In case you haven't yet seen here on patriots.com, the Patriots unveiled a uniform change for the upcoming season. That's by far the biggest team-related news on this Monday-before-the-draft. Check out the homepage of this site in case you might've missed it. There's plenty for you to digest on that topic.
Meanwhile, plenty of media outlets are inundating the web with their various writers' opinions about who they think is the "best fit" for New England if it keeps its 23rd overall pick in the first round this coming Thursday. Most of these folks don't have any clue what a team in the Patriots' position will do come draft time (though that doesn't stop them from trying to convince you they do).
However, one that stands out is from WEEI.com, which recaps an on-air appearance from longtime draft expert Mel Kiper. He's connecting the Patriots with a player who could be the most talented, yet also the most unknown commodity in this year's first round: Alabama QB Tua Tagovailoa. His serious injury history leaves many observers wondering if he'll drop from where he's expected to be taken in the top five to ten picks.
"You can rest assured," Kiper said on-air over the weekend, "if [Tagovailoa] gets into the middle of the first round and you're [the Patriots] sitting there at No. 23, wouldn't you jump up and maybe get him? You know the connection with Bill Belichick and Nick Saban [the 'Bama head coach]. And I know how Nick feels about Tua. If you go from Tom Brady to Tua, a healthy Tua. Now, that is the thing – can you keep him healthy?"
Kipers comments come on the heels of NFL Network's reporting late last week that New England could invest an unspecified "premium pick" on a quarterback in this year's draft.
A QB, of course, in either Rounds 1 or 2 (the Patriots currently don't have a selection in the latter) would be considered "premium" in most people's minds, which has NESN's website taking a closer look at what other passers might intrigue the Patriots.
Meanwhile, in his always-informative Sunday Patriots/NFL notes column, ESPN's Mike Reiss offers a couple of QB-related draft tidbits, as well as one about the contract status of left guard Joe Thuney, who was franchise tagged by New England this offseason. In a separate post, he explains why trading – something the Patriots often do in drafts – could be curtailed this year.
On the other side of the football, New England has defensive roster needs as well. Might they get some from a 2019 draft choice? NBC Sports Boston’s website uncovered a promising nugget about edge rusher Chase Winovich, who just turned 25.
