Patriots make surprising first-round trade in latest mock draft

We are officially in mock draft season, and because the Patriots have some significant positions of need (quarterback, tackle, and wide receiver), they have endless options in the first round. Everyone has made up their mind about what the best route to take is with the third overall pick, but most appear to be favoring the idea of taking one of the top quarterbacks of the class.

Most of the mock drafts to this point have followed that premise, having New England take Jayden Daniels or Drake Maye. However, the latest mock draft from The 33rd Team has them making a shocking trade back in the first round that may stir up some heavy debate within the fanbase.

With their first draft of the season that included trades, the 33rd Team had the Patriots trading the third pick to the Falcons in exchange for the eighth pick.

Atlanta wanted to move up to get the quarterback they believed was the guy, while the Patriots moved down to acquire more picks (presumably, but what those are was not listed) and take wide receiver Rome Odunze out of Washington.

It wouldn't be a terrible pick, per se, since Odunze is the third-ranked receiver of the 2024 class and is coming off the best season of his college career. However, because further details regarding the trade were not revealed, it's hard to say if it was a good move on New England's part when they desperately need a quarterback for next season.

There is a possibility they could trade back into the first in this scenario to snag a quarterback or wait until the second if guys like J.J. McCarthy or Bo Nix fall. But is that a risk they should be willing to take?

Given some vital context lacking from the mock draft, coming to a conclusion on this is almost impossible. But it is exciting to imagine the Patriots finally finding the WR1 that has eluded them for so many years yet leaves you questioning who would be throwing him the football.

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