After the Patriots traded for 49ers tackle Trent Brown in exchange for a third-round pick the day of Rounds 2 and 3 of the NFL draft, they were left without a selection in the third round.
Now, over a week following the draft, it's been learned Bill Belichick and the Patriots wanted to trade back into the third round.
Appearing on the Cincinnati Enquirer’s “Bengals Beat” podcast, director of player personnel Duke Tobin told Paul Dehner Jr. Belichick called him about trading for their second third-round pick, No. 78 overall.
“We were getting ready to take [linebacker] Malik Jefferson, and I think it was Belichick that called and I’ve got the card in my hand, I’m trying to call our guy down in … and Belichick calls and he wants that pick," Tobin said. "And I’m like, 'Well Bill, thanks, I appreciate it, you know, what do you want to give? I’ll listen, I’ll always listen.' And he wants to give commensurate value for it, and the answer is no, I think we’re going to pick.”
It's unclear who the Patriots were trying to trade up for, but it's worth noting as New England went from picks No. 56 to No. 143 without making a selection.
Here is who was selected immediately after pick No. 78, which could be an indication of who the Patriots were targeting if it wasn't Jefferson:
79. Seahawks: Rasheem Green, DE, USC80. Texans: Martinas Rankin, C, Mississippi State81. Cowboys: Michael Gallup, WR, Colorado State82. Lions: Tracy Walker, S, Louisiana-Lafayette83. Ravens: Orlando Brown, OT, Oklahoma84. Chargers: Justin Jones, DT, N.C. State