Patriots Rumors: New England is team most interested in Lamar Jackson
According to recent New England Patriots rumors, the team is the most interested party in Louisville quarterback, Lamar Jackson.
New England Patriots rumors are beginning to pick up with the NFL Draft just two weeks away. New England is one of the most active teams in the NFL Draft, as Bill Belichick isn’t afraid to make trades. This year should be no different.
New England is armed with a ton of draft capital this year. They have four picks in the first three rounds, including two first-round picks. That will give them an opportunity to move up and down the draft board if there are specific players they are targeting.
The Patriots are still one of the best teams in the NFL, but they do have some holes in their roster. The offensive line, linebacker and secondary are some areas that the Patriots could use help at immediately. In the long term, a quarterback is a need for New England.
Tom Brady won the MVP award last season but will be 41-years old when the 2018 season begins. Right now the only quarterback on the roster is Brian Hoyer, who is 32. The younger quarterbacks the Patriots had recently, Jacoby Brissett and Jimmy Garoppolo, were both traded last season.
Brissett was traded to the Indianapolis Colts right before the regular season began. Garoppolo was traded, with a lot of fanfare, to the San Francisco 49ers right before the NFL Trade Deadline.
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As a result, New England could very well add a quarterback in the 2018 NFL Draft. Thus far, the Patriots have been linked to Oklahoma State quarterback Mason Rudolph and Oklahoma quarterback Baker Mayfield.
The Patriots had a private workout with Rudolph in early-April. New England reportedly had an affinity for Mayfield, but he is expected to go near the top-10. If New England wants the Oklahoma product, they will probably have to make a move up the draft.
The most recent Patriots rumors link the team to yet another quarterback. This time it is Louisville’s, Lamar Jackson.
Jackson has been one of the more polarizing prospects. He does not have an agent, so he has been conducting business representing himself. He is one of the most productive players ever in college football, yet there are widespread opinions on where he will land in the NFL Draft.
According to Mike Freeman of Bleacher Report, those opinions are improving. Jackson’s popularity is on the rise according to Freeman, as teams are impressed with his intelligence and football acumen.
The team most interested in Jackson? None other than the New England Patriots. There is no doubt that Jackson has a ton of talent and potential. You don’t perform at the NCAA level as he did without it. Jackson just has to land with the right team to help him hone those attributes and reach his ceiling. New England would be a great place for that to happen.
Jackson completed 59.1 percent of his passes last season, throwing for 3,660 yards and 27 touchdowns compared to 10 interceptions. His legs may be his most deadly weapons, as he rushed for 1,601 yards and 18 touchdowns last season.
Jackson’s yardage was actually higher in 2017 than it was in 2016 when he took home the Heisman Trophy. If the Patriots are able to get their hands on a player this productive they could have something special at the next level.