NFL mock draft 2021: Panthers, Patriots, Bears get aggressive for QBs

I know, I know. Bill Belichick likes to trade down to accumulate extra draft capital, not spend extra capital to trade up for a specific player. However, the New England Patriots need to inject some life into their franchise and making an aggressive move up the board for a young and talented quarterback is certainly one way to do that.

In this 2021 NFL mock draft, the Pats get aggressive, sending their first and second-round picks this year and their first-round selection in 2022 to the Philadelphia Eagles to move up to No. 6. The Eagles may be in the quarterback market themselves, but I do like the idea of them giving Jalen Hurts a chance to prove himself this season and having two first-round picks next year if Hurts struggles and they need to trade up for a quarterback.

2021 NFL mock draft: Round 1, 6th overall

After making the aggressive move up the board, the Patriots select Trey Lance, the extremely gifted quarterback prospect out of North Dakota State. It is difficult to watch Lance on tape and not fall in love with his game. He is a big and strong quarterback who stands tall in the pocket and senses pressure well. Lance shows the ability to play within the structure of the offense but can also improvise when needed.

Physically, Lance displays impressive athleticism at the quarterback position and tremendous natural arm talent. He can fit balls into tight windows with velocity and also make plays with unique arm angles when needed. On top of that, Lance is arguably the best running quarterback in this draft class. His ability to escape the pocket and make plays with his legs is impressive, as he consistently displays an exciting combination of speed and power as a runner.

Simply put, Lance is an extremely exciting quarterback prospect who has huge upside at the next level. His impact playmaking ability fits the modern NFL extremely well, while his ability to make plays within the structure of the offense will appeal to Belichick and the Patriots. Cam Newton is back in New England but he is only a short-term solution at the position. The Patriots still need a long-term answer at quarterback and Lance would be an ideal target.

Lance feels like a strong fit for this team and is a player worthy of making this kind of major investment.