NFL mock draft, 3 rounds: QBs, trades, surprises in latest predictions
TRADE: Lions trade 7th pick to Patriots for 15th pick, 46th pick, 2022 1st-round pick
47. Pick Analysis. Trey Lance. 7. player. Scouting Report. QB. North Dakota State
Patriots GM/HC: Bill Belichick (David Ziegler)
Finishing in third place didn’t sit well with Bill Belichick.
Watching Tom Brady pass the Lombardi Trophy from one boat to another as a member of the New England Patriots?
That had to downright drive him crazy.
Don’t take my word for it, though. The New England Patriots spent more money in free agency in 2021 than any other year in franchise history (obviously) despite the fact that the salary cap went down this offseason.
In addition to re-signing Cam Newton, the Patriots brought in:
- EDGE Matt Judon
- TE Jonnu Smith
- TE Hunter Henry
- LB Kyle Van Noy
- DL Davon Godchaux
- OT Trent Brown
- WR Nelson Agholor
- DL Henry Anderson
- DB Jalen Mills
Besides the Houston Texans, the New England Patriots might have made the most transactions of any team in the league this offseason.
They’ve set the team up quite nicely for the quarterback, and as aggressive as they’ve been, they might continue to do some things out of character and trade up for a quarterback.
With the offensive infrastructure put in place in the 2020 season with Cam Newton as quarterback and Newton coming back for the 2021 season, is there a more perfect option to be his understudy in this draft class than North Dakota State’s Trey Lance?
Some might argue Justin Fields, but Lance might be better equipped to run the offense Josh McDaniels installed in 2020 after Tom Brady bolded for the Bay.
There will be no pressure to force Lance onto the field sooner than he is ready. He has the type of work ethic and personality I think Bill Belichick will fall in love with, and he gives the Patriots a viable option to build around for the future with the Bills having an MVP candidate in Josh Allen, the Jets getting Zach Wilson, and the Dolphins in year two with Tua Tagovailoa.