New England Patriots links 4/28/21 - Predictions, rumors, needs, wish-lists... just waitin’ for the NFL Draft

TEAM TALK

• Patriots 2021 NFL draft primer and ways to watch.
• Paul Perillo’s NFL Notes: Mock draft, numbers, and more draft talk. Thanks, but no thanks – At least that’s my view of a potential trade for Atlanta’s Julio Jones; More.
• Angelique Fiske says Devin McCourty, James White honored as Ed Block Courage Award recipients at virtual gala.
• Statement from Gillette Stadium: “After waiting more than 400 days, we finally reopened Gillette Stadium to fans this past Saturday when we welcomed over 7,000 Revolution fans to the home opener. With today’s news, we look forward to expanding our venue’s capacity and hosting full-capacity crowds once again at Gillette Stadium this summer.”
• Paul Perillo and Mike Dussault discuss potential first round picks in the draft for the Patriots including key prospects on offense and defense. (6 min. video)
• Draft Prospect Review: Offensive Line. (13.30 min.)
• Patriots Unfiltered 4/27: Trading up for a QB, mock drafts, and wrapping up our draft preview; More. (2 hours)

LOCAL LINKS

• Thomas Murphy (DiehardBostonSportsFans) Monster Keys to the Patriots draft: AKA the Wish List.
• Kevin Tame Jr. (FullPressCoverage) 2021 NFL Draft: Analyzing the Patriots needs.
• Karen Guregian explains how the Patriots’ 2021 draft class should reveal how the team sees itself.
• Evan Lazar’s Patriots Mailbag: Ranking the positions the Patriots could target in the first round.
• Logan Mullen passes along some rumors suggesting which position the Patriots are likely to pursue if they don’t take a quarterback in the first round.
• Sean T. McGuire fires up some NFL draft bold predictions: 1. Falcons trade Julio Jones and No. 4 overall pick to the Patriots and more fearless takes.
• Ryan Hannable passes along a report that the Patriots and Panthers have discussed groundwork for a trade involving the No. 8 pick.
• Ryan Hannable adds that Stephon Gilmore reportedly could be in trade package to get Patriots into top 10.
• Adam London highlights NFL analyst David Pollack who suggests the Patriots should ‘take advantage of Stephon Gilmore’s trade value’ on Day 1 of the draft.
• Alex Barth looks at whether conference is key for the Patriots to draft a quarterback.
• Andy Hart profiles potential Patriots prospect TCU safety Trevon Moehrig: Though it may not be the team’s biggest need, adding another playmaking safety to build around in the back end certainly would have its advantages.
• David Latham (LastWordOnSports) 2021 NFL Draft player profile: Arkansas State WR Jonathan Adams.
• David Latham (LastWordOnSports) NFL Rumors: A Julio Jones trade could be in the works; Scouts: Oregon OT Penei Sewell “overrated.”
• Alex Reimer highlights Tom E. Curran in an interview, saying the Buffalo Bills are “much better” than the Patriots, but head coach Bill Belichick closes the talent gap.
• Clare Cooper (PatsPropaganda) Are the Patriots hitching a ride to quarterback crazy town this 2021 draft season?
• Russell S. Baxter (FullPressCoverage) Taking a quarterback first overall has become the norm.
• Karen Guregian takes a stab at how the first round of the draft will shake out Thursday night. Pats pick South Carolina CB Jaycee Horn at 15.
• Andrew Doherty (PatsBuzz) 2021 final NFL mock draft. Pats trade up for Ohio State QB Justin Fields at No. 7.
• David Latham (LastWordOnSports) NFL Rumors: Jimmy Garoppolo feels destined to return to New England.
• Ryan Hannable says the Patriots reportedly showed interest in Deshaun Watson before his legal issues.
• Locked On Patriots podcast: Mike D’Abate talks with 2021 prospect San Diego State safety Tariq Thompson, to discuss his preparation for the draft, why his skill set might be an ideal fit in New England; More. (29 min.)
• One Patriots Place podcast: Tom Curran and Phil Perry join Steve, Murph, and Clare for a final preview of the upcoming NFL Draft for the New England Patriots. (58 min.)

NATIONAL NEWS

• Matt Miller (TheDraftScout) Final 2021 Scouting Notebook. “New England Patriots (No. 15 overall): The talk that New England wants to trade up for a quarterback is definitely out there. There’s a reason that information is being shared as I’ve been told they do like Justin Fields a lot. That being said...New England has tricked us all in the past with rumors like this. Will this be the year they finally move up for a quarterback? I think it is.”
• Rodger Sherman (The Ringer) The case for the first-round quarterback draft mulligan.
• Kevin Clark (The Ringer) Spin the wheel of destiny with the NFL draft’s quarterback sweepstakes.
• Kevin Patra (NFL.com) 2021 NFL Draft Buzz: Wednesday’s news and notes. “New England has been projected to snag a first-round QB, but if its target is gone by pick No. 15 and the Pats can’t trade up, Day 2 becomes an option.”
• Cynthia Frelund (NFL.com) 2021 NFL Draft: 4 win-win trade scenarios in Round 1.
• Nick Shook (NFL.com) Trades could be fewer than usual in 2021 NFL Draft’s first round.
• Pete Prisco (CBS Sports) What teams ‘should’ do 2021 NFL Mock Draft: Pats pick Alabama QB Mac Jones at 15.
• Jason La Canfora (CBS Sports) First-round locks: A look at 27 prospects sure to hear their names called on Day 1.
• Adam Schein (NFL.com) Sizzling-hot draft takes: 2) Jimmy Garoppolo will be alive on Sunday ... and a Patriot.
• Tom Pelissero (NFL.com) 2021 NFL Draft: Six potential surprise first-rounders.
• Charles Robinson (Yahoo! Sports) For the 49ers, the 2021 NFL draft feels like Mitchell Trubisky vs. Patrick Mahomes and Deshaun Watson.
• Pete Thamel (Yahoo! Sports) Trey Lance’s stunning NFL draft rise reaches finish line with a nervous wait in the green room.
• Eric Edholm (Yahoo! Sports) Final 2021 NFL mock draft. Pats pick Ohio State QB Justin Fields at 15.
• Danny Heifetz (The Ringer) How much can you really develop a quarterback in the NFL?
• Kaelen Jones (The Ringer) Kyle Pitts and the search for unicorn tight ends.
• Mike Florio (ProFootballTalk) Words of wisdom from Nick Saban on how to maximize draft stock.
• Analysts (NFL.com) Draft debate: Which team should trade up in Round 1, and for which prospect?
• Charean Williams (ProFootballTalk) Terry Fontenot: If teams call about Julio Jones, we have to listen.
• Josh Alper (ProFootballTalk) Fifth-year option tracker for 2018 NFL first-round picks.
• Grant Gordon (NFL.com) Antonio Brown re-signing with Buccaneers on one-year deal.
• Jason Owens (Yahoo! Sports) Texans reportedly had ‘bidding war’ set up for Deshaun Watson that could have included Tua Tagovailoa.
• Eric Edholm (Yahoo! Sports) If the Wonderlic is dead, does this mean the draft has grown up?
• Andrew Marchand (NY Post) Jets are the worldwide leader in producing ESPN analysts. /Makes sense, lol.
• Bobby Burack (Outkick) ESPN lies again about black quarterbacks.