New England Patriots: 2018 NFL Draft Targets
By Hal Bent
QUARTERBACK:
The last time the New England Patriots selected a quarterback in the first three rounds of the draft they seemingly struck gold nabbing Jimmy Garoppolo at the end of the second round of the 2014 NFL Draft. However, quarterback Tom Brady has risen to the pressure of Garoppolo pushing him and elevated his game winning two Super Bowls and throwing for over 500 yards in a losing effort to the Eagles in February.
With two first round draft picks and two second round picks the Patriots have the ammunition to move up to around pick ten if they choose, but it seem a very unlikely trade for Bill Belichick to make. The top four quarterbacks should be long gone by the time New England is on the clock.
At the end of the first round or beginning of the second round, the Patriots may be in play for Lamar Jackson of Louisville or Mason Rudolph of Oklahoma State. Both quarterbacks have terrific upside and make sense for New England. Pick number 31 may be the choice for a quarterback as the Patriots will have a reasonable fifth-year option to exercise on the contract that they would not have with a second round pick.
If New England waits they could still take a chanced on small school Richmond’s Kyle Lauletta, Toledo’s Logan Woodside or Washington’s Luke Falk in the third round. All three have strengths and noticeable weaknesses, but all three should have a year or two to “redshirt” behind Brady and back-up quarterback Brian Hoyer.