NFL Draft: Could Patriots Take A Chance On Randy Gregory Or Shane Ray?
BOSTON (CBS) - Besides the Jameis Winston/Marcus Mariota storyline, one of the main themes for this upcoming NFL Draft is players with red flags and character concerns.
The draft stock of Nebraska pass rusher Randy Gregory took a serious hit back in March when he admitted testing positive for marijuana at the combine a month earlier. Gregory also admitted to NFL Network reporter Kimberly Jones that he tested positive for marijuana twice in college.
Gregory, a top 10 talent, is now at risk of falling out of the first round altogether, and the same can be said for Missouri defensive end Shane Ray, who was cited for marijuana possession earlier this week. Testing positive for marijuana, or being in possession of the drug is not a big deal in and of itself, but scouts and executives have to be concerned when two top players fail what is essentially an intelligence test before the biggest job interview of their life.
The New England Patriots have a history of taking chances on guys with character concerns. Some have worked out (Corey Dillon, Randy Moss), while others have failed miserably (Aaron Hernandez).
If Randy Gregory and Shane Ray continue to slide down draft boards, and the opportunity presented itself for the Patriots to draft one of those players, can they afford to take that risk?
98.5 The Sports Hub's Adam Jones wonders, and it was this very topic that opened Tuesday night's show. Should the Patriots be steering clear after recent mistakes like Aaron Hernandez?
Listen below to hear his take: