New England Patriots 2020 NFL Draft: Excellent trade sets stage for Day 2

HOUSTON, TX - DECEMBER 01: Head coach Bill Belichick of the New England Patriots reacts on the sideline in the fourth quarter against the Houston Texans at NRG Stadium on December 1, 2019 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images)
HOUSTON, TX - DECEMBER 01: Head coach Bill Belichick of the New England Patriots reacts on the sideline in the fourth quarter against the Houston Texans at NRG Stadium on December 1, 2019 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images) /
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Jalen Hurts. (Photo by Mike Zarrilli/Getty Images) /

Patriots first day trade sets them up nicely to deliver a game-changing draft

I’m getting a bit excited I must say for the remainder of the draft. This could really be a lot of fun today and tomorrow.  A selection of Jalen Hurts today would in my view make the Patriots draft all by itself.

Today will be the Patriots last chance to corral Hurts, a unique, game-changing quarterback. He will be selected today, hopefully by New England.

And that’s just one pick. The Patriots have so much more ammunition to add talent to a Hurts’ selection and in the process creating a new team that could be amazingly exciting and successful.

In addition, should the Patriots decide that a realistic contract can’t be reached for great guard, Joe Thuney, they can (and should) wheel Thuney today for significant additional draft capital, as was well.

Thuney is worth a second-round pick all day long or at a bare minimum, a third and a fourth-round pick. It is untenable for the Patriots to pay their two guards more than $20+ million dollars.  Unless a cap-friendly contract can be wrapped up before tonight’s draft, the deal should be made.

The plethora of good players left in the draft and their horde of top draft picks give the Patriots great flexibility to improve their team today. They can take Hurts with the 35th pick and then maybe trade up into the second round this time for the best tight end in the draft, Cole Kmet from Notre Dame.

That gives them the quarterback who can make the greatest impact on their team next season and the best tight end in the draft, as well. Hurts is a plug-and-play guy with multiple skills to transform an offense that is now without their long-time pocket passer and immediately implement a new, more dynamic offense.

Adding additional complementary picks to Hurts and Kmet will help this transition along. You’d start with wide receiver/quarterback Lynn Bowden of Kentucky and add a big wide receiver/running back Antonio Gibson from Memphis and never look back.

And to spice things up even more, add to the versatility and excitement by adding wide receiver/quarterback Malcolm Perry of Navy to the mix. We well know who likes Navy players, of course.

To sum up, I’m really excited about tonight’s second day of the draft. This is it for the New England Patriots. For all the marbles. This is the statement draft for the future without a doubt. The first post No. 12. It’s incredibly important. The most important in decades.

The selections tonight will determine the future direction of the New England Patriots. Will they stay the course and conduct business as usual? Or, conversely, will they take the team in a new, exciting direction with a dynamic and multi-role offense to stun the NFL?

dark. Next. It’s time to feel bad for Julian Edelman

It’s going to be a really interesting and important evening. But could it also be an exciting one that sets the new tone for a new future? I hope so.