Here's the AP's final mock:
https://www.yahoo.com/news/ap-mock-nfl-draft-3-231605073.html
Like all mocks it's meaningless, but would Pats fans be happy?
3. Traded to Minnesota along with 2025 3rd and 2025 6th for #11, #23, 2025 #1
8. Patriots trade #11, #34 for #8, 3rd rounder, 5th rounder. Select J.J. McCarthy
23. Adonai Mitchell
In summary:
Out: #3, #34, 2025 3rd, 2025 6th
In: J.J. McCarthy, Adonai Mitchell, 2024 3rd, 2024 5th, 2025 1st
This is a lot of moving parts. I need to break it down some to understand:
This season's top of Draft:
Out: #3 and #34
In: #8 and #23
Mid Draft Picks:
Out: 3rd and 6th in 2025
In: 3rd and 5th in 2024
Bonus Pick:
In: 1st in 2025
If we end up with JJ McCarthy with the resulting #8 pick, I think this is all fine. Our second pick this draft ends up at #23 vs. #34 so that is a pretty good jump. The mid round picks swaps is mostly moving from 2025 to 2024, which I guess is good, but not really all that much different. And for all this trouble, we get an extra 1st in 2025. Not exactly the boatload of picks I would like to get for trading out of #3, but if it worked out this way, it looks like a win. It all comes down to how Maye vs. JJ McCarthy works out (assuming Maye is picked at #3). If Maye ends up a bust (which is possible) the Pats will look like genius. If JJ McCarthy ends up a bust, not so much, but they will have an extra first next season to try again for a QB.
