3 draft day trades New England Patriots should consider
By Mike Luciano
1. A huge trade up for Derek Stingley
Of the top two corners in this draft, it looks like Cincinnati’s Ahmad “Sauce” Gardner is likely going to be the first at his position to come off the board. Stingley is going to follow, and he could end up with New England if Belichick is willing to sacrifice a big chunk of future draft capital, like a future first-rounder.
Stingley’s 2019 tape is as good as any you’ve ever seen from a freshman cornerback. While he was still good over the last two years, his playing time has been marred by injuries and inconsistency. Still, his physical gifts have made him worthy of a selection fairly high in this draft.
Derek Stingley Jr. could be a star for the Patriots.
Stingley, unlike McDuffie, has produced absolutely zero doubts about his ability to play outside if he is healthy. With the speed to run with anyone and the leaping ability to become an elite ballhawk in the Jackson mold, he’ll be available for any team smart enough to grab him near the end of the Top 10.
Moving up over 10 spots might sound like a huge risk for the Patriots, but Stingley (and Gardner, if he is there) is worth such an investment. In a league where cornerbacks are making the transition to the NFL faster than ever, Stingley could be a threat to all of those young quarterbacks in the AFC East.