Return of the Empire | New England Patriots

[theJackman]

I believe New England is the perfect place for those two to be reborn.

In terms of QB it was more or less what I was expecting. Important names have come out and now there are names that make me curious if they can do something for a franchise that had Cam Newton and Tom Brady in recent years.

[LopaKa]

Love the start to your franchise dude. Awesome write ups and I like the 32 team control, really gives you full access to your franchise. Interested to see who will be playing QB for the PATS on day 1. Love the signings so far. Good luck in the draft!

[GoldenJet]

Quote: Originally Posted by theJackman

I believe New England is the perfect place for those two to be reborn. In terms of QB it was more or less what I was expecting. Important names have come out and now there are names that make me curious if they can do something for a franchise that had Cam Newton and Tom Brady in recent years.

It's going to be an uncertain look until we find that next-generation guy. Definitely going to be looking into the draft, but drafting so late is going to hurt things.

Thanks for checking in, wish Cam Newton was still available at this point. Could use that veteran presence.

Quote: Originally Posted by LopaKa

Love the start to your franchise dude. Awesome write ups and I like the 32 team control, really gives you full access to your franchise. Interested to see who will be playing QB for the PATS on day 1. Love the signings so far. Good luck in the draft!

Going to definitely be interesting to see who we're able to grab. Thanks for commenting!

[GoldenJet]

Patriots add Gronkowski, Trubisky ahead of Draft

Associated Press -- The New England Patriots announced this afternoon that they have come to terms to a two-year deal with tight end Rob Gronkowski and a one-year deal with former Chicago Bears quarterback Mitchell Trubisky just ahead of the beginning of the 2021 NFL Draft.

Gronkowski, turning 32 in May, previously was drafted by the Patriots after a talented, yet injury-ladened career at the University of Arizona and went on to win three Super Bowls as a part of one of the greatest combos with quarterback Tom Brady. After multiple injuries, Gronkowski retired two seasons ago before returning last year to join Brady in Tampa Bay.

Gronkowski expressed a desire to continue his career with Tampa Bay, but the Buccaneers elected to continue with their tight end base of Cameron Brate, O.J. Howard, and Anthony Auclair. Gronkowski was expected to go back into retirement before a conversation with the Patriots' brass woo'ed him back.

"I loved my time in New England I enjoyed my time in Tampa Bay with Tom. I knew I wanted to retire here and I still have the itch to compete for Super Bowls. I expect to be able to do that here, and that's the attitude we have here" Gronkowski commented via social media.

Gronkowski, though having lost a step since his All-Pro days, is expected to become a leading target once again for the Patriots, as he joins the likes of wide receivers Julian Edelman, A.J. Green, and N'Keal Harry. He is also expected to mentor second-year tight ends Devin Asiasi and Dalton Keene.

The Patriots have also added quarterback Mitchell Trubisky to a one-year deal after being rumoured to be heavy into the likes of veteran Philip Rivers and Jameis Winston. The Patriots have reportedly been priced out of Jameis Winton and could not come to terms with Rivers.

Trubisky has had a very up and down career with the Bears since being drafted second overall in the 2017 NFL Draft out of the University of North Carolina.

Trubisky was replaced by Nick Foles this past season as the starting quarterback after being voiced as the reason why the Chicago Bears have not taken that next step. Trubisky was previously voted to the Pro Bowl in 2018.

Trubisky is expected to compete with current Patriots quarterback Jarrett Stidham and whoever the team drafts in the upcoming 2021 NFL Draft. The team has reportedly not ruled out trading for or signing another veteran quarterback.

[GoldenJet]

JAGUARS PICK UP LAWRENCE WITH FIRST OVERALL PICK
As expected, "Sunshine" goes to Florida to link up with reformed Jaguars

The Jacksonville Jaguars have officially taken Clemson University quarterback Trevor Lawrence with the first overall pick to kickstart the 2021 NFL Draft.

The Knoxville, Tennesse native came out of Cartersville, Georgia as the number one recruit in the 2016 recruiting class and was regarded as "one of the greatest high school quarterbacks prospects of all time". He committed to Clemson University to take the reigns over from eventual-NFL superstar Deshaun Watson.

Lawrence would go on to win a National Championship in 2018, was a three-time ACC Champion, and was the Heisman Trophy runner-up to University of Alabama wide receiver DeVonta Smith.

Lawrence has far and above been regarded as the top prospect in the NFL Draft and is one of the most highly regarded quarterback to enter the league since Stanford's Andrew Luck was drafted by the Indianapolis Colts back in 2012.

He joins a Jaguars team looking for a culture change under new head coach Urban Meyer after a reported toxic culture caused most of the Jaguars' superstars out of town - including Jalen Ramsey, A.J. Bouye, Yannick Ngakoue, among others.

The team added pieces on defense, including former All-Pro outside linebacker Von Miller and safety Jalen Mills. The team is also in on wide receiver Kenny Golladay - trying to give Lawrence another toy to play with.

The team currently boasts the likes of Keelan Cole, Dede Westbrook, and D.J. Chark - a group of young weapons. The team also lauds running back James Robinson, who just had an incredible rookie season despite the Jaguars' terrible season.

Lawrence is expected to "compete" (in the lightest of terms) with quarterbacks Gardner Minshew and Mike Glennon for the starting quarterback job.

The New York Jets are currently on the clock with the second overall pick.

[GoldenJet]

NFL ROUND 1 RECAP
Jets go with Fields, Sam Darnold now expected to be on the block

1. Jacksonville Jaguars
Quarterback Trevor Lawrence [6'6, 230 lbs, Clemson University]
Synopsis: The perennial Heisman candidate and potentially, biggest prospect since Andrew Luck came out of Stanford is officially a Jacksonville Jaguar. He’ll team up with head coach Urban Meyer with a pool full of young, upstart weapons at his disposal. Hopefully that culture change Jacksonville has been spouting about all off-season does not inhibit Lawrence’s development.

2. New York Jets
Quarterback Justin Fields [6’3, 227 lbs, Ohio State University]
Synopsis: It seems as though the Sam Darnold era in New York is on its way to the end, as the Jets select Justin Fields with the second pick. His athleticism is probably one of the best in the draft for quarterbacks and pairing him with an established superstar receiver like Allen Robinson II will be key. Not to mention the other weapons the Jets are using their cap space on.

3. Atlanta Falcons
Quarterback Zach Wilson [6’3, 213 lbs, BYU]
Synopsis: The team may be keeping quarterback Matt Ryan and Julio Jones around, but that doesn’t mean they cannot see what time it is. Picking this high with this many quarterbacks available does not come around every year. Seeing Lawrence go number one was obvious, but the Jets opting for Fields means they need a quarterback of the future now. Wilson has some work to do, but there’s a good thing he gets to grow behind someone like Matty Ice.

4. Detroit Lions
Middle Linebacker Micah Parsons [6’3, 244 lbs, Penn State University]
Synopsis: A lot of teams thought the Lions were going to continue the trend of quarterbacks and pick up Trey Lance out of ND State, or trade down. Seems as though there were not any offers that were appetizing enough for them to go down, so they went arguably the best player available. The Lions hope Parsons will have a type of Devin White/Patrick Queen sort of impact from the get-go.

5. Houston Texans
Wide Receiver DeVonta Smith [6’1, 178 lbs, University of Alabama]
Synopsis: The Texans have a lot of needs now with the likes of J.J. Watt and Deshaun Watson now playing in the state of Florida. With Will Fuller probably not going to report to camp after signing his new deal before getting shafted, the team wants to get newly acquired quarterback Tua Tagovailoa a weapon he can grow with. Enter: DeVonta Smith. Heisman-winning wide receiver. I think they might be familiar with one another.

6. Philadelphia Eagles
Wide Receiver Ja’Marr Chase [6’0, 208 lbs, Louisiana State University]
Synopsis: The Philadelphia Eagles have given the keys to the franchise to quarterback Jalen Hurts, sending Carson Wentz to Indianapolis. The Eagles have a young core of receivers led by Jalen Reagor, Travis Fulgham, and J.J. Arcega-Whiteside. Now, the Eagles have added a young stud out of the SEC in Ja’Marr Chase. Justin Jefferson killed it last year, and Chase has often been cited as being better. Time to find out.

7. Cincinnati Bengals
Offensive Tackle Penei Sewell [6’6, 331 lbs, University of Oregon]
Synopsis: The Cincinnati Bengals floundered back to obscurity after rookie quarterback Joe Burrow tore his ACL from shoddy protection. The team has some goons on defense, especially now with Jadeveon Clowney in the mix. They have a pair of talented, young receivers and their quarterback of the future. Now, it is time to make sure he stays on the field. They go big on protection with Penei Sewell, pairing him with Jonah Williams.

8. Carolina Panthers
Tight End Kyle Pitts [6’6, 242 lbs, University of Florida]
Synopsis: Greg Olsen is long gone and Ian Thomas has been largely ineffective for the Panthers’ passing game. The team seems to be okay with missing out on the likes of Justin Fields and Zach Wilson (and don’t seem too impressed by Trey Lance), so they’re sticking with Teddy Bridgewater and giving him more weapons. Pitts is extremely talented and the team might just go and pick up a veteran for him to grow under (think Jared Cook, or maybe even Zach Ertz).

9. Denver Broncos
Middle Linebacker Dylan Moses [6’3, 240 lbs, University of Alabama]
Synopsis: The Broncos opt to keep firing with Drew Lock, at least for another season. With some severe losses on the defensive side of things, the team needs a new defensive leader. Dylan Moses comes from the stout Alabama defense that breeds excellence. Moses will pair up with Josey Jewell to clog up some holes and give the Broncos’ offense a fighting chance.

10. Dallas Cowboys
Offensive Tackle Alex Leatherwood [6’6, 312 lbs, University of Alabama]
Synopsis: The Dallas Cowboys want to protect their franchise quarterback Dak Prescott with everything they have, and replacing key pieces on the offensive line is integral. Though they would like to go cornerback here, they need to continue building this offense which will be its vital point of emphasis. Alex Leatherwood out of Alabama is the next best piece and will learn from some giant pieces like Tyronn Smith.

11. New York Giants
Outside Linebacker Azees Ojulari [6’3, 244 lbs, University of Georgia]
Synopsis: The New York Giants want to get after the quarterback this season, and Azees Ojulari fits that need to a tee. His technique is insane and he has enough speed to make up for being a little smaller than you would like. Some might say this is a bit of a reach of number 11 and the Giants have more pressing needs on offense to address but this pick makes sense.

12. San Francisco 49ers
Cornerback Patrick Surtain [6'2, 202 lbs, University of Alabama]
Synopsis: Richard Sherman and Jason Verrett are currently sitting in the free agency pool and the 49ers have other focuses on filling so getting a new cornerback of the future is definitely a priority for their defense. Surtain is technically sound. He's easily the best corner in the draft.

13. Minnesota Vikings
Defensive end Gregory Rousseau [6'6, 268 lbs, University of Miami]
Synopsis: Rousseau is an outstanding prospect off the edge with so much potential that the Vikings are salivating at the thought of him still being around at their pick. The benefit of the teams ahead of them having offensive needs. Rousseau adds to their defense that needs a lot of work.

14. Los Angeles Chargers
Tackle Jalen Mayfield [6'5, 320 lbs, University of Michigan]
Synopsis: The Chargers added tackle Alejandro Villanueva in the free agency portion of the off-season out of Pittsburgh, so we might see the young and powerful Jalen Mayfield either sit or be pushed inside. But, Mayfield is the long-term answer for the Chargers to protect quarterback's Justin Herbert blindside.

15. Arizona Cardinals
Tackle Liam Eichenberg [6'5, 314 lbs, University of Notre Dame]
Synopsis: Arizona could have easily gone with a receiver to shore out their receiving corps now that Larry Fitzgerald is playing golf in retirement. Instead, they decided to work on their offensive line and go with the Notre Dame product. Protecting their franchise quarterback in Kyler Murray is integral to their team taking the next step.

16. Las Vegas Raiders
Cornerback Caleb Farley [6'2, 207 lbs, Virginia Tech University]
Synopsis: Though I'm sure Jon Gruden would have loved to go with a more attractive pick or would have loved to have traded up to grab Patrick Surtain to add to the secondary, Farley is speedier and works much better in what the Raiders are trying to build. They are reaching a little bit, but he's their best option.

17. New England Patriots
Quarterback Trey Lance [6'3, 223 lbs, North Dakota State University]
Synopsis: The draft turned out a little weird, especially when the Carolina Panthers opted to give Teddy Bridgewater more of an opportunity without so much heat on his back. Thought to have been stuck with Alabam's Mac Jones as their only choice, the Patriots leap at the chance to develop under-experienced Trey Lance. Will he be the real deal is the most important question.

18. Houston Texans
Guard Cade Mays [6'6, 318 lbs, University of Tennessee]
Synopsis: The team that has gone through some would say, the most trauma this off-season, continues to build up from scratch. Having Laremy Tunsil certainly helps their offensive line woes, but they need to continue building. Cade Mays is a big man that can play on the outside as well. He'll be integral in Tua Tagovailoa's development under center.

19. Washington Football Team
Wide Receiver Jaylen Waddle [5'10, 182 lbs, University of Alabama]
Synopsis: The team decided to opt away from taking quarterback Mac Jones as their QB of the future as they continue to try and get rid of Dwayne Haskins Jr. Now that they have Cam Newton back with head coach Ron Rivera, they decide to give him something he didn't have in New England: weapons. Waddle will take the top off offenses to help out Terry McLaurin ten fold.

20. Chicago Bears
Quarterback Mac Jones [6'3, 220 lbs, University of Alabama]
Synopsis: The team has officially moved on from the Mitchell Trubisky quarterback experiment and decided to pick up a fresh new piece in Mac Jones. They have retained Nick Foles for Jones to grow under and slowly progress. The team around him has weapons and their defense is ferocious. Jones is a safe pick for the future.

21. Jacksonville Jaguars
Tackle Samuel Cosmi [6'7, 300 lbs, University of Texas]
Synopsis: The Jacksonville Jaguars have their brand new, squeaky clean quarterback about 20 picks ago. Now, they are making a pick to ensure they keep him that way. Samuel Cosmi is a monster of a tackle that will probably push Cam Robinson over to the right side. Cosmi has a lot of potential to be great in a slowly improving Jaguars offensive line.

22. Indianapolis Colts
Defensive End Kwity Paye [6'4, 275 lbs, University of Michigan]
Synopsis: The Colts must have considered adding another top-flight wide receiver that is still hanging around but decide to go towards defense, adding Kwity Paye. He's heavy, and he's strong and will be a great rotational guy in his rookie season while he learns to replace newly signed Ryan Kerrigan. He's speedy for his size as well, running a 4.79 in the 40-yard dash.

23. Baltimore Ravens
Wide Receiver Justyn Ross [6'4, 208 lbs, Clemson University]
Synopsis: Though Antonio Brown is a key piece of the Ravens offense, they need a big body guy considering the Brown cousins are both under six-feet tall. Ross is a talented wide receiver that decided to declare after missing the 2020 season. He was close to returning but now he's a Baltimore Raven.

24. Pittsburgh Steelers
Cornerback Jaycee Horn [6'1, 205 lbs, University of South Carolina]
Synopsis: The Steelers have a lot of holes to fill with not a lot of funds to do it. They didn't have any trade down partners to go grab an offensive lineman, but they decided to work on their secondary now that Joe Haden is in San Francisco. Horn is a talented, first-round talent that will grow to be that lockdown corner.

25. Cleveland Browns
Defensive End Jayson Oweh [6'5, 255 lbs, Penn State University]
Synopsis: Oweh across from Myles Garrett would give the Browns one of the freakiest athletic tandems in NFL history. The zero in Oweh’s sacks column this past season obviously stands out, but he took a massive leap forward. Cleveland continues to build for long-term success with the addition of Oweh.

26. Houston Texans
Center Creed Humphrey [6'5, 315 lbs, University of Oklahoma]
Synopsis: The Texans use the pick they got from Tampa Bay from the J.J. Watt trade to continue to build their offensive line, this time taking Humphrey, a center who is clearly at a position of need. Humphrey could be shifted to guard with Nick Martin currently holding the spot. Not sure how this is exactly going to work.

27. Tennessee Titans
Wide Receiver Rondale Moore [5'9, 183 lbs, Purdue University]
Synopsis: Corey Davis remains unsigned in the free agency pool as the team is reportedly still trying to figure things out with him, but it seems as though the longer they take, the less likely he will be back. The team picks up insurance with Rondale Moore, who was not expected to still be around this late in the NFL draft. Moore is a speedy deep threat that could definitely shake things up for the Titans offense.

28. New Orleans Saints
Defensive Tackle Phidarian Mathis [6'4, 312 lbs, University of Alabama]
Synopsis: The Saints had to cut costs after their cap situation ballooned to unforeseen heights, especially with quarterback Drew Brees returning for one more year. The Saints had to cut defensive tackle Sheldon Rankins to save a couple of dollars, and now they have his replacement. Mathis is huge and will clog many running lanes for the Saints.

29. Buffalo Bills
Running back Travis Etienne [5'11, 205 lbs, Clemson University]
Synopsis: The Buffalo Bills did not want to reach for a guard and did not wait to trade back. They could have drafted Brenton Cox out of Florida as the future replacement for defensive end Jerry Hughes but decided to add another explosive piece to their potent offense. Etienne is elite and will be an immediate addition to the rotation at runningback.

30. Green Bay Packers
Center Josh Myers [6'5, 312 lbs, Ohio State University]
Synopsis: Having to choose running back Aaron Jones over center Corey Linsley during the resigning phase was a tough pill to swallow but a necessary one after the season Jones had. The team needed to re-evaluate when the draft came around and decided to perhaps reach a bit to pick up their guy. Myers is long and quick, definitely going to be helpful in Aaron Rodgers' final seasons.

31. New York Jets
Cornerback Paulson Adebo [6'1, 192 lbs, Stanford University]
Synopsis: The Jets use the pick they got from Seattle in the Jamal Adams trade to address their secondary, taking Adebo out of Stanford. The team is reportedly close to bringing back safety Marcus Maye and they added Desmond King in free agency. Though they would have loved one of the better corners in the draft (interesting how they went Adebo over Asante Samuel Jr), they are perfectly happy with the scheme fit slot corner.

32. Kansas City Chiefs
Tackle Walker Little [6'7, 309 lbs, Stanford University]
Synopsis: The cash-strapped Kansas City Chiefs know that they will need to protect their God-tier quarterback in Patrick Mahomes or there will be very little chance in a three-peat. Little is a mammoth of a man who might need a little bit more work before being thrust into a star role.

[GoldenJet]

New England Patriots - Round 1, Pick 17: Trey Lance, Quarterback

Associated Press -- The New England Patriots, drafting towards the middle of the draft, had to be expecting that they would be encountering a difficult decision when it came to drafting a quarterback in the first round of the 2021 NFL Draft.

As expected, the Jacksonville Jaguars picked up quarterback Trevor Lawrence out of Clemson University with the first pick and the New York Jets officially pulled the apparent plug on the Sam Darnold experiment by selecting Ohio State's quarterback Justin Fields with the second overall pick. Not to break the trend, the Atlanta Falcons decided now was the time to pick up the heir to Matt Ryan's throne by picking up Zach Wilson out of BYU.

The run on quarterbacks had come and gone and slew of teams that could use a quarterback (Carolina, Philadelphia, Denver) decided to address other needs and stick to the guys that they had over North Dakota State's Trey Lance.

The Patriots said, "don't mind if I do".

Coming out of high school, Lance was a three-star recruit that did not receive much attention from Power 5 programs as a quarterback (they liked him better as a wide receiver or a defensive back, which his father played in the Canadian Football League). Lance committed to North Dakota State in 2017.

After the COVID-19 pandemic basically erased his 2020 season, leaving Lance to only play one game, he decided to forego his last two years of eligibility to declare for the draft.

The biggest drawback of Lance's game is his lack of experience and his competition. Lance is coming from the same Division I powerhouse program that produced now-Indianapolis Colts quarterback Carson Wentz. He only has played one full season of college football and only got to display his maturity through one game this past season.

Lance has a tremendous skill set with a powerful arm, he's fairly accurate, and is able to scramble and use his athleticism to stretch out plays. He's extremely raw and has some field vision issues that could hamper him at the NFL level. However, he is heading into an ideal situation where he will be able to be groomed and take his time in an elite organization and winning culture.

Lance is going to have every opportunity to battle in a quarterback room full of guys with chips on their shoulders and something to prove. Mitchell Trubisky is coming from Chicago after being the second overall pick that fell from grace and fell on the sword for a Bears team that underperformed. Jarrett Stidham was groomed by the GOAT once he got to New England and when it was his time to get a shot, the team opted to grab Cam Newton instead.

The team is expected to add another veteran to make it a four-man race, so the next Patriots quarterback - regardless of talent level - is certainly going to earn the starting job.

[GoldenJet]

NFL ROUND 2 RECAP
Running backs come off the board, Bucs go with Trask as QB of the future

33. Jacksonville Jaguars
Cornerback Asante Samuel Jr. [5'10, 184 lbs, Florida State University]

34. New York Jets
Defensive End Brenton Cox [6'4, 249 lbs, University of Florida]

35. Atlanta Falcons
Running back Chubba Hubbard [6'0, 208 lbs, Oklahoma State University]

36. Detroit Lions
Wide Receiver Rashod Bateman [6'2, 209 lbs, University of Minnesota]

37. Miami Dolphins
Running back Najee Harris [6'2, 230 lbs, University of Alabama]

38. Philadelphia Eagles
Tackle Alaric Jackson [6'6, 315 lbs, University of Iowa]

39. Cincinnati Bengals
Tight End Brevin Jordan [6'3, 245 lbs, University of Miami]

40. Carolina Panthers
Guard Wyatt Davis [6'4, 315 lbs, Ohio State University]

41. Denver Broncos
Defensive End Carlos Basham Jr. [6'5, 284 lbs, Wake Forest University]

42. Dallas Cowboys
Defensive Tackle Christian Barmore [6'5, 310 lbs, University of Alabama]

43. New York Giants
Middle Linebacker Chazz Surratt [6'3, 230 lbs, University of North Carolina]

44. San Francisco 49ers
Tackle Jackson Carman [6'5, 335 lbs, Clemson University]

45. Minnesota Vikings
Safety Andre Cisco [6'0, 209 lbs, University of Syracuse]

46. Los Angeles Chargers
Guard Trey Smith [6'6, 330 lbs, University of Tennessee]

47. Arizona Cardinals
Defensive End Big Kat Bryant [6'5, 250 lbs, Auburn University]

48. Las Vegas Raiders
Guard Deonte Brown [6'4, 350 lbs, University of Alabama]

49. New England Patriots
Wide Receiver Kadarius Toney [5'11, 195 lbs, University of Florida]

50. Miami Dolphins
Wide Receiver Tamorrion Terry [6'4, 210 lbs, Florida State University]

51. Washington Football Team
Cornerback Tyson Campbell [6'2, 190 lbs, University of Georgia]

52. Chicago Bears
Tight End Pat Freiermuth [6'5, 260 lbs, Penn State University]

53. Los Angeles Rams
Middle Linebacker Cameron McGrone [6'1, 236 lbs, University of Michigan]

54. Indianapolis Colts
Cornerback Shawn Wade [6'1, 195 lbs, Ohio State University]

55. Baltimore Ravens
Running back Trey Sermon [6'0, 221 lbs, University of Oklahoma]

56. Pittsburgh Steelers
Guard Ben Cleveland [6'6, 335 lbs, University of Georgia]

57. Cleveland Browns
Middle Linebacker Baron Browning [6'3, 240 lbs, Ohio State University]

58. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Quarterback Kyle Trask [6'5, 236 lbs, University of Florida]

59. Tennessee Titans
Running back Zamir White [6'0, 215 lbs, University of Georgia]

60. New Orleans Saints
Safety Jevon Holland [6'1, 196 lbs, University of Oregon]

61. Buffalo Bills
Cornerback Eric Stokes [6'1, 185 lbs, University of Georgia]

62. Green Bay Packers
Defensive Tackle Marvin Wilson [6'5, 305 lbs, Florida State University]

63. Seattle Seahawks
Wide Receiver Tylan Wallace [6'0, 190 lbs, Oklahoma State University]

64. Kansas City Chiefs
Defensive End Xavier Thomas [6'2, 270 lbs, Clemson University]