Bill Belichick has a well-known affinity for trading back in the draft, but it sounds like New England could buck the trend and trade up. Jeff Howe of The Athletic writes that the Patriots have spoken with the Falcons about a trade for the fourth-overall pick.
If the Patriots are planning on spending assets to move up from No. 15, they presumably have a target in mind. Howe believes that these trade discussions are a strong sign that the Patriots have “found conviction” in at least one prospect, and he opines that the player is Ohio State quarterback Justin Fields. Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reported a similar sentiment earlier this week (Twitter link), noting that the Patriots were sniffing around at a trade with the hope of landing Fields. Pelissero’s report indicated that New England had spoken with the Lions at No. 7 and the Panthers at No. 8.
If Belichick and the Patriots do decide to cash in on a quarterback prospect, it’d be a surprising development. The Patriots haven’t used a first-round pick on a quarterback during Belichick’s tenure with the team (although that was easy to do with Tom Brady under center), but they’ve also generally been wary of trading up during the first day of the draft. Belichick has only traded up in the first round on three ocassions during his time in New England, and only one of those trades saw him acquire a top-15 pick (Ty Warren at No. 13 in 2003).
For a team that likes to retain their draft capital, the Patriots would have to give up a bounty to acquire the No. 4 pick. The 49ers had to give up No. 12, two future first-rounders, and a third-round pick to get up to No. 3; the Falcons would presumably ask for a similar haul if New England wanted to jump from No. 15 to No. 4. It wouldn’t be as pricey to move from No. 15 to either No. 7 or No. 8, with Pelissero estimating that it’d cost at least a second-rounder.
Of course, it’s still uncertain if Fields will even be around at No. 4, much less No. 7 or No. 8. The 49ers could still very well select the Ohio State product with the third-overall pick.
Why trade that high for him? With Denver acquiring Bridgewater, who else is going to draft a QB before them? Barring someone else trading up:
Jax, NYJ, SF – QB
ATL – I don’t think they will, nor do I think they should
Cin – no
Miami – no
Detroit – I think they’ll roll with Goff considering how expensive he is
Carolina – I can’t imagine they traded for Darnold only to draft another QB
Denver – I don’t see it after getting Bridgewater
Dallas – no
NYG – no, Jones is Gettleman’s boy
Eagles – maybe? I think it would be a dumb idea unless they want to write off Hurts already
Chargers – no
Vikings – maybe? Don’t really see it but who knows?
I genuinely don’t think anyone will take Fields (provided the Jets or 49ers don’t take him) before the Pats draft at 15. Although a different team could move up.
Just curious. I don’t think the trade today eliminates the Broncos from a QB if one is available at 9.
It’s Teddy Bridewater in a division with Mahomes and Herbert. They cannot compete that way.
Now they don’t have to trade up but I think they are still players in the QB draft
I agree with your logic. But it’s reasonable to think someone will move up for a qb (WAS, CHI) so I can see why they’d want to. I doubt Denver does now, see how lock/TB does if they flop they’ll prob have a top 3 pick next year considering how tough that division is.
I can see CAR trading back, gaining some of the lost capital in the SD trade. I remember seeing they have 16 players graded as round 1 prospects (who knows how true that is) so that could make sense.
Yeah, it’s a tough one to decipher. Unless they’ve completely given up on Lock and plan to use Teddy as a mentor/opening starter and transition to the new guy.
I think their spotty track record with drafting QBs under Elway could make them gun shy.
The confusing part is that they eliminated year 2. Where they could have moved on from Lock they essentially have to reevaluate QB from scratch after this season.
lmao, just caught some ESPN in a bar and they did a mock draft that had Fields falling to the Pats at 15. May as well take everything I wrote here with a boulder of salt if ESPN is agreeing with me.
I think BB wants Jones and is of the belief that the 9ers will take Lance. And if Jones is taken, I can see him taking back or grabbing Pitts.
I believe the same as to who BB really wants, and personally would much prefer Jones to Jimmy G. Just not sure I see the dominos falling that way.
I wouldn’t be surprised if if the Viks draft a QB with all the stuff that’s comes out of their WR and TE comments but I wish the pats would take Lance instead
All Ohio st QB’s seem to get overrated or struggling big time I’m sure it’s the players not the school but who knows and everything your here about Lance is he would be the perfect guy in NE smart and clean head
Yeah I think another team jumping up is a bigger thing. If the team order stays as it is then there’s a chance Fields falls (although I do think Denver would take him), but the Pats might need to trade up preemptively to prevent someone like Washington, Chicago or New Orleans doing so first.
I have a feeling one out of Detroit, Carolina and Denver would gladly take Fields if he falls to them. It’s not like any of them have an elite QB and Fields has a really high ceiling.
All it takes is one of these assumptions to be wrong or a team jumping up into one of the slots and the player is gone, the opportunity is lost. If Patriots want a qb they should move up to get him. They will just use the picks on various sized linebackers and defensive backs to use on special teams anyway.
You are correct. And the Pats don’t need all their draft picks this year anyways. Their roster is quite full and stacked except at QB and WR
Do you think teams would be hesitant to trade with the patriots after watching them win for so many years.
Probably not, but you don’t want to help them either haha
I feel like this narrative of bellichek never trading up for a qb is overblown. When you have a stud qb for 20 years it makes trading up for a qb unnecessary. Did The Dolphins trade up for a qb during Marino’s tenure? How about the Broncos during elway? Saints during brees? Bellichek is extremely fortunate to hVe hd a franchise qb for as long as he did, which allowed them the flexibility to use their picks to better the team
Yeah but Bill knew the Brady era was ending as early as 2019 and has had no real plan at QB.
Your point is well taken, but just for argument’s sake the Broncos did draft Tommy Maddox 25th overall in 1992. I don’t think any trades were involved.
Could the 49ers move to fields if the pats jump to four and they see something the 49ers don’t ?
If they do, BB gets the guy he really wants if he moves up to four: Mac Jones. Unless he trades for Jimmy G before the Falcons are on the clock, that is.
15, 2022 1st, Gilmore, and some mid round pick in 21 or 22?
The Patriots will probably trade up because the bears and Washington will look to trade up too, most likely before the pats. If the pats found their qb, they will do whatever they can to make sure no one picks him ahead of them
The pats won’t be the one to trade up it’ll be Washington or the bears both were playoff teams that relied solely on their defenses to keep them in games
BBC
Belichick probably wants Zach Wilson and is trying to make the Jets make an unforced error by drafting Fields because they want to keep him away from New England.
No one has to make the Jets commit errors, they do it on their own
link to twitter.com
If they trade for Jimmy G, I doubt the Pats draft a QB in round 1.
Jimmy G. can’t stay healthy in sunny California. What makes you think he’d be any more durable in cold New England?
Jimmy G will end up being their QB by the end of the weekend.
A guy with a poor work ethic doesn’t seem like a good fit with Belichick.
The same media guys who weeks ago told us that Mac Jones was a “lock” to go to SF at #3 are now saying that it is now between Jones and Trey Lance. …. hmmmmm …… I was thinking the pick was gonna be Lance at #3. I am now convinced that SF is taking Justin Fields at #3 and all the other talk has just been smoke screen. SF may even have been the source of the trashing of Fields lately to make sure that the Jets stay locked in on Zach Wilson, who is gonna be a bust BTW.
I’ve seen some rumors about a Cowboys/Pats trade. Makes sense. As long as the Cowboys can get Horn or Surtain.
Pats just signed two outstanding TE’s in free agency. Pitts is a stud but BB is not spending draft capital on a third TE.
Patriots will trade out of the first round! They will draft Trask in the third round. My prediction
Maybe the Pats want this and maybe they don’t.
But, Atlanta definitely wants the idea that the Pats want this out there.