All focus is on the top 5 quarterbacks in the 2021 NFL Draft.
Trever Lawrence and Zach Wilson appear to be surefire choices in the first two selections, with Justin Fields, Mac Jones and Trey Lance likely close behind. The New England Patriots have re-signed Cam Newton for a one-year deal, but they will likely add depth to the position at some point in the design.
Whether that is in the first round or later is not known. But it seems the only way to get one of the top 5 guys is to trade in. Former Patriots director Michael Lombardi gave a detailed report on why the team wouldn’t trade – but the foregoing logic also didn’t lead to Bill Belichick spending the most money on a free agency.
Fox Sports’ Peter Schrager’s most recent mock draft has the San Francisco 49ers select Jones at number 3 and trade the Patriots to number 4 to take Fields. The question is, what would it cost for the patriots to take this step?
Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated gave his best guess.
The Falcons pick, on the old Jimmy Johnson design value chart, is worth 1,800 points. The patriots are in 15th place, which is 1,050 points. In general, you would appreciate a future scoop a little less than the average pick. A pick from the middle of the first round equals 975 points, which would put you well above 1,800 points. The thing is, if you think the patriots will be good next year – and we have two decades of evidence that Bill Belichick is capable enough to make that happen – you’re not going to like the choice that much.
So let’s say you would rate the Patriots’ first round of 2022 as the 28th squad. It is worth 660 points, and 1,050 plus 660 is 1,710. Add to that the Patriots’ two fourth-round picks, which are worth 54 and 50 points, and you’re there.
Getting Patriots: Fourth Choice.
Falcons get: 15th Pick, 120th Pick, 122nd Pick, 2022 First Round Pick.
In the past, that doesn’t seem like a price that Belichick would be willing to pay. After this insane low season, anything seems possible.