Patriots: Varying NFL Draft rumors engulfing team are absolutely insane

INGLEWOOD, CALIFORNIA - DECEMBER 10: Head coach Bill Belichick of the New England Patriots watches the action during the first quarter against the Los Angeles Rams at SoFi Stadium on December 10, 2020 in Inglewood, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
INGLEWOOD, CALIFORNIA - DECEMBER 10: Head coach Bill Belichick of the New England Patriots watches the action during the first quarter against the Los Angeles Rams at SoFi Stadium on December 10, 2020 in Inglewood, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) /
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Though their free agent spending spree did wonders in terms of morphing their roster back into a playoff contender, the New England Patriots are currently working around the clock in preparation for their most important decision of the offseason.

We’d even go as far as to say that it’s their most important decision in recent memory, as it could very well define their future for the next decade.

As you might have guessed by now, we’re talking about their first-round pick in the 2021 NFL Draft.

The last rumor we talked about surfaced on Monday morning, when insider Tom Pelissero reported that the Patriots have inquired about moving up into the top 10 to draft a quarterback, with Ohio State product Justin Fields reportedly topping their wish list.

Since then, however, it’s been absolute chaos on the rumor mill regarding New England.

As media personality Pat McAfee pointed out on his show, at least four conflicting rumors have been unearthed by various insiders/analysts pertaining to the Patriots’ plans in the first round … before noon on Monday!

The varying draft rumors regarding the Patriots are bananas.

We know Bill Belichick is a master in terms of manipulating the media and generating smokescreens ahead of draft night, but this is a new level of absurdity.

It’s one thing to have two varying rumors three days before the big night, but to have numerous insiders/analysts — some of whom work for the same company — all believing the Patriots could do something different in the first round is almost unheard of.

What are fans in Foxborough supposed to make of this? Well, the more large-scale rumors suggest the Patriots trading up to draft a quarterback is the most likely scenario, especially when you consider that Pelissero believes doing so wouldn’t cost more than a second-round pick.

However, you can also argue that all four of those reporters are among the most respected in the business. They wouldn’t disclose what they perceive as relevant information if they didn’t think it had some semblance of credibility.

We’re accustomed to pre-draft hysteria and the Patriots could legitimately go four directions — quarterback, wide receiver, linebacker or cornerback — in the first round. However, it’s almost unprecedented to see a team engulfed by this many different rumors so soon before the event.

Buckle in, Patriots fans, because the next 72 hours are going to feel like an eternity.