the AFC North and NFC South, both project to be strong. (Insider content).

2. Welker's revenge? In his look at the top five "revenge games" of 2013, Marc Sessler of NFL.com's "Around the League" blog pegs Wes Welker's return to Foxboro on November 24 as the top choice. The return of Welker adds a layer of intrigue to the always exciting Brady vs. Manning matchup.

3. Walker's take. ESPN.com's AFC East blogger James Walker offers his take on the Patriots' schedule, noting the biggest complaint for the team to be a late bye week (Week 10).

4. Prisco's picks for best games. Pete Prisco of CBSSports.com has picked his 10 "can't-miss" game for 2013, and the Patriots are well represented. Prisco notes a matchup against the Saints, as well as clashes with a pair of AFC rivals, the Broncos and Ravens, as can't-miss.

5. Banks echoes the thought. Don Banks of Sports Illustrated unveiled his own list of "must-see" games for 2013, and the Patriots will be involved in three of 17 choices. Those three games? The same Prisco highlighted: against the Saints, Broncos and Ravens.

ESPNBoston.com's Mike Reiss, Mike Rodak and Field Yates answer the question: What stands out the most to you when you look at the Patriots’ 2013 schedule?

Mike Reiss
The two things I look for when the schedule is released is how often the team's regular seven-day schedule is disrupted, and where the bye week falls. The bye is solid, after nine games, and with the Patriots playing a Monday night game after their bye, players potentially could earn an extra day off. As for the short weeks, there are two -- vs. the Jets in Week 2 on a Thursday night in which both teams will have the quick turnaround; and Week 12 against the Broncos. With one fewer work day before that game against Denver, that would be the one part of the schedule that didn't necessarily fall in the Patriots' favor, but it's far from a major deal. I was also surprised at the Monday night game at Carolina, just in terms of the Panthers getting that national draw. It's always difficult to tell which teams will be tough (who really had the Seattle game as a loss last year?), but at this point, the most challenging pockets of the schedule look like Weeks 4-6 (at Falcons, at Bengals, vs. Saints) and the majority of the post-bye slate.

Mike Rodak
Bill Belichick has a very well-known -- and healthy -- obsession with getting his teams to play well toward the end of the season, especially after Thanksgiving. Last year's schedule was tough in that regard, and included back-to-back home games against one of the AFC's best (Houston) and one of the NFC's best (San Francisco). But those were home games. Before anyone talks about the Patriots making a playoff run again this season, they'll want to see how they perform beginning in Week 12. In fact, the first half of this season will be pretty dull for Patriots fans. Call it an extended preseason. If they can win their one major test -- a Week 4 trip to Atlanta -- they have a legitimate shot of going into their bye week undefeated. It's what happens after the bye week that will determine their season. On Nov. 24, they host the Broncos. Then they travel to Houston. Two weeks later, they're in Miami, often a house of horrors for the Patriots. Then, in Week 16, just when most Patriots teams would be starting to let up for the playoffs, they have their biggest test of the season, traveling to Baltimore. This schedule just doesn't give the Patriots any breaks after their bye week and will keep things interesting even until Christmas.

Field Yates
The NFL is a league of parity, and we've seen teams make dramatic turnarounds from one season to the next. So while we have a sense of which teams project to be strong in 2013, the truth is anything can happen and an opponent that looks like an "easy" foe now could turn out to be a tall task when the season actually rolls around. By that reasoning, the knee-jerk reaction I have relates less to the specific opponents and more to the logistics of the Patriots' schedule. In 2012, the Patriots had a stretch in which they traveled roughly 12,000 miles in a span of 17 days (to Seattle on Friday of Week 6 and concluding with a trip home from London after Week 8). The Patriots have two back-to-back road game scenarios in 2013 (which are never easy), but neither involves leaving the Eastern time zone. Additionally, the Patriots have a Thursday night game in Week 2, at which point they won't have established a seven-day rhythm of preparation. The Patriots will be able to put in preparation for their Week 12 Sunday night game in Denver during their Week 10 bye, alleviating the difficulty of preparing during a short week following their Week 11 Monday night game at Carolina. There were several times in 2012 when the Patriots were having to juggle short and long weeks during the middle of the season, a time when you prefer to be in a consistent routine. While they'll have a pair of short weeks in 2013, the timing of each is more conducive to better preparation. That's a positive for the Patriots.

Rapid reaction from the Patriots' 2013 schedule:

1. Bye is ideally placed. The bye week lands in a nice spot, on the weekend of Nov. 9-10. The Patriots will have played nine games at that point. A good time on the calendar for injured players to heal and prepare themselves for the home stretch.

2. Opening on road for third straight year. After opening in Miami two years ago, and Tennessee last year, the Patriots hit the road for the third straight season -- at Buffalo. The last time the Patriots opened at Buffalo? The Lawyer Milloy Game in 2003 (when Milloy was released the week before and sparked the Bills to a 31-0 rout). The Bills have a new regime with coach Doug Marrone, and a big question mark at quarterback, so their moves will be watched with extra attention in the coming months.

3. A win for the home fans. Unlike the 2012 schedule, when there were two prime-time home games in December, Patriots fans get a well-deserved break this year. The home prime-time games are Thursday, Sept. 12 (home opener vs. Jets) and Sunday, Nov. 24 (vs. Broncos). No potentially bitter cold nights at Gillette ... until, perhaps, the playoffs (unless the flexible schedule alters that). The other prime-time games -- vs. Falcons (Sunday, Sept. 29), Panthers (Monday, Nov. 18) and Ravens (Sunday, Dec. 22) are on the road.

4. Short week for Broncos prep. The Patriots play one Monday night game, at Carolina (who had that one picked for prime-time?), and it's notable that the short week that follows leads into a highly anticipated home game against the Broncos. The Broncos will be coming off a home game against the Chiefs.

5. Buccaneers-Jets opener should help early scouting. A minor point, but one that surely didn't slip by Bill Belichick. With the Buccaneers opening the season at the Jets, that's a chance for nice advance scouting for the Patriots, who host the Jets in Week 2, and then the Buccaneers the following week.

6. Unlikely for joint practices with Buccaneers? The Patriots host the Buccaneers on Aug. 16 in preseason action, and then the Buccaneers return to town on Sept. 22 for a regular-season matchup. Just a hunch -- Bill Belichick and Greg Schiano might pass on joint practices this time around. If the regular-season game was a bit later in the season, maybe they would have considered it. But hard to imagine the two teams practicing together on the same field and then playing a game that counts almost a month later.

7. No opponents coming off bye weeks. For what it's worth, the Patriots don't face a team coming off a bye week.

8. Like the placement of the Ravens game. A Dec. 22 game against the Ravens is an unexpected gem in the Week 16 slate. Thought it would have been earlier. A good test to get a team ready for the playoffs, if all goes according to plans for both clubs.

The following is the Patriots' 2013 regular-season schedule:

Sunday, Sept. 8 -- at Bills (1 p.m.)
Thursday, Sept. 12 -- vs. Jets (8:25 p.m.)
Sunday, Sept. 22 -- vs. Buccaneers (1 p.m.)
Sunday, Sept. 29 -- at Falcons (8:30 p.m.)
Sunday, Oct. 6 -- at Bengals (1 p.m.)
Sunday, Oct. 13 -- vs. Saints (4:25 p.m.)
Sunday, Oct. 20 -- at Jets (1 p.m.)
Sunday, Oct. 27 -- vs. Dolphins (1 p.m.)
Sunday, Nov. 3 -- vs. Steelers (4:25 p.m.)
Sunday, Nov. 10 -- BYE
Monday, Nov. 18 -- at Panthers (8:40 p.m.)
Sunday, Nov. 24 -- vs. Broncos (8:30 p.m.)
Sunday, Dec. 1 -- at Texans (4:25 p.m.)
Sunday, Dec. 8 -- vs. Browns (1 p.m.)
Sunday, Dec. 15 -- at Dolphins (1 p.m.)
Sunday, Dec. 22 -- at Ravens (8:30 p.m.)
Sunday, Dec. 29 -- vs. Bills (1 p.m.)

Preseason schedule
Friday, Aug. 9 -- at Eagles (7:30 p.m.)
Friday, Aug. 16 -- vs. Buccaneers (Fox, national broadcast, 8 p.m.)
Thursday, Aug. 22 -- at Lions (7:30 p.m.)
Thursday, Aug. 29 -- vs. Giants (7:30 p.m.)

The Patriots had veteran linebacker Larry Grant in for a workout at Gillette Stadium.

The 28-year-old Grant played the last two seasons with the 49ers, appearing in all 16 regular-season games in 2011 and 2012, with three starts. He was a backup on the inside behind Patrick Willis and NaVorro Bowman. The 6-foot-1, 251-pound Grant, who entered the NFL as a seventh-round draft choice out of Ohio State, was with the Rams from 2008-2010.

As for the Patriots' linebacking corps, they have starters Jerod Mayo (weakside), Brandon Spikes (middle) and Dont'a Hightower (strongside) returning in 2013, with Dane Fletcher, who missed the 2012 season with a torn ACL, one of their top backups. Building depth at the position, while also factoring in special teams contributions, figures to be an area of interest for the Patriots in free agency or the draft.

Patriots linebackers
Starters: Mayo, Spikes, Hightower
Backups: Dane Fletcher, Niko Koutouvides, Mike Rivera, Jeff Tarpinian

Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun first reported news of Grant's workout.