The Patriots Have Players They Could Move During The Draft.

I have used different simulators but for some reason based off the draft board ranking, PFF is considered the best simulator. I have pointed out that I think it's just as flawed due to the trade system and that using different draft simulators may allow for the idea of reaches or people falling. However, people with in the media disagree, so I have been playing around looking to see what I could get for three individual Patriots players.

Now there is no guarantee that the Patriots will move on from any of these three guys prior to the completion of the 2022 season but I do believe that all three guys should net a sixth or seventh round pick if traded because teams know the Patriots are looking to dump the players. And with all three being in final years, teams could always wait until free agency 2023 to attempt to acquire them. Those players are Jarrett Stidham, N'keal Harry, and Jake Bailey.

Jarrett Stidham has been kept around. It would make sense for the Patriots to take a quarterback in 2022. Stidham knows the playbook and had beat Hoyer out at least once. Hoyer is a quarterback coach and should be evolved in game planning but if the Patriots really viewed Hoyer as the true backup, Stidham would be gone. So if the Patriots do not take a quarterback in this draft, watch for Stidham to get a two year contract extension.

N'Keal Harry knows his time is up. A trade request was made in 2021 but Harry is still with the team. Harry appears to block better than Asiasi and Keene. Although I believe that it's past the time for the Patriots to convert Harry, If The 2020 tight end duo does not show improvement, Harry may finally see the conversion fans have been asking for. I expect to see Harry in camp come August. Whether or not he makes the fifty three man roster is still TBD but he's someone to watch.

Jake Bailey, the all pro punter. The only way I see the Patriots moving on from him is if they acquire Matt Araiza. Being an all pro punter,, I think the Patriots may have a hard time finding a trade partner and will have to settle on a late round pick or the team will have to set Araiza if they draft him if they want a compensation pick.  Typically Bailey's salary would be too high but with the weakness of the Patriots defense, extending Bailey if they fail to acquire a punter makes sense. Special teams can make up for a lesser defense. 

Since PFF is being considered the simulator to use, I will show the last first round draft I did. I do expect the Patriots to trade down in to the first or early second and do think it's entirely possible that they make three trades down depending on how the board falls. I do think these three guys could be traded but again not for less than a sixth or seventh round pick.  I want to say the draft I am about to share in no way do I believe will happen but want to make a point that one simulator cannot or should not be relied on exclusively. 

I do think the saints would more likely be a trade candidate for Harry than the Ravens and the Steelers for Stidham with the passing of Haskins over the Saints. Bailey to the Rams makes sense as that's the only team I saw anything saying they need a punter. Again the draft simulator's trade system is broken so take the trades with a grain of salt.