Patriots Potential Trade Partner for Top-5 Spot Emerges

Head coach Bill Belichick is expected to make a move ahead of the 2021 NFL Draft. According to recent sources, the New England Patriots will probably look for a potential trade partner in the upcoming draft. If Belichick wants to get one of the best quarterback prospects in the 2021 NFL Draft, he will have to trade up from the current No.15 selection.

Albert Breer from Sports Illustrated reported that the Atlanta Falcons may join the Patriots in a potential trade deal. They have had some conversations about the deal. Breer has more details.

“The first three picks are spoken for. And that leaves the Falcons as a team to watch—one that’s going to have to make a decision on its pick with some complicated finances at quarterback (due to all Matt Ryan’s restructures), and a team in need of cheaper young talent with which to surround its core. My guess has been that the Falcons will stick at No. 4 and take a quarterback, because I don’t think they want to count on picking that high again and this happens to be a really strong year at the position. But I do know they’re open to the idea of trading the pick and have had exploratory talks with other teams on a deal that would have someone else moving up to No. 4.”

Patriots to take part in a potential trade deal

Getting the No.4 pick would give the Patriots a chance to snatch one of the best quarterback prospects. The group has BYU’s Zach Wilson, Ohio State’s Justin Fields, Alabama’s Mac Jones, and North Dakota State’s Trey Lance.

If Belichick moves up the draft, he should also work with other teams. According to Breer, the Detroit Lions, Cincinnati Bengals, and Miami Dolphins may be potential suitors.

“And Detroit’s another team I’ve been told to keep an eye on—since they can give other teams an opportunity to jump Carolina and Denver in the quarterback line (though that’d more likely be a draft-day deal, since you can’t totally be sure who’ll be there at No. 7 right now). I’m told they’ve got a cluster of players ID’d they’d be good with at seven, but are open to doing a deal to move down as well.

“What about Cincinnati and Miami? The former’s been conservative in moving first-rounders over the last 25 years, and will likely have its pick of a top target (Kyle Pitts/Ja’Marr Chase) or a bodyguard for Joe Burrow at No. 5; and the latter went through a lot to stay in the top six within the context of its trade with San Francisco (though it’s hard to rule moves out with Chris Grier pulling the trigger for the Dolphins).”

If New England trades with Detroit at No.7, the Bengals at No.5, or Miami at No.6, we’re likely discussing a draft-day contract.

New England needs a CB. They should also get an offensive tackle or a wide receiver.