How valuable would No. 1 pick be for Pats? Here’s what history suggests

How valuable would No. 1 pick be for Pats? Here’s what history suggests originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

The New England Patriots will enter Week 18 with the No. 1 pick in the 2025 NFL Draft.

They are not guaranteed to earn that selection, but it would be theirs if they lose to the Buffalo Bills at home on Sunday afternoon (click here for all the potential scenarios).

If the Patriots do secure the No. 1 pick for the first time since 1993, it wouldn’t be surprising if they entertained trading the selection, purely based on the fact that the franchise doesn’t need a quarterback.

🔊 Next Pats Podcast: Why ‘sexy’ decision is the right one for the Patriots in the draft | Listen & Subscribe | Watch on YouTube

Drake Maye, who the Patriots took at No. 3 in the 2024 NFL Draft, has had a strong rookie season. He looks like the real deal. Now it’s time for the Patriots to surround Maye with an improved offensive line and better pass-catchers, particularly at wide receiver. New England also has glaring weaknesses at edge rusher and cornerback that need to be addressed in the draft.

The 2025 draft class is headlined by two quarterbacks — Miami’s Cam Ward and Colorado’s Shedeur Sanders. They are the No. 1 and No. 2 picks in nearly all expert mock drafts right now. In fact, those two players are likely to be the only QBs taken in the first round, although it’s possible someone else could rocket up the draft rankings with a great performance at the NFL Scouting Combine and/or Pro Days.

What would be the value of the No. 1 pick if the Patriots landed it? The No. 1 pick has been traded just three times since 2000 and twice in the last eight years.

Let’s take a look at the last two No. 1 pick trades and how it worked out for the teams involved. After that, we’ll break down potential trade partners for the Patriots, assuming they own the top pick.

2023 NFL Draft

Carolina Panthers receive: 2023 first-round pick (No. 1)

Chicago Bears receive: WR D.J. Moore, 2023 first-round pick…

Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/valuable-no-1-pick-pats-193040999.html

Author : NBC Sports Boston

Publish date : 2024-12-30 19:30:00

Copyright for syndicated content belongs to the linked Source.