New England Patriots: Intriguing options in 2021 NFL Draft

What the New England Patriots should do on Thursday night is a subject of much deliberation and debate whether they keep the 15th pick in the NFL draft or not.

The hope against hope is that the player many observers would like to see land in New England will be there at that point. That player would be Trey Lance of North Dakota State.

Mike Giardi of the NFL Network and a former New England Patriots reporter buys into that dream scenario and thinks just that.

Here’s what Mike had to say,

While that likelihood seems to be slim and none, some commentators (hand raised in the air) would be just thrilled to see that exact scenario eventuate on Thursday night.

The sad reality, however, is that his slipping that far is extremely improbable.

It is also highly implausible that the New England Patriots would trade way up for Lance if he is in fact the young quarterback (if they do want one) they actually covet. It would be very costly.

Yet, the times are changing (see below) for the New England Patriots in this particular draft. And changing times sometimes require drastically altered strategies. So it can’t be ruled out.

In the past, Bill Belichick and company have had virtual carte blanche to do whatever they pleased in the draft.

No matter how nonsensical those moves may have seemed to their fandom, and to the NFL draft establishment in general, as well.

They just made them. And they’ve paid a steep price for their failures. But the dynamic has shifted now. Here’s why.