Patriots could be team to watch in NFL Draft

After trading wide receiver Brandin Cooks to the Los Angles Rams in exchange for the 23rd-overall pick, the New England Patriots have plenty of ammunition to do what they please in the NFL Draft.

New England now has three picks in the top 50, and four selections in the first two rounds, making it extremely dangerous. Perhaps Bill Belichick decided to stand pat and simply take players at the four spots he’s in right now, or maybe there is a bigger plan. Isn’t it interesting that Belichick was working so closely with Bradley Chubb at the North Carolina State pro day? Just food for thought.

The Patriots have always been willing to move up and down the board. Typically, Belichick has tried to move down and hoard picks, but we’ve seen him go up in the proceedings as well. With Tom Brady turning 41 years old, would New England try to get into the top five for a franchise quarterback? Would they go up to the mid-teens in hopes of landing a quarterback who slides, maybe Josh Rosen or Baker Mayfield? Again, food for thought on a franchise that doesn’t play by conventional rules.

After making it to their second consecutive Super Bowl in February, the Patriots watched as parts of their team were stripped away in free agency. Left tackle Nate Solder departed for the New York Giants (and $62 million). Corner Malcolm Butler took $12 million per year from the Tennessee Titans, and was joined by running back Dion Lewis. Receiver Danny Amendola went for one more payday with the Miami Dolphins. Now, with Cooks being shipped to Tinseltown, New England is still the favorite in the AFC, but there are ample questions.

If the team lined up today — and, of course, it doesn’t — the Patriots would still have Rob Gronkowski and Julian Edelman as the primary targets. Nobody is concerned about a running game that features Rex Burkhead and Mike Gillislee. The deep threats? The best bet might be Malcolm Mitchell. In short, New England is relying on a trio of pass-catchers who are major injury risks, and two runners who have never been the main option.

All of this leads to the belief that the Patriots have to make a choice. Either they go for a win-now mode and draft playmakers who can impact 2018 (think Derrius Guice, Calvin Ridley, Dallas Goebert) or they take Brady’s heir apparent, and hope the combination of Brady and Belichick earn another ring with a lesser supporting cast.

In three weeks, we’ll have an answer to one of the most intriguing questions in football.