New England Patriots: Seven 2019 NFL Draft predictions
By Hal Bent
The Patriots DO make multiple draft-day trades
On Thursday through Saturday of the NFL Draft, one guarantee is that Bill Belichick will be wheeling and dealing. Whether it is moving up, moving down, trading a draft pick for a veteran, or trading out and accumulating a pick for next year, Belichick rarely sits on his hands during the draft.
And with a dozen draft picks in the 2019 NFL Draft and compensatory picks able to be traded, expect the Patriots to come out of the gates very aggressive… especially on Friday and Saturday. With just the last pick on Thursday night, the Patriots will have the opportunity to move up if a premier player drops in the first round. A premier pass rusher dropping into the 20s could be a target, especially with ammunition later in the draft that could be used to move up.
Because of a plethora of late-round picks (five picks between number 205 and 252), do not discount the Patriots making moves to pluck former high-draft picks who have worn out their welcome from other franchises, either. Last year saw the Patriots take a flier on 2016 first-round draft pick wide receiver Corey Coleman; disappointing 2016 first-round draft picks Laquon Treadwell (Minnesota) and Josh Doctson (Washington) may be targets with a late-round pick this year.
Next. Take a look at our seven-round Patriots 2019 NFL Mock Draft!. dark
Whether moving up, moving down, targeting a veteran, or moving out to a future year, you can count on the Patriots and Belichick making a number of moves during the 2019 NFL Draft. No team, coach, or GM is better suited for adding layer upon layer of intrigue to an event like the draft, so it’s high time we all get our popcorn ready, sit back, relax, and watch as another excellent edition of a Belichick draft unfolds.