Morning Sports Update
Following a possible trade, New England could be in position to pick the “best pass-catcher in the draft” with the ninth overall pick.
The possibility of a Patriots draft trade: With only a few weeks to go before the NFL Draft, many questions remain regarding what the Patriots will do. New England currently holds the fourth overall pick, though for all of the discussion over which talented player the team might draft, there is also the possibility that the Patriots make a trade.
Gaming out trade scenarios is inherently more difficult than simply projecting possible picks in a mock draft, but analysts are still able to give an idea of what a theoretical trade might look like for the Patriots in that situation.
ESPN’s Mina Kimes, speaking with NFL draft analyst Dane Brugler of The Athletic in a Monday episode of her podcast, tried to offer a possible deal the Patriots could make. In the new mock draft scenario — which differs from a previous one in which Kimes and Field Yates skipped possible trades — the Giants (holding the third pick) opt for Travis Hunter, and not his Colorado teammate, quarterback Shedeur Sanders.
With Sanders still on the board, the Patriots could draw trade interest from teams that need a quarterback. The Saints, with the ninth pick, fit the profile of a possible trade partner.
“The Saints are going to move from nine to four to take Shedeur Sanders,” Kimes announced, revealing that New Orleans would send the ninth pick, a 2025 second-rounder, a 2025 third-rounder, and a 2026 second-rounder.
“I was kind of copying it off of the Josh Allen trade going from 12 to 7,” Kimes said, citing the Bills move up the draft board in 2018 to get the team’s now-franchise player. Because the Patriots’ pick is higher than the Buccaneers’ pick was in 2018, she added another third-round pick.
“If I’m the Patriots, I like my options at four,” said Brugler, “but I’m going to take that trade. I’m going to move back to nine. I’m going to move back a couple spots, still feel good about what my board will look like at that point, and meanwhile I’m adding some pretty valuable picks that I can help build this roster, which is exactly what I think Vrabel and crew want to do in New England.”
“I think this is a dream outcome for the Pats, to be honest,” Kimes added, “other than getting maybe Hunter or [Abdul] Carter. But if that’s out of the mix, you definitely want a team to up and get Shedeur.”
Kimes acknowledged that such a trade is clearly hypothetical, and depends on how the team feels about Sanders as a quarterback prospect.
As for what New England would then do with the ninth pick, the pair of analysts discussed possibly Armand Membou (an offensive tackle) or Tyler Warren (a tight end). Membou is seen as one of the more talented prospects, but who might require time to develop.
“You could make the argument Tyler Warren’s the best pass-catcher in the draft, and so to add him to that offense makes sense even if it’s not a true what-they-need, but I’m still going to go with the tackle,” Brugler concluded, saying he would take Membou given the team’s overriding need on the offensive line.
Trivia: Who is the most recent tight end the Patriots took in the first round of an NFL Draft?
(Answer at the bottom).
Hint: He played for the Patriots, Browns, Saints, and Ravens during his career (in some cases in multiple stints).
Scores and schedules:
The Celtics defeated the Wizards 124-90 on Sunday, and will face the Knicks in New York on Tuesday at 7:30 p.m.
The Red Sox swept a doubleheader against the Cardinals, winning the first game 5-4 on a walk-off, and the second one 18-7 in an eruption of offense.
Also from Sunday, the Bruins lost to the Sabres 6-3. On Tuesday, Boston will play the Devils in New Jersey at 7 p.m.
Elsewhere, UConn women’s basketball won the national championship in convincing fashion over South Carolina on Sunday, 82-59. Sara Strong and Azzi Fudd led the team with 24 points each, while Paige Bueckers scored 17 in her final collegiate game.
ARE YOU KIDDING⁉️ @paigebueckers1 #MarchMadness x #WFinalFour x 🎥 ABC / @UConnWBB pic.twitter.com/GgJd01EkfL
— NCAA March Madness (@MarchMadnessWBB) April 6, 2025
On the men’s side, Florida and Houston tip-off tonight at 8:50 p.m. to determine a champion.
More from Boston.com:
Red Sox hit parade: After pulling out the Game 1 win via walk-off, Boston defeated St. Louis in the second game of Sunday’s doubleheader by a much more lopsided final score. Red Sox batters totaled 18 runs off of 22 hits.
On this day: In 2013, Jon Lester threw seven shutout innings and the Red Sox offense was carried by three home runs from Will Middlebrooks in a 13-0 win over the Blue Jays.
Daily highlight: Wilyer Abreu has already delivered one of the outfield throws of the season.
WHAT A DART FROM WILYER ABREU 🎯
📺 ESPN pic.twitter.com/7PEHVllzw4
— ESPN (@espn) April 7, 2025
Trivia answer: Ben Watson
Sign up for the Today newsletter
Get everything you need to know to start your day, delivered right to your inbox every morning.
