There's something brewing in Foxborough.
On Tuesday, the New England Patriots traded wide receiver Brandin Cooks to the Los Angeles Rams, acquiring a 2018 first-round pick (No. 23 overall) in the process.
On the surface, Bill Belichick and Co. have lost their 2017 leading rusher (Dion Lewis) and two of their top three leading receivers (Cooks and Danny Amendola) this offseason. But something larger may be in the works.
| Patriots' 2018 draft picks | |
|---|---|
| Round 1 | No. 23 overall (via Rams) |
| Round 1 | No. 31 overall |
| Round 2 | No. 43 overall (via 49ers) |
| Round 2 | No. 63 overall |
| Round 3 | No. 95 overall |
| Round 6 | No. 198 overall (via Rams) |
| Round 6 | No. 210 overall (via Raiders) |
| Round 7 | No. 219 overall (via Browns) |
The Patriots own three top-50 selections after the Cooks deal, giving them plenty of ammunition to either move up in the draft's first round or make another blockbuster trade. We don't claim to know Belichick's master plan, but he might be one step ahead of everyone (as per usual), ready to make another huge move.
Could that move be the acquisition of Tom Brady's successor?
Brady turns 41 years old in August. Despite coming off a season in which he was named the oldest MVP in NFL history, he cannot play forever. While the five-time Super Bowl champion may suit up for another two or three years, Belichick would be unwise to ignore potential long-term solutions.
New England doesn't need a quarterback ready to play immediately. It needs a prospect to develop behind Brady. There are plenty of Day 1 options available: from Heisman Trophy winner Baker Mayfield, to the intriguing Lamar Jackson, to the polarizing Josh Allen.
Trading up to select one of the draft’s high-profile prospects is not something the Patriots are known for - they prefer trading back to acquire additional picks - but history means nothing if they fall in love with one of this year's top signal-callers.
It will not be easy for the Patriots to move into the top 10, or even top 15, of the draft. The Browns, Giants, Jets, Broncos, Bills, Dolphins, and Cardinals all need upgrades at the quarterback position, and all are currently slotted ahead of New England, so Belichick will certainly need to part with multiple assets to make a deal work.
But this might have been the plan all along. Acquiring a first- and sixth-rounder via Cooks and collecting a second-round pick for Jimmy Garoppolo could be the initial steps in a grander scheme to maintain a high level of success in New England. The opportunity to select a franchise quarterback doesn't come around very often for a team that drafts as consistently late in the first round as the Patriots, and Belichick would certainly love to add to his legacy post-Brady.
But what if the Patriots don't fall in love with any of the top-tier QB prospects? Could they perhaps look to make another blockbuster trade to maximize Brady's few remaining years and compete for a sixth Lombardi Trophy?
If so, Giants star Odell Beckham Jr. could be on their radar.
New York has reportedly asked for multiple first-round picks for Beckham, something New England now possesses. Pairing the current Giants wideout with Brady, Rob Gronkowski, and Julian Edelman would unquestionably give the Pats one of the NFL's top offenses.
It would be easy to question Beckham's fit with the Patriots, but Belichick doesn't shy away from strong personalities (remember Randy Moss?) and could be one of the few coaches in the league who could properly motivate the three-time Pro Bowler.
While it is impossible to penetrate the mind of Bill Belichick, one thing is certain: The Patriots have a bold plan for the 2018 season and beyond - they always have a plan - and will not be afraid to execute it. Whether it's player acquisitions or draft-day trades, they will be one of the most interesting teams to monitor this April.
(Photos courtesy: Action Images)
