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          Who are Bill Belichick and Nick Caserio checking out at Maryland pro day?

          • Mike Reiss, ESPN Staff WriterApr 2, 2015, 04:30 PM ET
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              Mike Reiss is an NFL reporter at ESPN and covers the New England Patriots. Reiss has covered the Patriots since 1997 and joined ESPN in 2009. In 2019, he was named Massachusetts Sportswriter of the Year by the National Sports Media Association. You can follow Reiss on Twitter at @MikeReiss.
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          New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick and director of player personnel Nick Caserio attended University of Maryland pro day on Thursday, as the club continues its scouting process.

          Think these two had something to talk about?

          Keenan McCardell was a member of Belichick's Cleveland Browns teams from 1992-1995 and later played in some big games against New England.

          When Belichick or a Patriots staff member attends a pro day or puts a player through a private workout, it is used as a springboard in this space to learn more about the prospect. So in this case, let's dive in to what players Belichick and Caserio likely had their eyes on Thursday:

          WR Stefon Diggs (6-foot, 195 pounds) -- Diggs has the look of a Patriots-type receiver because of what he can do with the football after the catch. He might fit best in the slot, but he also has the size and speed (4.46 in the 40) to also line up outside. Diggs could also be a factor as a returner. ESPN ranks him No. 16 at the position.

          OLB Yannik Cudjoe-Virgil (6-foot-2 1/8, 248 pounds) -- In what analysts have described as a deep draft for edge players, Cudjoe-Virgil is ranked No. 24 at the outside linebacker position by ESPN. He transferred to Maryland from Seton Hall (Pa.) and played at Maryland the last two years, where media analysts relay he took well to coaching and was a high-effort player who showed the ability to set the edge in the running game. He was born in Trinidad.

          WR Deon Long (5-11 5/8, 192 pounds) -- Similar to Diggs, Long looks like an inside-outside receiver, and that is the type of versatility the Patriots generally like. Long has taken a long road to get to this point, as Maryland was his fifth school (he attended three FBS schools and a junior college). He also had a broken leg that sidelined him in 2013. He's older for a rookie, and will be 24 by the start training camp. ESPN ranks him 35th at the position.

          DT Darius Kilgo (6-foot-3, 5/8, 320 pounds) -- A three-year starter, Kilgo has some notable physical traits at a hard-to-fill position, which analysts project could make him a late-round or free-agent consideration. ESPN ranks him 32nd at defensive tackle.