Throughout history, the New England Patriots haven’t exactly been known for making bold moves or huge trades. Bill Belichick isn’t the one to recruit players or sign them to huge contracts, and he oftenmakes the most of the hand he’s given. That, however, could change during tonight’s NFL Draft.
The Patriots are coming off their worst season in quite some time and didn’t even make the playoffs, and while they agreed to bring Cam Newton back for another year, it doesn’t seem like he’s going to be a long-term solution at Foxborough.
That’s why, according to Jeff Howe of The Athletic, the Patriots have reportedly reached out to the Atlanta Falcons to try and trade up and get their 4th-overall pick so they can draft Ohio State’s Justin Fields.
NFL News: The Patriots Want Atlanta’s 4th-Overall Pick To Get Justin Fields
“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,” Howe reported.
“What would the Patriots have to give up to get the fourth overall pick? The 49ers had to give up their third-round pick this year and their first-round picks in both 2022 and 2023 to move up from No. 12 to No. 3. The Falcons would probably ask the Patriots for something similar to move up from No. 15 to No. 4,” ProFootballTalk’s Michael David Smith said.
Justin Fields’ draft stock took a hit after a DUI came to light, so he’s projected to be available at 4th after Trevor Lawrence, Zach Wilson, and Mac Jones are taken with the first three picks of the Draft.
The Patriots are set to be a much-improved team this season after quite a successful offseason, and adding a potential franchise player like Fields to the mix would certainly give them a big edge for the future as well.