With just a day before the NFL Draft, rumors are swirling regarding the New England Patriots and what they could be doing with the No. 31 overall pick. That includes a potential trade.
Head coach Mike Vrabel has heard the rumors surrounding the pick, and he’s not backing away from them. However, there is a lot that goes into the decision-making process that has to be considered, as he explained on Tuesday.
“It’s just a little different landscape being at 31 than you are at 4,” Vrabel said, per MassLive’s Karen Guregian.
“It’s something we’re going to have to work through and be able to navigate. There’s different mock scenarios and you work through things. Maybe someone wants to come in for 31 … What would we want to do? Who would we stay and pick?”
The Patriots do have some clear needs that they will be trying to address this year. That includes an offensive line and pass rush that need to improve, putting weapons around Drake Maye, and adding depth to several positions that lack it. On top of that, with 11 picks, the Patriots don’t need to add by trading back. However, if there isn’t a player that they want there, then it would make sense not to reach.
Mike Vrabel Has Been Vague About the New England Patriots Trading
GettyNew England Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel
These rumors and concerns about trading the first-round pick aren’t anything new. Mike Vrabel and the Patriots staff have been dealing with them all offseason.
Earlier in April, Vrabel did take the time to address the potential for a trade. At the time, he was vague, though, insisting that they could trade up or down. That leaves just about every possible outcome when the Patriots are on the clock.
“Maybe we trade up. Maybe we trade out. I don’t know,” Vrabel said earlier in the offseason. “But I love being able to work with Eliot and Ryan and their staff, and coaches, and try to bring that together.”
What’s interesting is how little Vrabel’s tone around the pick has seemed to change. It’s all about what the team wants to do, based on how the draft is falling ahead of them.
A New Mock Draft has the Patriots Addressing the Offensive Line
GettyNew England Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel
One common place that mock drafts have the Patriots turning in the first round is to the offensive line. In particular, the tackle position, which became an issue in the playoffs.
Now, a new mock draft from NFL.com’s Bucky Brooks has the Patriots addressing that as well, by selecting Max Iheanachor from the Arizona State Sun Devils. It would be an interesting pick in that he likely would not be an immediate contributor, but could become a long-term project behind the aging Morgan Moses.
“This ascending prospect is not quite ready for prime time,” Brooks wrote. “But the presence of Morgan Moses will allow the Patriots to bring him along slowly. Iheanachor is a mauler with the size, strength and athleticism to flourish as a heavy-handed right tackle.”
There is some doubt about whether or not the Patriots would want to use their first-round pick on a player who will likely sit right away. However, there would be plenty of long-term upside to this draft strategy too. That is, if they don’t trade out of the first round altogether.
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