New England Patriots links 4/26/21 - Pats’ trade rumors resurface in last-gasp, pre-draft hype

TEAM TALK

• Patriots 2021 Mock Draft Tracker.
• Mike Dussault analyzes the 2021 NFL rule changes, including an expansion of the jersey number system.
• Angelique Fiske reports Julian Edelman joins ‘Inside the NFL’ cast, teams up with ViacomCBS.
• 2021 Draft: Previewing the key prospects on offense and defense. (6 min. video)

LOCAL LINKS

• Mike Reiss shares some quick-hit weekend thoughts: Moving up in the first round of the NFL draft won’t be cheap, but would be worth it if the Pats secure a franchise QB; Slot WRs galore; DT plan in focus; More.
• Ryan Hannable’s Sunday 7: A reminder that big NFL trades can happen on draft night; More.
• Ian Logue (PatsFans) Sunday Patriots news: According to NFL Network analyst Daniel Jeremiah, Florida quarterback Kyle Trask appears to be a player on Bill Belichick’s radar; More.
• Ian Logue (PatsFans) Patriots news and NFL notes: 5) Jarrett Stidham has had a busy offseason and it sounds like the Patriots seem to have taken notice. NFL Network’s Mike Giardi recently talked about the fact the team has “a pretty good feeling” about what they’ve seen from Stidham, and to not count him out just yet.
• Matt Dolloff believes the Patriots’ pre-draft process can often be boiled down to the three-cone drill.
• Nick O’Malley says this could actually be the year the Patriots trade up to draft a QB, with the team now making calls about a potential move into the top 10.
• Michael Hurley explains why we shouldn’t sleep on a potential Jimmy Garoppolo trade to the Patriots this week. “it’s now nut-cutting time for the San Francisco 49ers.”
• Jerry Trotta (MusketFire) Here’s why insider thinks Jimmy Garoppolo trade could ‘still be in play.’
• CBS Boston suggests the Falcons could consider trading Julio Jones with the Patriots as a logical landing spot.
• Tom Westerholm introduces us to veterans advocate Don Cox, the Cape Cod man who will announce the Patriots’ first-round draft pick.
• Ryan Hannable tells us who attended the Patriots’ voluntary offseason workouts last week.
• Karen Guregian breaks down the Patriots best prospect fits at quarterback - wide receiver - defensive tackle.
• Andrew Callahan breaks down the Patriots’ best prospect fits at offensive tackle - running backs.
• Andy Hart profiles potential Patriots in this year’s draft: Virginia Tech CB Caleb Farley and Alabama IOL Landon Dickerson.
• Tom E. Curran breaks down Penn State LB Micah Parsons’ potential fit in Foxboro.
• Zack Cox evaluates how Wake Forest QB Jamie Newman would fit with the Patriots. Newman was considered a top QB prospect before opting out of the 2020 season.
• Jerry Trotta (MusketFire) Kyle Trask is sounding like a true Bill Belichick target.
• Tom Shaw-Mellors (PatsPropaganda) Mock draft review – Who the experts are predicting the Patriots to select first.
• Conor Roche gives us the latest Patriots mock draft roundup: Draft experts predict the Patriots will get some help on offense.
• Bill Burt highlights Phil Simms breaking down the draft’s top six quarterbacks, in order, after watching all of their tape from their last season.
• Karen Guregian talks with former Patriot Andre Carter who provides a scouting report on the team’s new defensive line additions.
• 98.5 Sports Hub staff issues their third and final mock draft: the Patriots actually trade up for Alabama QB Mac Jones at No. 10.
• Sean T. McGuire discusses the results of NFL Network’s live mock draft last night that nets QB Trey Lance at No. 15.
• Sean T. McGuire highlights draft analyst Chad Reuter’s 10 selections for the Pats in NFL.com’s seven-round mock.
• Khari Thompson relays NFL Draft analyst Dane Brugler listing two Massachusetts prospects as top draft ‘sleepers’: UMass OT Larnel Coleman and Merrimack College G Sam Cooper.
• Doug Kyed’s Patriots Mailbag: Would Pats trade up in 2021 NFL draft for non-QB?
• Ryan Hannable reports that after three years of planning, Bill Belichick was finally able to receive a key to the city of Annapolis Saturday afternoon at the Army-Navy lacrosse game.
• CBS Boston notes Julian Edelman reveals a very simple Bill Belichick coaching point for receivers, “just get open and catch the f—in’ ball. That’s what you do as a receiver, all right?”
• Khari Thompson finds that the Patriots were among the few teams that voted against the new NFL jersey rules.
• Robert Alvarez (PatsFans) A look back at the career of Matthew Slater as draft week approaches.
• Jacob Camenker re-grades the Patriots’ haul in the 2019 NFL Draft.
• Zack Cox passes along a rumors the Pats almost picked Richard Sherman in the 2011 NFL draft.
• Dan Mennella (Audacy Sports) Rob Gronkowski catches football dropped out of helicopter from 600 feet.

NATIONAL NEWS

• Mike Florio (ProFootballTalk) “Significant group” of Patriots showed up for first week of offseason program.
• Mike Florio (ProFootballTalk) Bill Belichick gets the key to Annapolis.
• Albert Breer (SI) Monday Morning QB: Shad Khan talks about Trevor Lawrence (without confirming the pick, of course); Plus: Jim Nagy on the class of 2021, team needs and possible targets for all 32 teams and much more.
• Peter King (ProFootballTalk) FMIA Mock Draft: Mysteries, trades and guesswork as first round nears.
• Jason La Canfora (CBS Sports) NFL insider notes: Executive gives take on how top 10 will unfold and is convinced this QB is headed to 49ers.
• Anthony Treash (PFF) Ranking all 32 NFL rosters ahead of the 2021 NFL Draft. Patriots: 20th. /Puh-leeze.
• Mark Maske (Washington Post) The NFL draft is sort of back to normal this year, but oddities, challenges remain.
• Jeffri Chadiha (NFL.com) Talent or team fit? In a draft loaded with top QBs, the answer to that question could determine the fates of several teams over the next decade.
• Cody Benjamin (CBS Sports) 2021 NFL Draft: Teams most likely to trade up or down in first round. Patriots in the “Most likely to move up or down” category. /No lies detected.
• Danny Kelly (The Ringer) 2021 NFL mock draft 6.0. Patriots pick Ohio State QB Justin Fields at No. 10.
• Chris Trapasso, Ryan Wilson, Josh Edwards (CBS Sports) 2021 NFL draft superlatives: Prospects most likely to live up to the hype, over-deliver and more.
• Brian Costello (NY Post) Five-year NFL Draft analysis: Ravens, Chiefs, Saints continue to nail it. Patriots 25th.
• Jeff Legwold (ESPN) 2021 NFL draft: The top 100 prospects ranked.
• Eric Edholm (Yahoo! Sports) 2021 NFL draft: Penn State’s Micah Parsons is inexperienced but carries elite potential.
• Ryan Dunleavy (NY Post) The top 10 defensive linemen heading into 2021 NFL Draft.
• Jeff Legwold (ESPN) Seven prospects who climbed the board over the past year.
• Tyler Sullivan (CBS Sports) NFL Draft blunders: JaMarcus Russell over Calvin Johnson one of nine biggest misses in recent history.
• Nate Davis (USA Today) Orlando Brown Jr. trade winners, losers: Who made out best in Ravens-Chiefs swap?
• Sean Keeley (Awful Announcing) Roger Goodell will be allowed to awkwardly hug players at the 2021 NFL Draft.
• Mike Florio (ProFootballTalk) Expanded jersey rules could reignite retired number debate.
• Report (AP) NFL modifies COVID-19 protocols for vaccinated people
• Jack Baer (Yahoo! Sports) Report: ESPN to keep ‘Monday Night Football’ booth of Steve Levy, Brian Griese, Louis Riddick.

EXTRACURRICULAR

• Report (AP) Steelers CB Justin Layne arrested on gun charge after traffic stop.