The New England Patriots have made it clear that they wish to get back to winning as soon as possible. Could that mean getting aggressive when the NFL Draft rolls around in April? Obviously the easiest way to start winning games is having a franchise quarterback that can lift the team around him. Which is exactly why the Patriots should select one of the top prospects at third overall. Whether that is Jayden Daniels or Drake Maye, they shouldn’t hesitate when it comes to taking a quarterback. This will allow them to be more aggressive later in the Draft. A huge move that New England may consider is trading back into the first round from where they sit at pick thirty four in the second round. This would give them the choice of quite a few big time prospects and would give them the ability to bring in two difference makers on day one of the Draft.
There are a few different options the Patriots could explore by securing another first round pick. Will they choose to get a true number one receiver? Somebody to watch would be Adonai Mitchell from Texas. Mitchell has great film, showing off his downfield threat abilities. With his size and speed, he is a player the defense needs to plan for. He ran a 4.34 forty yard dash at the NFL Scouting Combine last week, which is incredible. Many people were very impressed that somebody of his size, could run the forty that fast. At six foot two inches, two hundred and five pounds, Mitchell shows how much of an athlete he is by being able to run that fast. Mitchell solidified himself as a first round pick with his performance at the Combine. So, if the Patriots get aggressive and want to give their new quarterback a star at the receiver position, they will need to move into the first round to get Mitchell.
Another option for New England if they decide to secure multiple first round picks, would be offensive tackle. Tackle is a huge need for the Patriots, and if they wish to get their franchise left tackle for the foreseeable future, moving up the Draft board could be a good option. There is a good amount of starting tackles in this year’s Draft, and securing one should be a top priority for the Patriots. Looking at many mock drafts from experts, they show Washington tackle Troy Fautanu, being selected in the bottom half of the first round. This would put him in range for the Patriots to make a move and select him. Fautanu is a great athlete and measured in a six foot four inches, three hundred and seventeen pounds. He has good height, but is a little bit small when it comes to his weight. He uses this to his advantage though, being sneaky quick and athletic is one of the best parts of Fautanu’s game. He could use some polishing on certain techniques, but with proper coaching, he could become the Patriots tackle of the future to protect their new rookie quarterback.
How will New England approach moving around the draft board?
Eliot Wolf and Jerod Mayo may be eager to prove themselves this year. In order to do that, they will need to get aggressive and take some risks. Moving around the draft board to secure multiple first round talents could be a risky move by giving up later draft capital. But is it worth the risk if the reward is getting back to winning in Gillette Stadium? Only time will tell, and the Foxborough Faithful can only hope that Wolf and Mayo will do right by the New England Patriots.
