The New England Patriots have long been a threat to trade up in the first round to land one of the top quarterbacks, should Bill Belichick have a particular arm on his mind. Are they now actually engaging in those talks?
Reportedly, yes, all the way up at the Falcons’ fourth overall pick:
"With the Patriots, these trade discussions are a strong indication they’ve found conviction in at least one of those top QBs, and word is they think highly of Justin Fields – highly enough that they’ve even spoken with the Falcons about the fourth pick."https://t.co/sQhixRjetm
— Jeff Howe (@jeffphowe) April 28, 2021
It’s still not a lock that the Falcons trade that pick, but if they can land a couple future firsts, I’m thinking they probably should, given the time they have left with Matt Ryan. If the Patriots made a move to land Fields – on the assumption that Mac Jones to the 49ers isn’t just smoke – then you’d have only Trey Lance as the possible guy to fall to at least 8 or 9 (a trade with the Broncos?) or further from there. Of course, it’s a question whether the Bears will – or even can – trade up anyway, but it would be nice if there were more than one of the top QBs still on the board when those 8 and 9 picks go.
All of this comes against the backdrop of rumors that Fields was set to fall well out of the top five, which may have been the Bears’ only shot to land him. A trade up from 20 into the top 10 seems possible. A trade up to 4, when the 49ers had to give up two first and a third just to move up from 12 to 3? That’d be a pricey, spicy meatball.
But hey. Draft starts tomorrow. Let the rumors keep flying.