With just hours remaining before the first round is set to kickoff at 8 p.m. this evening, NFL Network's Albert Breer cites "a source with direct knowledge of the situation" saying the Patriots are engaged in talks with Seattle to make just such a trade.
The Seahawks sit at No. 12 and the Patriots two first-round choices (27 and 31) would be enough to move that far. It doesn't seem like a move Bill Belichick would make, but having the information out there for the rest of the league to ponder certainly does. Belichick routinely discusses a variety of moves with virtually every team each year at draft time. While this particular move appears to be out of character for the Patriots, it does create some interest and intrigue in the final hours before things get underway.
Breer's report offers Alabama safety Mark Barron as one potential object of desire at 12. He's considered the best player at the position and does his best work at or around the line of scrimmage. On the surface it wouldn't seem that type of description would be worth such a huge investment considering New England already has a similar player in Patrick Chung, but stranger things have happened. Shortly after, NFL Network's Stacey Dales, who is currently in Foxborough in preparation of tonight's festivities, tweeted the following: "Pats tell me there has been NO discussion with Seattle about the 12th pick. Not with Coach, Caserio or anyone else." So, any potential trade is far from a done deal at this point.
[EDIT: @Patriots, the official Twitter handle of the team, tweeted out at around 5 pm: "The Patriots have not spoken w/ Seattle about moving up to the #12 pick. #NFLDraft"]
Bill Belichick is expected to to an interview on NFL Network at 7 pm. There are obviously a number of other players who potentially would be available in that area as well. This particular draft may prove to be as unpredictable as any in recent memory when trying to determine which players will be chosen. Beyond quarterbacks Andrew Luck and Robert Griffin III, the rest are anyone's guess.
Personally, I'd rather see a cornerback (Stephon Gilmore or Dre Kirkpatrick), an edge rusher (Melvin Ingram) or a defensive lineman (Fletcher Cox) than Barron if the Patriots were to be so bold as make the move.
What player would you like to take at No. 12 if the Patriots indeed make the jump?
