Patriots draft profile: Bub Means could reunite with his old coach in New England

Means spent the last two seasons in Pittsburgh with Tiquan Underwood.

The New England Patriots continue their hunt of adding potential playmakers to their offense. Luckily for them, the 2024 NFL Draft features a deep wide receiver class filled with weapons capable of making an impact from very early in their respective pro careers.

If New England avoids the position early on to fill other needs — or double-dips at the spot for the second-straight year — they could be intrigued by a group of late-round prospects. One of those is Pittsburgh’s Bub Means, who spent the last two seasons playing under Patriots current assistant wide receivers coach Tiquan Underwood.

A reunion with Means could certainly be on Underwood and the Patriots radar as an intriguing Day 3 pick, so let’s take a look at what the receiver would bring to the table.

Hard facts

Name: Bub Means

Position: Wide receiver

School: University of Pittsburgh (via transfer of Louisiana Tech & Tennessee)

Opening day age: 23 (1/10/2001)

Measurements: 6’1”, 212 pounds, 10 1/8” hand size, 33 1/4” arm length, 79 3/8” wingspan, 9.35 Relative Athletic Score

Experience

Career statistics: 40 games (19 starts) | 1,545 offensive snaps, 75 special teams snaps | 90 receptions, 1,552 receiving yards, 10 touchdowns | 13 kick returns, 273 yards

Accolades: Honorable mention All-ACC (2023)

A three-star recruit out of Georgia, Means originally committed to Tennessee where he redshirted while playing four games as a cornerback. Means then transferred to Louisiana Tech where he transitioned back to wide receiver but was forced to sit out the pandemic-shortened season due to transfer rules.

Gearing up in the 2021 season, Means hauled in 22 receptions for 430 yards — for a team-high 19.6 yards per catch — and two scores. Despite the increased role, Means reentered the transfer portal and eventually committed to Pittsburgh, where he teamed up with Underwood.

In his first year in Pittsburgh, Means appeared in all 13 games and caught 27 passes for 401 yards and two touchdowns — including an 84-yard performance in a bowl victory over UCLA. Entering 2023, Means had career-year where he posted bests in catches (41), yards (721), and touchdowns (6). Leading the team in yards, Means was an honorable mention All-ACC and eventually accepted his invitation tot he Shrine Bowl as he declared for the Draft.

Draft profile

Expected round: 6-7 | Consensus big board: No. 224 | Patriots meeting: Pro Day

Strengths: For his height and weight measurements (which included an added 15 pounds on his pro day weigh in), Means is a good athlete with impressive build-up and long speed to threaten defensive backs. He checks all the size/speed requirements in receivers that Green Bay drafted during Eliot Wolf’s tenure.

Means uses his frame and athletic ability well to beat press coverage and finish through traffic with an impressive catch radius. His size and ball skills (39.5-inch vertical) allow him to box out defenders and make plays downfield where he averaged 17.2 yards per catch and recorded at least one catch of 20-plus yards in 10 of 12 games last season.

Weaknesses: Through three seasons of consistent playing time, Means enters the draft without much production at the receiver position. He eclipsed the 40-catch mark once and tallied just one 100-yard receiving game in his collegiate career. With the ball in his hands, Means averaged under 5.0 yards after catch per reception at Pitt as he forced just 10 total missed tackles.

Means will also have some technical work to clean up as a route runner and does not finish routes at times (which sometimes led to interceptions). And despite his size, Means was not the most consistent run blocker and was flagged twice for holds last season.

Patriots preview

What would be his role? Means will not solve all of New England’s receiver issues upon arrival as a projected late-round project receiver. But, he has an intriguing skillset to add to the room with his explosiveness and ability to line up outside the numbers that could result in him serving a depth role sooner-than-later.

What is his growth potential? While the production for Means did not jump off the stat sheet, he did improve each season and ended his career on a high-note. With his plus-combination of size and speed (he ran the third-fastest 40-yard dash at the Combine among prospects who weighed 210-plus pounds) he could become a low-volume X receiver down the line.

Does he have positional versatility? Playing three-quarters of his collegiate snaps out wide, that’s where Means projects to continue to see the majority of his reps at the next level. He also has kick return experience as he average 21.0 yards over 13 returns.

Why the Patriots? The Patriots receiving room needs more explosiveness and someone who can play along the outside. Means fits those descriptions — as well as the requirements Green Bay drafted at the position with Wolf in the organization — and he’ll have a big supporter in the room in Tiquan Underwood.

“Great leader, great work ethic, great person,” Underwood said at the receiver’s pro day last month. “You never know how this thing plays out, but I would love for an opportunity to coach him again. You just never know. We’re just evaluating all the guys in this class. It’s cool because I know him personally; it hits a little different. I know his mental makeup, I know who he is as a person, so I’ll be able to convey that to the scouts, to the GM. But I’m just wishing him the best.”

Why not the Patriots? With limited production throughout his career and as a late-round prospect, New England may look for a receiver who can make more of a Day 1 impact instead of Means.

One-sentence verdict: Means will not be an immediate savior to New England’s receiver woes, but he checks off plenty of boxes they should be looking for in a late-round prospect.

What do you think about Bub Means as a potential Patriots target? Does the Tiquan Underwood connection matter? Is he even worth a flier on Day 3? Please head down to the comment section to share your thoughts.