What to keep an eye on heading into the NFL Draft.
A few things to keep an eye on as the draft nears.
Receiver watch: Whether or not the Patriots take a receiver will be the biggest storyline to monitor over the next few days. Bill Belichick has never taken one in the first round, but will the allure of someone like Robert Woods or Keenan Allen be too much to resist?
Mallett watch: On Wednesday a source explained the difficulties New England is facing in dealing Ryan Mallett and said that a trade for the backup quarterback currently looks unlikely. However, as the draft nears, stances could soften just enough for a deal to happen. The Cleveland Browns are one team to keep an eye on. If they trade out of the No. 6 spot and pick up another second-round pick, they could decide to make a run at the quarterback.
Trades: With only five picks, many believe that the Patriots will trade to move out of the first round to acquire more selections. Perhaps someone looking to get back into the first round for a quarterback will help facilitate that move. I don't see it happening, but Andy Hart of Patriots Football Weekly recently presented a compelling thought: With so many teams trying to move down, could Belichick take advantage of a soft market and move up? It would be difficult with so few picks, but it would be the kind of "Moneyball" move he likes to make.
Mocking the draft: I’m not going to re-do my mock draft because, well, time is running out and most everyone who has put out a mock this week will be mostly wrong. But I still believe that the Patriots will have a hard time passing up UCLA defensive end Datone Jones if he is still available when they come up to pick.
In case you missed it:
Patriots Draft Manifesto: Land a receiver, acquire more picks and take a gamble
Mock Draft: MassLive.com's 1st-round projection