Patriots 2020 NFL Draft Open Thread/Live Blog
For the first time since 2000, the New England Patriots are entering the NFL Draft without Tom Brady on the roster. His absence - along with the departure of several other key free agents this offseason - make this year's draft for the Patriots a must-win situation.
After nine Super Bowl appearances and six championships, New England is about to have their most important draft of the Bill Belichick era. With 12 draft picks in their arsenal following the Rob Gronkowski trade, the weight of the franchise's run of the success continuing into a third decade lies on how the 2020 NFL Draft pans out for Belichick and the Patriots.
Because the league is conducting their first ever draft on a virtual landscape, it may add some extra uncertainty and hiccups that teams normally wouldn't come across on draft day. But if there is one team we know will be fully prepared for this type of event, it's New England, who are coached and prepared by one of the most meticulous head coaches in the NFL.
Here are the dates and times over the course of the draft:
• Round 1: Thursday, April 23 at 8 p.m. ET
• Rounds 2-3: Friday, April 24 at 7 p.m. ET
• Rounds 4-7: Saturday, April 25 at 12 p.m. ET
Here is a primer to catch you up on what you need to know about the Patriots before the draft begin (click here).
7:16 p.m. - Bengals owner Mike Brown reportedly already sent No. 9 jerseys to LSU QB Joe Burrow and his parents. He'll be the 1st overall pick in the draft tonight.
7:26 p.m. - The Redskins have reportedly turned down all trade offers for the No. 2 pick because they like who they will have available with the 2nd overall pick. That likely means Ohio State edge rusher Chase Young with be part of Washington's organization by the end of the night.
7:46 p.m. - Earlier in the hour SI's Albert Breer shared this info on the Patriots:
Earlier this week, I gave you Alabama S Xavier McKinney and Oklahoma LB Kenneth Murray as Patriot types in the first round, along with Notre Dame TE Cole Kmet. I’ll say that I would not be surprised if they address their offensive line at No. 23, depending on how things fall.
8:13 p.m. - For those who care: Bill Belichick will reportedly be drafting from his home in Nantucket tonight, according to ESPN's Mike Reiss.
8:26 p.m. - Bengals take LSU QB Joe Burrow 1st overall. Here's a text from head coach Zac Taylor to SI's Albert Breer:
8:38 p.m. - After all the hype surrounding what former Patriots coach Matt Patricia and the Lions might do with the 3rd overall pick, they take Ohio State CB Jeff Okudah. Stud cornerback.
8:48 p.m. - The Giants - who are now coached by former Patriot Joe Judge - grab one of the top offensive line prospects in this year's draft in Andrew Thomas to protect Daniel Jones. A smart move by a team that is trying to build around its young, talented QB.
8:57 p.m. - Tua didn't fall. The Dolphins - who are coached by former Patriots coach Brian Flores - took star-studded Alabama QB Tua Tagovailoa with the 5th overall pick.
9:03 p.m. - Oregon QB Justin Herbert was taken by the Chargers with the 6th overall pick. Three of the top four quarterbacks in the draft have been taken within the first six picks. That leaves Utah State's Jordan Love as the lone QB that could be drafted tonight. He may go much sooner now that the rest of the top QBs are gone...
9:41 p.m. - The first wide receiver comes off the board, with the Las Vegas Raiders taking Alabama's Henry Ruggs with the 12th overall pick. It's surprising to see the first wideout taken this late. One has to wonder if it will cause Jeudy or Lamb to slip into the 20s.
10:19 p.m. - Dallas takes the last, top wide receiver, selecting Oklahoma wideout CeeDee Lamb with the 17th overall pick. That leaves LSU's Justin Jefferson as the last pass-catcher that is projected to go on Day 1.
10:35 p.m. - Three selections to go before the Patriots are up, and Xavier McKinney, K'Lavon Chaisson, A.J. Epenesa, Yetur Gross-Matos, Kenneth Murray, and Jordan Love are all still on the board. It looks like New England will have plenty to choose from.
10:58 p.m. - The Patriots trade the 23rd overall pick to the Chargers in exchange for the 37th (second round) and 71st (third round) overall picks. Los Angeles then selected Oklahoma linebacker Kenneth Murray.
11:22 p.m. - Yes, the Patriots are no longer in the first round. But that doesn't mean they can't work their way back in. They have 13 draft picks, and one of them is an early Day 2 pick. Don't automatically assume their night is over...
11:25 p.m. - Green Bay trades up to the 26th pick (49ers pick) to take Utah State QB Jordan Love. If Love had fallen to the Patriots at 37, one has to think they would have strongly considered selecting him. But he goes towards the end of Day 1. Jacob Eason, Jake Fromm, and Jalen Hurts are the next best QBs on the board.
12:09 a.m. - 32 picks were made in the 1st round, and none of them were by the Patriots. They will begin making their selections on Day 2 starting with the 37th overall pick, which is the 5th overall pick in the second round.
