Could the Patriots trade up to select a quarterback in the 2021 NFL Draft?
Many would like to see it happen, as it seems unlikely the team will be able to get one of the better QBs at No. 15 overall, but the issue is the cost to do it.
In ESPN's Mel Kiper’s latest mock draft, he has the Patriots trading up to No. 9 and selecting North Dakota State’s Trey Lance.
“The Patriots would have to send the Broncos at least the No. 15 pick, a second-round pick and a 2022 pick,” Kiper wrote. “And I wouldn’t be shocked if it took the Pats’ 2022 first-rounder to get the deal over the finish line.”
So according to Kiper, for the Patriots to get into the top 10 it would cost their own first-round pick, their second-round pick and potentially a 2022 first-rounder. It seems the second first-rounder would have to be in play, as without it the deal really isn’t great for Denver.
“Lance could be (the answer),” Kiper wrote. “He started only 17 career games in college -- all against FCS competition -- but he’s only 20, and he has all the tools to be a great dual-threat quarterback. Remember that the Patriots have a few players returning after opting out of last season, too, so they could contend in the AFC East again.”
For the Patriots, if they truly believe Lance, or any other quarterback that’s there late in the top 10, is the future of their organization, they should make the deal. Quarterbacks are that valuable. It would also mean they can devote almost all of their cap space to positions besides quarterback.
Clearly, the cost of trading into the top 10 is going to be high, but it’s the nature of the business and could prove to be worth it.
