Periodically as we go through the offseason, we'll let you know what others are saying about the Patriots' first-round pick at No. 15 and give our thoughts.
The 49ers' trade from 12 to 3 and the Dolphins' subsequent trade to 6 with the Eagles, have basically rendered previous mock drafts moot. But there have been a couple of major mocks that have been updated since then, and two of them have the Patriots trading up in the draft for a quarterback.
[table id=451 /]
McShay's explanation for the Fields trade-up and pick:
Even after the Niners' move up the board, it doesn't appear Jimmy Garoppolo is in the cards this season for the Patriots. And while they brought back Cam Newton, the veteran is only signed for a year at $3.5 million guaranteed. The Pats haven't spent a first-round pick on a QB since 1993 (Drew Bledsoe), but now is the time. Fields is accurate downfield and can develop into a top-tier starter for a team searching for stability at the position in the post-Tom Brady era.
Parsons could slip due to character concerns, but he's super talented and Bill Belichick's "Patriots Way" might be a good fit for the young linebacker.
Bedard's reaction: We've been over this pick before. I'm all for the Patriots taking Parsons if he checks out off the field. The dude is a physical freak and would be a terrific successor to Dont'a Hightower. They could be New England's Lavonte David and DevinWhite. Matthew Judon and Kyle Van Noy are really good players in the front seven, but the Patriots still lack explosiveness and speed there — and you can't just keep playing safeties all the time. Would be nice to have one elite athlete in the front seven.
Micah Parsons is a LB prospect in the 2021 draft class. He scored a 9.78 RAS out of a possible 10.00. This ranked 48 out of 2103 LB from 1987 to 2021.
Updated as I had his broad mixed up with Oweh (not that it dropped him much).https://t.co/dKkx5L2ZTQ #RAS pic.twitter.com/eFheUqC1gH
— Kent Lee Platte (@MathBomb) March 25, 2021
Gayle's explanation for the Lance trade-up and pick:
Bill Belichick didn’t spend north of $130 million in guaranteed money this offseason — the second-most of any NFL team in a single offseason in league history — to watch his Patriots play themselves into a worse pick in 2022 without their quarterback of the future on the roster. New England wore its checkbook thin knowing it can afford to do so with Cam Newton making backup money on a one-year deal and a rookie contract at the quarterback position pending.
Atlanta is pot-committed to Matt Ryan for two years after restructuring his contract during free agency. Per Over the Cap, the Falcons take on $65 million in dead money if Ryan is traded prior to June 1. And the team takes on $40.5 million in dead money if it trades him before June 1, 2022.
While it’s enticing to stay put at No. 4 and secure the best non-quarterback in the class, Atlanta would be foolish to not sell the pick to the highest bidder looking to come up for Lance or even Jones. Adding at least two future top-50 picks to move down 11 spots in this situation is better than any single non-quarterback selection at No. 4 overall, and that includes Kyle Pitts, Ja’Marr Chase, Penei Sewell, etc.
New England will need to give up a lot of draft capital to do it, but it doesn’t have much of a choice. The Patriots likely won’t be drafting in the top 15 again in the Belichick era, especially after improving as much as they did this offseason. They’re in a very similar spot as San Francisco in that both teams have too good of coaches to ever draft in the top five but also too middling of quarterbacks to ever go the full distance.
Get aggressive, bet on Belichick and add a cost-controlled rookie contract at quarterback to balance the free agency decisions and give the team a high-ceiling prospect at the most important position in football.
Bedard's reaction: I think this is fantasyland. I don't think there's any shot the Patriots pay close to the freight the 49ers did, so why are we talking about this?
And you're going to move up that far, for a player who has barely played in two years, and will need to sit ... for how long? I think Mike Lombardi said on his podcast that Lance is a year away from being a year away. He's not gospel, but he knows more about the way the Patriots think than anyone I know.
I could maybe see the Patriots doing this for Mac Jones, if they believe in him. But I think the 49ers are taking him, the more I think about it.
And what the hell am I saying? The Patriots aren't trading up that far ... maybe if they had two first-round picks ... after the owner just came out and said you have to build from the draft.
OTHER MOCK DRAFTS
Chris Trapasso, CBS Sports (4/1)
15. Mac Jones, QB, Alabama
Let's be real. This is where Jones will ultimately be picked. From Saban to Belichick.
Bedard's reaction: If Jones goes 15th, I'd be completely stunned.
Ryan Wilson, CBS Sports
15. Trey Lance, QB, North Dakota State
There's no guarantee Lance lasts this long but if he's here the Patriots will likely think about taking him -- assuming they don't trade up for another QB or make a move for Jimmy Garoppolo. Cam Newton isn't the player he once was and Lance is the QB you build in the lab to be successful in today's NFL.
Bedard's reaction: Ryan is right, Lance is not lasting this long, not with QB thirsty teams like the Panthers, Broncos and Washington hanging around. And I think the Patriots would rather take a Mond later after a trade down, than take Lance to sit for a while here.