New England Patriots: Intriguing options in 2021 NFL Draft
The New England Patriots Draft the proverbial, “best player available”, a tight end, pat Freiermuth at 15 or lower after a trade down
This option is one that sometimes works and sometimes not so much. If you’re loaded at one position and light at another, taking a player at the loaded position may be counterproductive.
In this year’s draft, that position could be tight end for the New England patriots. The Patriots whiffed on two third-round picks last season at the position.
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That necessitated their spending big on two top ones in free agency. Good moves. So it would be seemingly counterproductive to go tight end high up in the draft this season. Fair enough. Or would it be?
If they feel the best player available at 15 is a tight end, say Pat Freiermuth from Penn State, then why not? Would they?
(Note: a personal choice would be trading way up for Kyle Pitts from Florida if the quarterback they want is not there, a really outlandish and eccentric suggestion. Yet, Pitts is terrific.)
Taking a tight end high in the draft this season would be eccentric on its face due to this offseason’s acquisitions and last year’s heavy draft investment in the position.
Yet, might it not just be a brilliant though thoroughly unconventional move? The Patriots do love tight ends in their offense. Good ones have worked for them in the past very well. so, why not?
The Pitts option notwithstanding, if/when the New England Patriots do actually choose, and Pat Freiermuth is the best player available, then just go for it. Take him.
Having three top tight ends on the field is a nightmare coverage problem for NFL defensive coordinators. For sure. And it will take a lot of pressure off the wide receivers, as well.
If he is indeed a second-day level player, this might allow the Patriots to trade down in the first round, select a top player, get another pick or picks, and still get Freiermuth later on. An interesting option.
Summary
So, those are three possibilities for New England Patriots if they stay put at No. 15, or move up or down as the case may be in the draft in Thursday’s first round.
Next. New England Patriots: 5 best NFL prospects to select at No. 15. dark
Of course, they are myriad other alterations or permutations that could ensue. Trade up, trade down. Trade out. Whatever.
The draft is always interesting with trader Bill and the New England Patriots but this year, it may well be very distinctive and idiosyncratic indeed.
This would be due to Mr. Kraft’s publicly expressed irritability due to past draft failures.
With the owner chiming in clearly and unequivocally for a new (young?) quarterback and for big success now, the pressure will be on Bill Belichick and his personnel group.
They’ll be expected to achieve heavy-duty success on players who contribute, this season, in 2021. Can they do so? Who knows?
Maybe for once, they will. We’ll see. As the draft is only three days away, we don’t have long to wait to see who they feel can do just that. That’s the beauty of the draft, you just never know.