It's common knowledge that the New England Patriots like to move around the draft board. Bill Belichick has earned his reputation as a mad scientist with the countless maneuvers he's pulled off over the years. But what about this year, what can we expect from New England in the upcoming NFL Draft?
ESPN Patriots reporter Mike Reiss tackled several questions along this line in his weekly mailbag. The first of which asked if the Patriots would be open to trading down, especially if a deal like the 2011 trade that saw the Pats net a first- and second-rounder from the New Orleans Saints so they could draft Mark Ingram came along.
"That would be a tough deal for the Patriots to turn down...as there would have to be an unexpected prospect that slipped down the board to entice the Patriots to pass on that," Reiss wrote. "One reason that No. 32 pick would have some added value to a team looking to trade back in [to the first round] is that it marks the cut-off point for five-year contracts. So if that scenario is presented to the Patriots, I'd say the odds are high they make that deal."
But is it possible that Belichick goes in the opposite direction? The Patriots have traded up in the draft before, such as when they jumped spots to select Chandler Jones and Dont'a Hightower in 2012. Could a similar scenario play out this year?
"Every year is a little different in terms of trades and what will close a deal...," Reiss wrote. "Using 2012 as an example, they traded the 27th overall pick and a third-rounder to move up to No. 21 and select Jones. Then they traded the 31st overall pick that year, along with a fourth-rounder, to move up to No. 25 and select Hightower. If those conditions are similar this year, you're looking at a move into the mid-20s from pick No. 32 in a trade-up this year."
The Pats have been linked to UCONN cornerback Byron Jones and Iowa defensive tackle Carl Davis at No. 32. Both players would fill immediate needs, but whether or not the Patriots will actually pick at that spot is anyone's guess right now.
