New England Patriots links 5/04/21 - Post-draft to-do list: Fill in open roster spots, pad depth chart

TEAM TALK

• Recap: Meet the Patriots 2021 draft class.
• Mike Dussault says the Patriots will keep Isaiah Wynn for a fifth year.

LOCAL LINKS

• Andrew Callahan talks about Isaiah Wynn’s fifth-year option picked up and Sony Michel’s declined. “Wynn is expected to start at left tackle again in the 2021 season, while Michel projects to be part of a backfield rotation.”
• Zack Cox tells us what it means for the Patriots, now that they’ve picked up Isaiah Wynn’s fifth-year option.
• Doug Kyed sees the need for a backup plan behind Isaiah Wynn.
• Doug Kyed offers his first post-draft 53-man roster projection. Draftees will have a tough time cracking this squad.
• Adam London relays ESPN’s biggest post-draft question for the Patriots: Wide receiver.
• Zack Cox analyzes the Patriots’ eight-player 2021 draft class by the numbers to see what advanced stats can tell us about the draftees.
• CBS Boston notes that the Patriots, oddly enough, have yet to sign an undrafted free agent.
• Doug Kyed explains why counting the Patriots’ available open roster spots is getting complicated. As of now, the Pats can sign seven additional players.
• Zack Cox looks at the available veteran free agents to see if there are any the Pats should pick up.
• Khari Thompson notes Steve Sarkisian calls Mac Jones this year’s most NFL-ready rookie quarterback. The 49ers apparently disagree.
• Khari Thompson explains why Mac Jones is perfect for the Pats, even if he’s not a special talent: His accuracy and decision-making should endear him to the Patriots coaching staff.
• Ryan Hannable says it feels like we won’t see Mac Jones until 2022, and that’s OK with him.
• WEEI guest Ben Volin suggests the Patriots drafting Mac Jones was a ‘quid pro quo’ between Bill Belichick and Robert Kraft. /Puh-leeze.
• Khari Thompson passes along an Albert Breer report that the Patriots were willing to pass on Mac Jones rather than trade up. /Price to move up prob. would’ve been at a premium.
• Andy Hart wonders if Mac Jones will have to win a Super Bowl to be a Patriots success.
• Ricky Doyle highlights Michael Lombardi explaining the Saints tried to trade up above New England to select QB Mac Jones, and why they couldn’t get there.
• Khari Thompson gives us four takeaways on the Patriots’ draft — including the plan for Mac Jones. 1. Belichick wants to dominate again on defense.
• CBS Boston highlights RB Damien Harris discussing his own draft experience, which included an interesting wait to hear his name called back in 2019.
• Adam London reports Nick Saban refutes criticism about Patriots’ second-round draft pick Christian Barmore. “I never had a problem with him. He’s a good kid.”
• Ryan Hannable notes Ronnie Perkins says he was targeted by Steve Belichick, not Bill.
• Adam London notes the Patriots’ final draft pick, WR Tre Nixon reacts to being personally selected by Ernie Adams. “What an honor!”
• Matt Dolloff says Cameron McGrone is the Patriots’ latest gamble on an elite high school recruit.
• Matt Dolloff believes the Patriots addressed their stagnant power run game by drafting Rhamondre Stevenson.
• Tom Westerholm reports Ernie Adams announced his retirement after 21 years with the Patriots to join the team’s ‘many wonderful fans.’ /We’ll always have #PinkStripes.
• Michael Hurley posts the behind-the-scenes video of Ernie Adams making his final draft pick.
• Alexandra Francisco says we’ll never forget Ernie Adams’ hand in Super Bowl XLIX goal-line interception.
• Michael Hurley discovers the NFL now has players who were born after Tom Brady’s career began. /‘Eesh.
• Locked On Patriots podcast: Mike D’Abate and Thomas Murphy discuss the Patriots’ draft selections on Day Two and Day Three; highlighting their favorites and voicing their concerns. (49 min.)

NATIONAL NEWS

• Albert Breer (SI) Monday Afternoon QB: Do the Packers believe Jordan Love is ready? Plus, players, types of players hurt in this draft, the Patriots’ process, the Chiefs’ new line and how teams are talking to their veteran QBs.
• NFL Nation (ESPN) Biggest offseason questions, team needs, rookie battles for all 32 teams. Did the Patriots do enough at wide receiver?
• Josh Alper (ProFootballTalk) 21 fifth-year options picked up for 2018 first-round picks.
• Danny Heifetz (The Ringer) The eight biggest questions coming out of the 2021 NFL draft. 4. Will the Patriots Start Mac Jones or Cam Newton?
• Mike Tanier (Football Outsiders) 2021 draft pick-by-pick analysis: First round picks: 1-10, 11-20, 21-32; Second round, Third round.
• Nate Davis (USA Today) 32 things we learned from the 2021 NFL draft. 15. Alabama’s Jones and DT Christian Barmore are the 11th and 12th players New England’s Bill Belichick has snatched from Nick Saban-coached teams. Going back to 1967, no other coaches have established a similar pipeline.
• Michael Middlehurst-Schwartz (USA Today) NFL draft’s biggest steals: Patriots, Jets add top value with hauls in 2021 class.
• Pete Prisco (CBS Sports) 2021 NFL Draft grades for all 32 teams. Patriots: B+: The Patriots, despite the perception, haven’t been a great drafting team lately. That changed here. Jones and second-round defensive tackle Christian Barmore will really help this team, Barmore right away and Jones down the line. Third-round edge player Ronnie Perkins is an impressive player. Bill Belichick has had a good offseason.
• Pete Thamel (Yahoo! Sports) NFL draft all-underrated team. S Joshuah Bledsoe (6th-round) makes the team.
• Dan Hanzus (NFL.com) Post-draft NFL Power Rankings. Patriots 18th (+2)
• Mike Florio (ProFootballTalk) NFLPA to hold video conference with all new rookies today [Monday].
• Report (NFL.com) Amazon Prime Video to be exclusive ‘TNF’ home starting in 2022.