New England Patriots: Ideal 2021 NFL Draft target in each round
The New England Patriots have been the single most aggressive team in free agency this offseason, spending big to land impact players on both sides of the ball. The Patriots have done a nice job of filling holes on their roster with talented NFL veterans this offseason, but let’s be honest, the only reason this team is spending so big in free agency is because they have missed so badly in the draft in recent years.
Bill Belichick and company have struggled to find impact talent in the draft in recent years but will look to turn their luck around in the 2021 NFL Draft in April. The Patriots hold the 15th overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft and will have a great opportunity to add multiple impact players throughout the seven-round process.
Building a team through free agency is never an ideal path to take. Free agency is a good way to fill holes but building through the draft with young, cost-controlled talent is always preferred. How can the New England Patriots find consistent value throughout the 2021 NFL Draft? Find out as we pinpoint ideal and realistic targets for the team in each of the seven rounds.
New England Patriots 2021 NFL Draft: Top First-Round Target
Current first-round selection: 15th overall
1
Trey Lance QB
Acquiring Trey Lance will not be easy but the New England Patriots still have a massive long-term need at the quarterback position and Lance feels like a perfect fit. The North Dakota State product is arguably the most physically gifted quarterback in the 2021 NFL Draft class and adding him to the mix would undoubtedly inject some much-needed life into this franchise.
Lance displays incredible natural arm talent, spraying the ball all over the field with impressive velocity and accuracy. He is also the best rushing quarterback in the 2021 NFL Draft class, showing an incredible combination of power and speed as a runner.
Lance does a great job of standing tall in the pocket, sensing pressure well taking what the defense gives him. He does a great job of playing within the structure of the offense, which will appeal to Belichick and the New England Patriots. However, Lance can also improvise and make plays on the fly when necessary, which is essential in the modern NFL.
Make no mistake about it, Trey Lance is an incredibly talented quarterback prospect who has massive upside at the next level. With this being the case, he is not going to fall to the New England Patriots at No. 15. If the Pats want to add Lance to the mix, it will take an aggressive trade up the board. While this is not typically how the Patriots operate, Lance is the kind of player who is worth making this kind of massive investment in.
This team could go in many different directions with their first-round selection in the 2021 NFL Draft but making an aggressive trade up the board for Trey Lance would be the best plan of attack.