New England Patriots: 2020 NFL Draft trade up targets
By Ian Higgins
Bill Belichick and the New England Patriots have not been known to trade up in the draft, but the Patriots also hold the 23rd pick this time around. Can this year bring new high-end talent?
The 2020 NFL draft holds some highly coveted prospects in the top half of the first round, just out of reach for the New England Patriots at the 23rd overall pick. Possible franchise centerpieces such as Tua Tagovailoa, Derrick Brown, Jeff Okudah and others are available within the first ten selections if a team is willing to expend the draft capital to move up into that position.
The New England Patriots have never been a team known for trading up in the draft, instead opting to trade back and collect more selections in the middle rounds of the draft to find the less-known players coming from small schools.
This method has worked in the past, but New England finds itself in a tight spot for the 2020 offseason. With Tom Brady looking to have a foot out the door and other defensive pieces possibly finding paydays in other cities, Bill Belichick may need to go against his standard philosophy and find a cornerstone player higher in the draft.
The 2020 NFL draft also gives opportunities for redefined units, with unique prospects such as Isaiah Simmons being personifications of the ‘positionless’ trend sweeping across the NFL. This ability to be a dynamic playmaker from multiple positions across the field gives special value and could be a new wrinkle in the story of the New England Patriots dynasty.
Other players in this draft class still have their own unique attributes to make them different from the rest of the pack, but fit into a more standard role for Belichick’s roster.
The New England Patriots trading up is not overly likely, but it is certainly possible. Here are three specific players who they should at least consider making a move up for.