Video: LB Sione Takitaki arrives and opens with a statement before taking questions from reporters.

DT Armon Watts shares that 1st-year Patriots DL coach Jerry Montgomery (then at Oklahoma) had recruited him out of high school.

Now, a decade later, Watts (an Arkansas alum) reconnects w/ Montgomery.

Watts said he takes pride in versatility to play all techniques on the line.

On the Patriots' media schedule Thursday:

🎙️🏋️‍♂️ 11:45a: LB Sione Takitaki, DT Armon Watts

(Takitaki will wear No. 1⃣6⃣, and Watts No. 9⃣4⃣)

Hat-tip to Dane for his extensive, passionate work on draft preparation ... and now time to dive in. An invaluable resource.

Feature story: He pulled tags off the draft board while in high school, keeps the 1st scouting reports he wrote as motivation, enjoys reggae music, and learned from an elite staff.

Why some say Patriots top decision-maker Eliot Wolf is 'built for this.'

dlvr.it/T5Jvhq

CB Christian Gonzalez is making the switch to jersey number 0️⃣.

Jabrill Peppers on Matthew Slater's presence: 'It said advisor ... I think this is his way to stay engaged but take the load off his body and get some more time with the family.'

Jabrill Peppers: “Long time, no see!”

Happy Hunter.

Themes from his Q&A with reporters: How much he wanted to be part of the Patriots’ rebuild … and Jerod Mayo’s energy and command of a room making an early impression.

Setting the table …

On the Patriots' media schedule Tuesday:

🕛🎙️🌶️🏹🏋️‍♂️ 12p: Jabrill Peppers, Hunter Henry

(Second day of voluntary offseason program)

From the 'AWWW YEAH' retired-but-always-a-Patriot department:

Matthew Slater is among those at Gillette Stadium today, greeting players on the first day of the voluntary offseason program under first-year head coach Jerod Mayo.

First day of the Patriots' voluntary offseason program.

News story: Patriots and safety Kyle Dugger agree to 4-year extension with base value of $58 million. The deal comes as the team is set to begin its voluntary offseason program -- likely not a coincidence as Jerod Mayo/Eliot Wolf work to establish culture. tinyurl.com/3e75725h

One of the themes of the Patriots’ offseason has been re-establishing a culture of draft, develop and re-sign.

Kyle Dugger (2020 second round) continues that trend, which includes prior Bill Belichick draft picks Mike Onwenu, Anfernee Jennings, Josh Uche and Co.

Significant develop Sunday morning for the Patriots, with safety Kyle Dugger agreeing to a four-year extension, per sources. The deal has a base value of $58 million.

More details to come.

Quick-hit thoughts/notes around the Patriots and NFL (is a Texans-like turnaround realistic?; voluntary offseason program begins this week; Tyler Guyton and the OT draft class with links to NE; freshly-painted walls in facility resonate with players etc.) tinyurl.com/yhfmh225

Based on the draft order, and positions of strength, what scenarios could be in play for the Patriots at No. 34?

ESPN’s Field Yates, who slotted South Carolina WR Xavier Legette to New England in his latest 2-round mock draft, shared his insight on a conference call:

The Patriots are hosting draft-eligible prospects from local New England colleges today. Those who are New England natives playing out of the region also qualify to be invited as part of the NFL's rules (e.g. Wisconsin CB Jason Maitre of Everett, Mass.).

A few notes:

🏈 Rhode…

Flattered to be asked by Mike to talk about a career journey that started at the Middlesex News/MetroWest Daily News; never would have dreamed of covering one Super Bowl, let alone nine.