Instant analysis from the Patriots trade with the Detroit Lions for a 2019 third round pick

The New England Patriots traded down from the 114th overall pick in the 2018 NFL Draft and picked up the Detroit Lions third round pick in 2019.

That’s not a bad exchange.

The Patriots clearly don’t care for the talent in this current draft and they’re adding as many picks as possible for next year’s draft where they’ll want to have flexibility to move up the draft board for a quarterback.

Bill Belichick and Nick Caserio have added a 2019 second round pick from the Chicago Bears and a 2019 third round pick from the Detroit Lions, in addition to their own first round pick, second round pick, and two projected compensatory third round picks for losing Nate Solder and Malcolm Butler (they gave their own third round pick to the Cleveland Browns for Danny Shelton).

This is a pretty great deal for the Patriots as the Lions project to be a middle-of-the-pack team and should yield a pretty solid draft pick.

The Patriots still have to add a quarterback and a coverage linebacker, and could consider adding a few depth options at safety, wide receiver, and tight end, but they’re not in love with the players on the board and are willing to dedicate those roster spots to low-risk, high-upside players in the sixth and seventh rounds.