Patriots: Could Julian Edelman news and N’Keal Harry trade rumors change draft plans?

The New England Patriots answered fans’ prayers this offseason by overhauling their fruitless wide receiving corps in free agency, though many probably would’ve preferred to see them target a clear-cut No. 1 option over the likes of Kendrick Bourne and Nelson Agholor.

However, those two newcomers will go a long way toward providing Cam Newton with more dependable options, and that’s really all fans could ask for after last season.

As far as the rest of the WR corps is concerned, there are legitimate question marks behind Bourne, Agholor and 2020 breakout star Jakobi Meyers.

After all, a recent update regarding Julian Edelman’s knee rehab strongly hinted that he’d be unable to play a full slate next season, putting his future with the Patriots in serous question.

On top of that, New England has reportedly been fielding trade offers on N’Keal Harry following his second consecutive lackluster season after he was drafted in the first round back in 2019.

Taking these two concerning storylines into account, is it possible that the Patriots change their approach to the 2021 draft?

Could the Patriots’ questions at wide receiver change their draft approach?

The Patriots clearly emphasized quantity over quality in free agency. However, the sheer unknown regarding the futures of Edelman and Harry might leave them with no other choice but to target a wideout in the first or second round this month.

The likelihood of that happening will increase tenfold if the front office isn’t comfortable forking over draft capital in order to move up and draft a quarterback. Assuming that five QBs are off the board by No. 15 overall, there’s a chance that one of the top three receivers — Ja’Marr Chase, Jaylen Waddle or Devonta Smith — are available for the taking.

Even if the Patriots trade up to draft a quarterback and manage to retain their 2021 second-rounder, they should absolute consider nabbing a receiver at No. 46 overall.

At that point in the draft, the likes of Elijah Moore, Terrace Marshall, Rondale Moore, Tutu Atwell and D’Wayne Eskridge, all of whom figure to be capable of stepping in and making an impact as rookies, could still be on the board.

Bottom line? The Patriots, even after the signings of Hunter Henry and Jonnu Smith, are going to need more than three receivers for Newton. There’s no guarantee that Edelman and Harry will be back next season, and Bourne, Agholor and Meyers, as dynamic as they might be, won’t instill much fear (if any) in opposing defenses.

Patriots: Possible N’Keal Harry trade value revealed

The New England Patriots have been shopping wide receiver N'Keal Harry and his reported trade value won't thrill the front office.