Report: Patriots believed to be team most interested in Lamar Jackson

The New England Patriots are believed to be the team most interested in drafting former Louisville quarterback Lamar Jackson, sources told Bleacher Report's Mike Freeman.

Freeman added that teams around the league have been impressed by Jackson's "intelligence and football acumen" in meetings since the combine, where the signal-caller made headlines after reportedly being asked to work out at wide receiver.

Despite the calls for a position change, he's expected to be taken toward the end of the first round. New England owns two first-round selections - 23rd and 31st overall - after trading Brandin Cooks to the Los Angeles Rams, so they have the ammunition to trade up for the 2016 Heisman Trophy winner if necessary.

Tom Brady took home MVP honors at age 40, but after trading backup Jimmy Garoppolo at last season's deadline, Patriots owner Robert Kraft admitted his team "obviously" must consider drafting the future Hall of Famer's heir apparent.