Mel Kiper Jr. Predicts Patriots Would possibly possibly well also Replace Up If 1 of High QBs Falls in NFL Draft
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The Fresh England Patriots re-signed Cam Newton this offseason, and to boot they have Jarrett Stidham restful striking around on his rookie deal. But ESPN draft guru Mel Kiper Jr. believes the group will be a candidate to crawl up on draft night if notion to be one of the primary pinnacle quarterbacks slips.
In a mailbag printed Thursday, Kiper Jr. ranked the Patriots as essentially the most seemingly group to commerce up for a quarterback if notion to be one of the primary pinnacle signal-callers within the draft—particularly Trey Lance or Justin Fields—becomes on hand.
“The Patriots assemble now not normally have a buy as high as No. 15,” Kiper wrote. “Can Invoice Belichick & Co. truly acquire the money for to now not sleep for a franchise quarterback? The 2022 class is now not on the subject of as factual as this one.”
Within the latest immense board from Bleacher File’s NFL Scouting Department, four of the head seven avid gamers are quarterbacks, with Trevor Lawrence and Fields claiming the head two spots and Lance and Zach Wilson pulling in at Nos. 6 and 7.
The Patriots acquire themselves at No. 15 following their worst season since 2000, but they’ve performed their due diligence in addressing their offensive components this offseason. Newton relied heavily on the flee in 2020, but the group beefed up his suggestions for the crawl heading into their second twelve months far off from Tom Brady.
Inexperienced persons to Fresh England encompass Jonnu Smith, Hunter Henry, Nelson Agholor and Kendrick Bourne, though the group will be reeling from the retirement of Julian Edelman after 12 seasons.
The Patriots closing drafted a quarterback in 2019, when they took Stidham within the fourth spherical, but he took a backseat to Newton and light backup Brian Hoyer and did now not begin in 2020. As of now, he appears to be role to compete with Newton for the beginning job another time.
Kiper furthermore urged that Denver, Washington and Chicago are candidates to crawl up within the draft for a quarterback.