New England Patriots: Intriguing options in 2021 NFL Draft

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New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft /

How New England Patriots owner Bob Kraft has shaken up the Patriots’ draft strategy

First, Bob Kraft, the New England Patriots super owner, has very uncharacteristically weighed in on a personnel matter usually the strict province of Bill Belichick, the de facto General Manager.

Mr. Kraft is clearly not happy with the loss of the greatest player in the history of the NFL due to neglect and poor personal relations between said player and coach.

He’s two years late and millions of dollars short on the Brady story, but that was then and this is now. And that’s a story for another day.

In addition, Mr. Kraft has had to cover a major reconstruction of the team’s personnel by financing up to maybe over $150M to cover new free-agent deals.

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That’s a slight irritant even for a billionaire. Yet, how all this impacts the draft and the entire offseason isn’t in question.

Kraft has publicly made it perfectly clear he wants the quarterback situation sorted out and better results in the draft.

Frankly, it’s about time he stepped up on this. The fact of the matter is this team has drafted poorly most years under Belichick.

Not making the playoffs after the Brady fiasco seems to have ticked off Kraft royally and he wants results. Now. Good. It’s about time.

So the GM and his new personnel director Dave Zeigler are under the microscope. An electron microscope, at that. They need a home run draft this week. And nothing else will seemingly do.

But since they are unlikely to unload massive draft capital on a top young quarterback (although it’s been strongly suggested by many), unless one falls precipitously to them at 15, they may go in another direction or trade down.

Here are a few options.

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