For this simulated draft, trade between Lions and Ram will obviously weigh heavily on the results. But let’s also assume that Deshaun Watson is traded – not for the Patriots. And let’s assume that, with options dwindling, the Patriots end up with the defender option that seems inevitable to them.
In this exercise, we have the Patriots swapping their second round for the San Francisco 49ers for Jimmy Garoppolo. (The Niners, in turn, distributed a package of future choices for the Vikings by Kirk Cousins.) And we also have Bill Belichick signing one of the recipients in this year’s free agent class.
From then on, how would the Patriots build around Garoppolo in the draft? Not in the way you can think. Partly because of the way the draft falls here, partly because of the Patriots’ need for valuable positions, and partly because of the number of talented pass catchers that will be available to Belichick in later rounds.