New England Patriots links 4/09/18 - Updating areas of need for the Patriots: Fans feeling edgy

TEAM TALK

• Andy Hart and Paul Perillo debate who they think will replace Brandin Cooks’ production?
• Contest - Guess the home opener opponent & be entered to win tickets to the game!
• Contest - Pick the Patriots’ first pick in the draft & be entered to win a Stephon Gilmore signed jersey!
• From the NFL - NC State DE Bradley Chubb joins ‘Path to the Draft’ to talk about the pre-draft process, his pro day moment with Bill Belichick and more. (3.15 min. video)

LOCAL LINKS

• Mike Reiss shares some quick-hit weekend thoughts: Bret Bielema’s presence with Patriots adds SEC perspective for draft; Wednesday, Tom Brady and Julian Edelman used the Field House to keep themselves sharp; More.
• Ryan Hannable’s Sunday 7: Why Johnny Manziel has better chance of joining Patriots than Baker Mayfield.
• Steve Balestrieri (PatsFans) Sunday Patriots news, AFC East notes: Jordan Matthews signing adds size and depth to the WR roster.
• Ian Logue (PatsFans) Monday Patriots Notebook: Some light shed on Gronk friction with Belichick; Brady & Edelman already hard at work.
• Karen Guregian discusses the debate over whether or not Rob Gronkowski is getting too thin.
• Zack Cox hears Malcolm Mitchell is ‘working closely’ with Alex Gurerrero.
• Ryan Hannable updates the Patriots areas of need as the NFL draft approaches: Linebacker, Left tackle, Edge rusher, quarterback.
• Mike Reiss points out how history suggests Bill Belichick and the Patriots have thrived when given two first-round draft picks
• Mark Daniels looks at how the Patriots may fill positions of need through the draft: Safety - Cornerback - Wide Receiver.
• Kevin Dillon takes an early look at the roster bubble and wonders if Kenny Britt, Jordan Matthews or Cordarrelle Patterson could be cut.
• DJ Bean mentions the Patriots held a workout with Oklahoma State QB Mason Rudolph, who is projected to go anywhere from the end of the first round to the end of the third.
• Doug Kyed calls attention to North Carolina State RB Nyheim Hines, who has position flexibility, doesn’t fumble, can protect a quarterback, runs a quick 3-cone time and has versatility to play special teams.
• Steve Balestrieri (PatsFans) Patriots Draft Profile: NC State TE Jaylen Samuels. “Hard to pigeon hole Samuels into one position.”
• Mike Reiss addresses his Patriots Mailbag: Patriots have chips to move into top 10 if prospect catches their eye.
• Henry McKenna (PatriotsWire) Jordan Matthews gushes over ‘ultimate honor’ of playing for Patriots.
• Mark Dunphy gives us 3 things to know about new Patriots lineman Luke Bowanko.
• Henry McKenna (PatriotsWire) Tom Brady, Julian Edelman logging workout is positive sign for Patriots.
• Henry McKenna (PatriotsWire) Can Patriots maximize Troy Niklas’ upside?
• Kyle Crabbs (FanRagSports) AFC East do-or-die propositions in 2018 NFL draft.
• Melissa Zhang (PatriotsWire) Josh Norman on Tom Brady: ‘He’s going to be playing for another 4 or 5 [years]’. “Brady took 84 quarterback hits last season and was sacked 35 times over the regular season.”
• Tanya Ray Fox (PatriotsWire) Re-grading the Patriots 2017 draft.
• Alex Reimer talks about Colin Cowherd’s ridiculous theory that Bill Belichick is trying to sabotage Tom Brady.

NATIONAL NEWS

• Peter King (SI) Monday Morning QB: Everything to know about the 2018 draft crop according to Gil Brandt.
• Darin Gantt (ProFootballTalk) Orleans Darkwa visiting Patriots today.
• Kevin Clark (The Ringer) Welcome to the stupidest part of the NFL draft process: As Josh Rosen recently learned, it’s time to criticize QB prospects for … having the same personality characteristics as Tom Brady and Aaron Rodgers.
• Brian Martin (InsideTheStar) New England Patriots perfect trade down partner for Cowboys?
• Michael Rothstein (ESPN) Would Lions actually try to trade for Rob Gronkowski?
• Chase Goodbread (NFL.como) 2018 NFL Mock Draft analysis: Trades will create early QB run.
• Michael David Smith (ProFootballTalk) 2018 NFL draft may tie 1983 with six first-round quarterbacks.
• Frank Schwab (Yahoo! Sports) 2 draft prospects hurt during private workouts, maybe it’s time to end this nonsense.
• Bill Barnwell (ESPN) History tells us the NFL is terrible at evaluating quarterbacks.
• Michael Rothstein (ESPN) How to survive as a ‘dinosaur’ trying to make the modern NFL.
• Elliot Harrison (NFL.com) Ranking the 51 No. 1 overall picks of the common-draft era.
• Mike Florio (ProFootballTalk) Draft will give fans of each team their own section.
• Mike Florio (ProFootballTalk) Commissioner will still call names on first night of the draft. /Boooo!
• Michael David Smith (ProFootballTalk) New league will go without kickoffs, and NFL will watch closely.
• Mike Florio (ProFootballTalk) Will XFL pivot toward old-school football?
• Michael David Smith (ProFootballTalk) Johnny Manziel turns in mediocre performance in Spring League game.