Plenty of option plays for Pats
After two years of inactivity on the first day of the draft, the Patriots are back as a significant presence. With their stash of first- (Nos. 23 and 31) and second-round (Nos. 43 and 63) picks, they have the ammunition to make plays for impact players near the top of the draft if they so choose. Or, they can use those assets a number of other ways to stockpile more building blocks for the future.
Putting on the general manager’s hat, here’s five scenarios the Patriots could execute tomorrow and Friday.
OPTION ONE
Move up the board for Notre Dame's Mike McGlinchey, the best offensive tackle. One possibility is making a trade with the Cardinals, who sit at No. 15. Using the NFL's trade value chart, that would mean surrendering the Patriots picks at Nos. 23 and 43 to get to No. 15. That might get the Pats in the door to make a deal and land McGlinchey, who is closest to being NFL-ready. Left tackle is the biggest area of need for the Patriots, and this is one of the best ways for them to secure the top guy. Otherwise, they can either pass on a tackle and gamble with what they have, or take someone later and have offensive line guru Dante Scarnecchia coach him up.
OPTION TWO
With the defense getting croaked in Super Bowl LII by Nick Foles and the Eagles, it could certainly use an infusion of dynamic playmakers. With that in mind, the Patriots take a page out of the 2012 draft when they made a deal with Cincinnati to move up to get Chandler Jones, swapping first-round picks and giving the Bengals an additional thirdrounder. In this case, the goal would be Texas-San Antonio edge rusher Marcus Davenport. They could make a deal with Seattle and move up from 23 to 18 by swapping firsts with the Seahawks and giving them their third-round pick (No. 95). They could try the same thing with Dallas and move up to 19, if they felt they only needed to get over Detroit at 20. They wouldn't have their third-round pick, but they'd still have No. 31 and their two second-round selections. So after getting Davenport, they could still add dynamic off-the-ball linebacker Leighton Vander Esch of Boise State. He'd be the Dont'a Hightower leg of the equation.
OPTION THREE
Make the move for Tom Brady's successor. If the Patriots have identified a quarterback from the pack, they could jump up the board to assure getting that player if he's in range. For instance, if Josh Rosen, a player they've been linked to, slips down the board, they have the ammunition to move up as high as No. 5, which is the Broncos pick. Using the trade chart, the Pats could package Nos. 23, 31 and 43, and throw in a late-round pick to move up and attempt to make a deal with John Elway, who has said he's open to trading the pick. The Colts, who hold the No. 6 pick, have also said they're willing to deal, but whether either of these teams would want to do business with the Pats is another story. The Niners at No. 9 might be a more willing partner if Rosen drops that far. Using the chart, that would cost both first-round picks.
Now, if the Pats are more in love with Mason Rudolph or Lamar Jackson, they might still have to move up a few spots to land either one.
OPTION FOUR
We'll call this the Hoodie special. Make the pick at No. 23. Maybe it's for a defensive player (Vander Esch or Rashaan Evans), or maybe Belichick goes with tackle Kolton Miller. Or perhaps he surprises everyone with a quarterback (Rudolph) in this spot, or a tight end (Hayden Hurst) or a safety (Ronnie Harrison). Whatever the choice, he then dishes off No. 31 for a first-round pick in 2019, and another second-round pick this year. It's happened before.
Belichick pulled off that scenario in 2011 with pick No. 28 in a day one draft trade with the Saints. After taking Nate Solder with the No. 17 pick, he traded his second first-round pick, adding a first-rounder the following season, and another second- rounder (No. 56) that turned out to be Shane Vereen.
OPTION FIVE
Stay in their lane. Pick from the spots they have at Nos. 23, 31, 43 and 63 in the first two rounds. Those four picks, if they hit them correctly, will restock and reload the franchise, which is the bottom line. They can get their defensive playmaker and off-the-ball linebacker at 23 (Vander Esch). They can get their left tackle at 31 (Miller). They can add a tight end at 43 (Mike Gesicki). And they can also secure the future quarterback at 63 (Kyle Lauletta). Or, they can fill those spots with whatever “value” picks Belichick sees fit. The best part
is having so many options.