New England Patriots links 4/08/19 - ‘Screw the Patriots,’ and their successful ‘pick swap’ trades

TEAM TALK

• Rob Rang’s Draft Prospect Profiles: Offensive tackle - Guard - Defensive tackle.
• Don Banks shares his pre-draft Snap Judgments.
• Paul Perillo and Erik Scalavino debate who should be the next person inducted into the Patriots Hall of Fame.
• 2019 NFL Draft Preview: The possibility of the Patriots trading for Arizona Cardinals QB Josh Rosen. (2.10 min. video)

LOCAL LINKS

• Mike Reiss shares some quick-hit weekend thoughts: Like his dad, Matthew Slater finds meaning in staying with one team; More.
• Steve Balestrieri (PatsFans) Sunday Patriots news, AFC East notes: Patriots huge in China; Nick Saban on advice from Belichick; More.
• Ryan Hannable’s Sunday 7: Patriots exploring options with trading up in NFL draft; If the Patriots select a QB, it seems like it won’t be until late in the draft; More.
• Tom E. Curran’s Sunday Notes: The truth will set Kraft free and end the Orchids Day Spa drama; More. /Also might get him banned from the NFL.
• Kevin Duffy writes how the Patriots have dominated in ‘pick swap’ trades, taking plug-and-play veterans while surrendering little draft capital. “The biggest play of Super Bowl LIII was made by a guy the Patriots acquired for free.”
• Evan Lazar’s best Patriots draft fits: Cornerbacks - Safeties.
• David Latham (LastWordOnSports) Patriots 2019 NFL draft targets: Notre Dame WR Miles Boykin.
• Jared Villani (ClutchPoints) 3 biggest needs for the New England Patriots after free agency: 1. Pass catcher.
• Ryan Hannable notes the Patriots have highest over/under win total in the NFL for the fourth straight season.
• Dakota Randall passes along a Josh Rosen rumor: Cardinals still not showing ‘willingness’ to trade.
• Rob Bradford passes along a report that the Patriots have informed the Red Sox that Robert Kraft, Tom Brady, Bill Belichick or any of the team’s coaches will not be in attendance at Fenway Park Tuesday for the Sox’ championship celebration.
• Nicole Yang reports Rob Gronkowski makes his first public appearance in Boston since retiring, as the guest of honor for the annual Make-A-Wish Gala at the InterContinental Hotel Saturday night.
• Henry McKenna (PatriotsWire) Tom Brady cheers on Ryan Shazier amid impressive recovery.
• Henry McKenna (PatriotsWire) Malcolm Mitchell: Learning Patriots playbook ‘was like calculus at the highest degree.
• Ryan Hannable notes former Chiefs CB Stevan Nelson says ”screw the Patriots, because we should’ve been in the Super Bowl.” /Boo freaking hoo.
• Evan Lazar’s NFL draft series: Offensive line preview (1 hour audio).
• Bob Socci and Ted Johnson post the first edition of their NFL Draft Preview Show, starting with the state of the Patriots. (44.30 min.)
• Steve Balestrieri (PatsFans) Patriots 2019 7-round mock draft 2.0: Trying to meet team needs. Pats pick Ole Miss WR A.J. Brown at No. 32.
• Evan Lazar offers his 7-round mock draft 2.0: Changes at the top for the Patriots. Pats pick Clemson DL Dexter Lawrence at 32.
• Phil Perry presents his 7-round mock draft 4.0. Patriots trade No. 32 and No. 73 to Seattle, Patriots acquire No. 21 and No. 159. Pats pick Iowa TE T.J. Hockenson at No. 21.

NATIONAL NEWS

• Albert Breer (SI) Monday Morning QB: Are the quarterbacks in the 2020 NFL draft class worth waiting for?
• Peter King (ProFootballTalk) FMIA: Non-mock NFL draft: What each team should do in first round. New England: Best corner, edge player or receiver. LSU CB Greedy Williams.
• Conor Orr (SI) Morning Huddle: The Jets’ new uniforms are...fine.
• Mike Florio (ProFootballTalk) First round could see five quarterbacks, again.
• Mark Schofield (Pro Football Weekly) Best landing spots for Tier 1 QB prospects in 2019 NFL draft
• Jared Dubin (CBS Sports) Ranking position groups for all 32 teams reveals their biggest needs. Needs: WR/TE, EDGE, INT DL.
• Jason La Canfora (CBS Sports) 2019 NFL QB tiers: Who’s a franchise guy? A rising star? A place holder? Here’s where your starter ranks. Brady in Tier 1 (of course).
• Conor Orr (SI) Ranking all 32 NFL teams’ running back situations, best to worst. Patriots 7th.
• Maurice Moton (Bleacher Report) 2019 NFL Draft: The most overlooked player at every position.
• Staff (Pro Football Weekly) The best and worst AFC East NFL draft picks in the past decade.
• Sujay Utkarsh (The Tartan) Penalty shouts: Gronk, CTE, and the NFL.
• Michael David Smith (ProFootballTalk) Saban recalls the value of Belichick teaching him not to coach too much.
• Gary Davenport (Bleacher Report) Every NFL team’s biggest red flag heading into April. Patriots: Life after Gronk.
• Scott Spratt (Pro Football Focus) How receiving success can predict a rushing workload.
• Austin Gayle (Pro Football Focus) Ranking the top-five offensive tackles in the 2019 NFL Draft by pass-blocking efficiency and by run-blocking grade.
• Steve Palazzolo and Sam Monson (Pro Football Focus) 2019 NFL draft sleepers. (13.10 min. video)
• Bryan Knowles (Football Outsiders) Failed completions 2018.
• Barry Werner (TouchdownWire) The last time each NFL team drafted a defensive back in the first round. Patriots: Devin McCourty (2010).
• Vinnie Iyer (Sporting News) NFL Draft 2019: Predicting where Kyler Murray, Dwayne Haskins, other top QBs will be picked.
• Chris Trapasso (CBS Sports) 2019 NFL Draft: Buyer beware on Dwayne Haskins, Rashan Gary, and these other top prospects.
• Matt Miller (Bleacher Report) NFL Draft 400: Ranking the draft’s top linebackers.
• Jarrett Bell (USA Today) Opinion: Football needs another successful league to survive, for the good of the game.
• Cale Clinton (Football Outsiders) The month in quotes: March 2019.
• Chris Trapasso (CBS Sports) Two-round 2019 mock draft. Pats pick Clemson DT Dexter Lawrence at 32 and Maryland safety Darnell Savage at 64.

EXTRACURRICULAR

• Mike Florio (ProFootballTalk) Don’t blame NFLPA for demise of AAF.
• Stan Grossfield writes about NASCAR driver Jimmie Johnson training for the Boston Marathon, who believes he is just as good an athlete as Tom Brady is in his respective field. “All athletes get criticized”, he says. “I mean, Tom [Brady] deals with it plenty. Is it him or is it [Bill] Belichick? Is it him or is it someone else on the team?”