New England Patriots links 4/12/21 - Pats’ pre-draft roster punch-list: Needs vs. wants

TEAM TALK

• Patriots 2021 Mock Draft Tracker.
• Transactions: Patriots release OL Ross Reynolds.
• Gallery: Patriots playing golf.

LOCAL LINKS

• Mike Reiss offers some quick-hit weekend thoughts: As Bill Belichick turns 69, Marv Levy says there’s no reason to stop now; If the Patriots average nine-to-10 wins per season, that puts Belichick within striking distance of Shula in about four years, or when he’ll be 72; Winovich’s weight; Deion backs Cam; More.
• Ryan Hannable’s Sunday 7: Why the Patriots won’t be trading down in this year’s draft.
• Steve Balestrieri (PatsFans) Sunday Patriots News: Newton to rebound? Mock draft 3.0; More.
• Steven Thompson (DiehardBostonSportsFans) Patriots fans: Trust the process.
• Alex Barth analyzes the 10 Patriots biggest needs are heading into the draft. Top 5: QB, CB, OT, ILB, FS.
• Chris Mason looks at what the Patriots’ biggest needs are ahead of the draft: QB, WR, CB, LB, OT.
• David Latham (LastWordOnSports) NFL Rumors: Kyle Pitts, Dallas Cowboys, Bill Belichick.
• Andrew Callahan explores four potential Patriots draft trades, featuring Stephon Gilmore, N’Keal Harry and a new franchise quarterback.
• Ryan Hannable relays ESPN draft analyst Matt Miller, who believes Florida QB Kyle Trask is a “viable solution” for New England at QB. He is expected to be a Day 2 selection.
• Evan Lazar links to all the film reviews he’s done so far on the 2021 QB class and if they’d fit the Patriots.
• Phil Perry profiles prototypical Patriots the team could target in this year’s draft: Interior offensive linemen - Offensive tackles.
• Noel Powers (PatsPropaganda) Patriots draft primer: Defensive tackle.
• Andy Hart explores potential Patriots prospects: Northwestern CB Greg Newsome - USC G/T Alijah Vera-Tucker - Michigan Edge Kwity Paye.
• David Latham (LastWordOnSports) Patriots draft targets: South Carolina CB Jaycee Horn.
• Ricky Doyle highlights ESPN’s Dan Orlovsky explaining how the Patriots should approach the draft.
• Adam London notes Deion Branch is optimistic about Cam Newton, “given the offseason (he’ll have)” and a bolstered offense that should take some pressure off.
• CBS Boston mentions an Ian Rapoport scenario suggesting the Patriots may pounce if the fifth first-round quarterback begins to slide a little.
• Jerry Trotta (MusketFire) Could Julian Edelman news and N’Keal Harry trade rumors change the Pats’ draft plans?
• Ryan Hananble highlights Jonathan Kraft (via Boston Globe) making the case for Gillette Stadium to be at full capacity Week 1 of this NFL season.
• Conor Roche notes Deion Branch believes we’ll see a better Cam Newton in 2021; Branch also thinks that Newton doesn’t need to play at an MVP-level for the Patriots to have a good season.
• Karen Guregian speculates on what an extension could look like for Stephon Gilmore.
• Andy Hart affirms that Julian Edelman’s legacy is cemented, no matter what his future is.
• Mike Luciano (MusketFire) Josh Uche looks fully recovered in latest workout video.
• Robert Alvarez (PatsFans) Dont’a Hightower looking to honor Pats fans battling cancer, raise money for patients.
• Dakota Randall mentions J.C. Jackson’s new Instagram story that some say hints at a contract dispute.
• Robert Alvarez (PatsFans) Contract signing day party with Kendrick Bourne.
• Evan Lazar and Alex Barth conduct their third mock draft of the offseason, giving them flexibility at QB for 2022.
• 98.5 The Sports Hub’s NFL mock draft 2.0: Patriots trade up, make two picks in first round.
• Clark Judge (FullPressCoverage) Scott Pioli: The moment Patriots knew they were on to “something” in Tom Brady.
• Patriots Fourth and Two Podcast: Steve Balestrieri and Derek Havens preview offensive prospects for the Patriots in this year’s draft. (59 min.)

NATIONAL NEWS

• Albert Breer (SI) Monday Morning QB: How new Chargers coach Brandon Staley is building team culture virtually; Plus, why the Panthers traded for Sam Darnold, rule proposals on the table this week, Justin Fields’s second pro day and more.
• Peter King (ProFootballTalk) FMIA: 20 QB decisions shaping this NFL offseason, Draft like no other; More.
• Bucky Brooks (NFL.com) Scout’s Notebook: Panthers’ gamble on Sam Darnold makes sense; Kyle Pitts is the 2021 NFL draft’s best player.
• Mike Florio (ProFootballTalk) How long will Bill Belichick coach?
• Conor Orr (SI) The 10 most interesting people of the 2021 NFL draft.
• Doug Farrar and Mark Schofield (TouchdownWire) Top prospects in the 2021 NFL draft class.
• Doug Farrar (TouchdownWire) The top 11 interior defensive linemen in the 2021 draft class.
• Michael Middlehurst-Schwartz (USA Today) 10 NFL draft prospects who could have better careers as pros.
• Jason La Canfora (CBS Sports) 2021 NFL Draft’s unlikeliest prospect: LSU’s Zach Von Rosenberg, 30 and already a millionaire, draws buzz as punter.
• Bryan DeArdo (CBS Sports) 2021 Mock Draft: Expect the unexpected.” Pats pick Michigan EDGE Kwity Paye at 15.
• Joe Rivera (Sporting News) Mock Drafts 2021: Compare Mel Kiper, Daniel Jeremiah, Todd McShay & other experts.
• Charean Williams (ProFootballTalk) NFLPA tells NFL it will urge players not to show up for any in-person offseason work.
• Mike Florio (ProFootballTalk) NFLPA will have a hard time getting veterans to skip offseason workouts.
• Mike Florio (ProFootballTalk) No decision yet on reversal of one-helmet rule.
• Chris Cwik (Yahoo! Sports) NFL officiating video reverses crucial call that may have knocked Bills out of playoffs.

EXTRACURRICULAR

• Sarah Barshop (ESPN) Rusty Hardin: Deshaun Watson never engaged in acts with plaintiffs that weren’t ‘mutually desired.’
• Charles Robinson (Yahoo! Sports) Deshaun Watson’s attorney wins court battle to reveal identity of accusers.
• Alex Reimer says longtime Texans reporter Aaron Wilson was fired from the Houston Chronicle for defending Deshaun Watson last month on “The Greg Hill Show” suggesting the women suing him were part of a “money grab” and likening them to terrorists. /’Eesh.
• Dan Wetzel (Yahoo! Sports) There’s no hiding from the words of Phillip Adams’ father: ‘I think the football messed him up.’
• Trevor Hass notes Boston University will study the brain of former NFL player Phillip Adams, who killed 5 people and himself, to identify whether he had CTE.