The most important want for the Patriots heading into NFL free company and the draft is undoubtedly quarterback, however it isn’t New England’s solely want.
The Patriots have holes throughout their roster, particularly on the offensive facet of the ball at deal with, vast receiver and tight finish.
Whereas the Patriots may choose their quarterback of the longer term at No. 3 general — almost certainly both Jayden Daniels or Drake Maye — New England’s mind belief may decide to commerce down in an effort to realize as a lot draft capital as potential. That might permit the Patriots to fill within the gaps at sure positions they usually may nonetheless choose a quarterback — simply not one seen as high tier within the draft class.
However ESPN’s Subject Yates believes that wouldn’t be a smart technique for the Patriots to deploy.
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“Given the determined want at quarterback there, my mentality could be the chance price,” Yates mentioned throughout a convention name Thursday, as transcribed by ESPN’s Mike Reiss. “For those who don’t take one now, and also you get a nominal improve in free company that may push you to the eighth or tenth decide within the draft subsequent yr, do the identical train proper now. If the Patriots commerce down from decide three to select eight or 11, it’s going to price the buying crew a boatload.
“For those who’re the Patriots, and also you don’t take certainly one of these quarterbacks now — and now you’re choosing tenth or eleventh subsequent yr — are you keen to pay the total freight a yr from now? As a result of it’s simply actually laborious to search out quarterbacks within the draft that find yourself going tenth, eleventh, twelfth which might be value a first-round decide. Often these guys are pushed up the board artificially.”
It’s a really legitimate level by Yates. The Patriots, who reportedly are all for including a veteran signal-caller by way of free company, shouldn’t attempt to get fancy and wait round to get the younger quarterback they desperately want.
Fields sees buying and selling down and taking a quarterback later within the draft as too dangerous of a bet, particularly given the expertise each Daniels and Maye possess.
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“There’s no comfort prize for the Patriots at decide three,” Yates mentioned. “These guys are all so totally different that regardless of which quarterback is on the market there for the Patriots, I imagine any of these three are the sort of building-block gamers that you could spend a decade with they usually can grow to be the centerpiece of what the Patriots hope is a brand new arc of successful once more.”
