New England Patriots links 4/19/21 - Many happy returns for players seeking second term in Foxborough

TEAM TALK

• Patriots 2021 Mock Draft Tracker and Free Agent Tracker.
• Transactions: Patriots sign restricted free agent DB J.C. Jackson; Release OL Dustin Woodard.
• Mike Dussault analyzes J.C. Jackson signing his second-round restricted free agent contract. “The Patriots could still look to extend or explore trade possibilities with Jackson now that he’s under contract with the team, but his ball-hawking skills in the secondary are a welcome return.”

LOCAL LINKS

• Mike Reiss shares some quick-hit weekend thoughts: The inside story of how Julian Edelman landed on the Patriots’ draft board; Bill Belichick didn’t sound like a coach strongly considering a move into the top five; More.
• Steve Balestrieri (PatsFans) Sunday Patriots news: Edelman, Belichick mutual admiration; J.C. Jackson was second in the NFL with nine interceptions in 2020 and has been an absolute steal by Belichick after the Patriots signed him as an UDFA out of Maryland in 2018; More.
• Ryan Hannable’s Sunday 7: Trading into top 10 for QB would be Bill Belichick’s biggest gamble since Tom Brady; We keep saying the Patriots are in need of a No. 1 wide receiver as it feels like they have all No. 2s and 3s currently on the roster; More.
• Karen Guregian finds that the Patriots are among league leaders in players returning for a second stint, and examines what it is that draws players back.
• Tom E. Curran couldn’t help but notice a fresh aura around Bill Belichick and wonders if it’s now his turn to turn back the clock.
• Ricky Doyle highlights Adam Schefter suggesting how New England might view their QB situation ahead of the draft. ‘...it would be rather anticlimactic if the Patriots simply ran it back with Cam Newton this season, but that could be the path if a viable alternative doesn’t present itself.’
• Robert Alvarez (PatsFans) What it’s really like being an NFL WR with Kendrick Bourne.
• Henry McKenna (PatriotsWire) Davon Godchaux explains why he plays ‘most pivotal position’ on Patriots defense
• Zack Cox updates us with the latest on Stephon Gilmore’s injury (“recovering very well”) and trade chances.
• Evan Lazar starts up his Patriots big board for the 2021 draft with the goal to hit on as many players as possible that New England might select in the first three rounds. Nos 41-50.
• Andrew Callahan writes Bill Belichick laid out how and why the Pats might trade up from their 15th pick overall.
• Karen Guregian evaluates the best prospect fits for the Patriots in all rounds of the draft: Cornerback.
• Phil Perry profiles prototypical Patriots the team could target in the draft: Edge rushers.
• Andy Hart profiles potential Patriots targets in this year’s draft: Alabama WR DeVonta Smith and Alabama CB Patrick Surtain II.
• David Latham (LastWordOnSports) 2021 NFL draft player profiles: Virginia Tech S Divine Deablo - USC S Talanoa Hufanga - Kentucky CB Kelvin Joseph.
• Andrew Callahan files his latest Patriots 7-round mock draft: “The Pats leap into the top 10 to grab Alabama QB Mac Jones, who fits their mold for rookie QBs better than every other option except Justin Fields.”
• Conor Roche gives us a Patriots Mock Draft roundup: Most experts have the Patriots going quarterback.
• Conor Roche finds Oddsmakers predicting an improvement for the Pats in 2021, setting the over/under at 9 wins.
• Marcus Kwesi O’Mard calls Mike Reiss’s prediction reasonable, when he said the Pats would win “at least 10 games” in 2021.
• David Latham (LastWordOnSports) AFC East divisional winner future odds.
• Bob Socci writes how Julian Edelman helped change a Foxborough narrative, forever.
• Jacob Camenker mentions WR DeVonta Smith was seen rocking Julian Edelman apparel at Alabama’s spring game.
• Robert Alvarez (PatsFans) Julian Edelman’s top 10 career plays.
• Robert Alvarez (PatsFans) A tribute to Julian Edelman’s career and his funniest moments in New England.
• Sean T. McGuire talks about NFL.com’s Gregg Rosenthal’s ranking of Bill Belichick as one of the worst drafting GMs since 2015.
• Isaiah Houde (PatriotsWire) Ranking the Patriots’ all-time best uniforms over the years.
• CBS Boston notes Tom Brady jokes that his NFL career can now legally drink alcohol.
• Locked On Patriots podcast: Mike D’Abate and Evan Lazar discuss the Patriots draft strategy, Bill Belichick’s approach to this year’s evaluations, predictions on the ‘smart moves’ to be made and more. (42 min.)
• Untitled Pats podcast: Fitzy and Mike Dussault join to help us all process Julian Edelman’s retirement and honor his career. We also talk a bit about the off-season, and life as leaders of Patriots nation. (69 min.)

NATIONAL NEWS

• Albert Breer (SI) Monday Morning QB: 2021 NFL draft primer, with 20 things to know; Plus, breaking down the squabble over offseason workouts, Trey Lance’s second pro day and much more.
• Peter King (ProFootballTalk) FMIA: Whispers, rumors and gut feelings as most unusual NFL draft ever (according to Gil Brandt) nears; The Edelman legacy; More.
• Bucky Brooks (NFL.com) Scouts Notebook: Justin Fields skepticism is baffling; top five unicorns in the 2021 draft.
• Doug Farrar (TouchdownWire) Is Bill Belichick primed to trade up for a quarterback in the 2021 draft?
• Chad Reuter (NFL.com) 2021 NFL Draft: Ideal top two picks for every team. Patriots: Round 1 (15th overall): Alabama WR Jaylen Waddle and Round 2 (46th overall) Georgia CB Tyson Campbell.
• Chris Trapasso (CBS Sports) NFL Draft 2021 Big Board top 200.
• Vinnie Iyer (Sporting News) Big board of top 100 players overall, updated position rankings
• Mike Florio (ProFootballTalk) Who will be the sixth quarterback taken?
• Mike Florio (ProFootballTalk) Who’ll be the first receiver taken?
• Sam Cooper (Yahoo! Sports) Who will be the first defensive player selected?
• Michael Middlehurst-Schwartz (USA Today) 10 boom-or-bust prospects in 2021 NFL draft.
• Mark Schofield (TouchdownWire) My favorite prospects in the 2021 NFL draft.
• Tyler Sullivan (CBS Sports) 2021 NFL mock draft: Patriots strike deal with Giants and move up for Trey Lance.
• Nate Davis (USA Today) 2021 NFL mock draft. Pats pick Alabama CB Patrick Surtain II at 15.
• Mark Lane (TouchdownWire) 5 NFL teams who might not return to the playoffs.
• Bryan DeArdo (CBS Sports) NFL’s top 25 players not in the Hall of Fame. No. 6 Richard Seymour.
• Mike Florio (ProFootballTalk) A simple compromise could solve the offseason workout problem.
• Staff (ESPN) NFLPA head DeMaurice Smith says it’s in players’ best interests to sit out voluntary workouts.
• Around the NFL (NFL.com) Expanded booth-to-ref communication expected to pass; Uniform number rule change has support.
• Josh Alper (ProFootballTalk) Proposal to delay head coaching searches unlikely to pass.
• Around the NFL (NFL.com) NFL intends to not discipline players for offseason ‘high-risk COVID conduct’.
• Scott Gleeson (USA Today) Man who accused Rams’ Aaron Donald of assault backpedals on claim, offers apology.
• Mike Florio (ProFootballTalk) Houston Chronicle finds errors on both sides of Deshaun Watson cases.