Locked On Patriots - Daily Podcast On The New England Patriots - Free Agency Frenzy: New England Patriots Spend Big on Day One — 3/15/2021

Episode Date: March 15, 2021

The New England Patriots entered 2021 free agency with a big splash. The Pats adding several marquee free agents on both sides of the ball. Joining host Mike D’Abate is fan-favorite Thomas ‘Murph��� Murphy. The duo discuss the return of Cam Newton and how it may impact the Patriots 2021 Draft plans. They also provide their thoughts on the Marcus Cannon trade. Lastly, Mike provides his thoughts on the free agent signings of TE Jonnu Smith, DT Davon Godchaux, DE Matt Judon and DB Jalen Mills.Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Built BarBuilt Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKED15,” and you’ll get 15% off your next order.BetOnline AGThere is only 1 place that has you covered and 1 place we trust. Betonline.ag! Sign up today for a free account at betonline.ag and use that promocode: LOCKEDON for your 50% welcome bonus.Rock AutoAmazing selection. Reliably low prices. All the parts your car will ever need. Visit RockAuto.com and tell them Locked On sent you.Join our Bracket Challengehttps://fantasy.espn.com/tournament-challenge-bracket/2021/en/group?groupID=3624947 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

You are Locked On Patriots, your daily New England Patriots podcast. Part of the Locked On Podcast Network, your team every day. Hello to all of you Foxborough faithful. You are now locked into the Lockdown Patriots podcast. It is Monday, March 15th, the Ides of March in 2021. And beware, because it is free agent frenzy. And it's also hashtag Lockdown Murph Monday here on your daily home for news, notes, and analysis infused with the occasional opinion on your

six-time Super Bowl champions, the New England Patriots. Locked on Patriots is presented today by Bilt Bar. Go to BiltBar.com and use promo code LOCKED15 and you'll get 15% off your next order. Greetings and salutations, Patriots Nation, and we come at you with all kinds of news out of Foxborough. The Patriots making huge splashes in free agency on the first day of legal tampering, and the day isn't even over yet. Four major impact signings coming to the Pats, and one major departure along the offensive

line. I'm Mike DeBate, your host of the Locked On Patriots podcast, which of course is a proud part of the Locked On Podcast Network, your team every day. And folks, because it's your team every day, that means your questions, comments, and feedback are always welcomed and very much appreciated. So share that feedback, send it to the internet by reaching out to me and following me on Twitter at MDABATEFPC. And while you're out there doing some Monday meandering through the Twitterverse, please be sure to follow the Lockdown Patriots account as well at LO underscore Patriots. Pats fans, we long wondered whether or not the Patriots would put their newfound cap wealth to good use.

Would they be uncharacteristically aggressive? Well, as day one of the legal tampering period draws to a close, it appears that the Patriots are going to be aggressive. Well, as day one of the legal tampering period draws to a close, it appears that the Patriots are going to be aggressive. Four major signings, four major impact players on their way to Foxborough, and we'll get into that in just a moment. But of course, today here on Locked On Patriots, it is Locked On Murph Monday, and that means our good green friend, the Count of Murphy Fisto himself, Thomas Murphy, joins me on the hot seat. And prior to the free agent frenzy, we discussed the re-signing of Cam Newton,

how it impacts what the Patriots might do in the draft. After all, this is still Muse the Draft Monday, and we talked about whether the Pats might be in line to use that number 15 pick to either trade up or stand pat and draft their quarterback of the future. We also talked about Sunday's news of trading Marcus Cannon to the Houston Texans, the Patriots upgrading their draft status and also freeing up additional cap space. And we know exactly how they plan to put that to good use. But of course, the big news of the day is the newest New England Patriots, or at least they will officially be the newest New England Patriots when the league year opens at 4 p.m. on Wednesday. The Pats filling the tight end void in a big way,

kicking off free agency with a bang and signing former Tennessee Titans tight end Jonu Smith to a four-year, $50 million contract, $39.25 million of that guaranteed. And as much as I loved Hunter Henry, and I know folks, I campaigned pretty hard for Hunter, John O'Smith is a perfect fit for this offense. He's that move tight end that the Patriots have coveted for quite some time. He's a big time threat in the red zone, and also is able to do a fairly good job blocking. I really love this signing. Welcome to Foxborough John O'Smith. Well deserved, and he will definitely be a huge addition to this tight end room. But the Patriots were not done there, folks.

Three major impact players on defense were added, starting with nose tackle Devon Godchow. Godchow comes to us from the Miami Dolphins and plays the interior of the defensive line very well. If the Patriots do in fact lose either Lawrence Guy or Adam Butler or both in the interior of the defensive line, Patriots are going to need someone that can play all over the interior and Godchow definitely fits that bill. He's listed as a nose tackle. He's a little small compared to the other nose tackles that the Patriots have employed in the past like Danny Shelton or even Vince Wilfork, but he is very versatile and this is a good signing for the New England Patriots.

Two years, $16 million on Godchow's contract, $9 million of that guaranteed. But the Patriots were far from being done, folks. In a big way, they upgraded their pass rush, and they did so with Matthew Judon. Formerly of the Baltimore Ravens, he signs a four-year, $56 million deal with the Patriots, and you want to talk about hand-in-glove fits, this is the ideal edge rusher for New England. He rushes the passer in the Patriots scheme, he can play the run, he can set the edge, he can drop into coverage on the line, this kid can do it all, and this is definitely a big-time signing for the Pats, shoring up their edge rush and helping out at the end.

But the Patriots still weren't done. They signed a versatile defensive back from the Philadelphia Eagles. Jalen Mills comes over to the Pats. His contract, a four-year, $24 million deal, and this is a good signing for the Pats as well. It provides some great depth along the defensive backfield. Mills can play corner. He can play at safety. Typical Patriot move, valuing versatility. Welcome to Foxborough, Jalen Mills. So naturally, everything looking like it was coming up big for the New England Patriots. Well, not so fast because it wasn't all good news on Monday. Joe Tooney, now former Patriots offensive lineman, signs a five-year, $80 million deal with the Kansas City Chiefs.

And this one actually comes after reports surfaced early Monday morning that the Patriots and Tooney's representatives were in fact talking. MMQB's Albert Breer reported on Monday morning that there was indeed mutual interest in Tooney coming back to New England and the Patriots trying to bring him back. But at five years, $80 million, the Chiefs prioritized offensive line help, and they got one of the best in the business. I, for one, will definitely miss covering Joe Tooney up here in Foxborough. He was the prototypical Patriot. He did everything you asked him to do, and he did it not only with class, but also precision. Best of luck to Joe Tooney in Kansas City, but life goes

on here in Foxborough. And according to what I'm hearing, folks, the Patriots may not even be done yet. They realize they need to upgrade that wide receiver position. And before the end of the day on Monday, the Patriots may have just inked themselves a new wide receiver. A lot to watch out for this week, folks. Keep it locked into Locked On Patriots each and every day. And we'll continue to bring you the very latest news notes and analysis from Foxborough. But again, it is Locked On Murph Monday here on Locked On Patriots, and in just a moment,

our good green friend will join me here on the hot seat where we talk Marcus Cannon, Cam Newton, Mac Jones, and what Murph has in store for the Patriots as they continue to dive headfirst into free agency. Murph and more when the Locked On Patriots podcast continues. But first, Locked On listeners, football games on the field might be over, but the NBA, college basketball, and the NHL are all in full swing. And that NFL equivalent of the hot stove getting hotter by the minute. If you want to test your prognostication skills,

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your 50% welcome bonus on your first deposit. Don't forget, use the promo code LOCKEDON. Bet online, your online sportsbook experts. Patriots fans, beware the Ides of March. No, that's not just a line from Julius Caesar, folks. It is a warning to beware of all the fraudulent accounts out there looking to bring you NFL free agency breaking news. Here on Locked on Patriots, we stick to the facts and the occasional opinion, but it's Monday, so you know what that means. It's that time again, folks.

And what better day to welcome this man again your favorite in mine my benefactor in this business the only guest on the pod with his very own branded and well deserved hashtag the count of Murphy Fisto himself the legendary Thomas Murphy is back for his weekly appearance here on

Locked On Patriots thank you for coming to me in friendship and for joining me today Don Murphy always my pleasure man always my pleasure I love batting lead off here On Locked On Patriots, thank you for coming to me in friendship and for joining me today, Don Mersch. Always my pleasure, man. Always my pleasure. I love batting leadoff here. Absolutely. And you know what?

When you bat leadoff with a big bat, a big productive bat, all good things can happen. And that's exactly what we do here on Locked On Patriots. We close the week in style, but we kick off the week in a monster way. And we make Mondays fun, bud. What can I say? I mean, we're bringing the day back into your Monday. No manic Monday.

I've said this before. It's a monster Monday. And Murph, today, as you know, starts the legal tampering period in the NFL. And, you know, I always laugh at that term. I mean, if it's legal, it's really not tampering. But if it's tampering, it isn't legal. I don't know. But, you know, whatever.

These weren't the questions you were brought here to answer, buddy. We all know what we want. The green wisdom and counsel we need is within your grasp. And it's hashtag locked on Murph Monday, folks. So we're going to talk free agency in the NFL. It is mock draft Monday here on the pod. You know, Murph and I don't mock the draft. We kind of reminder that we muse the draft here on Locked On Patriots.

We will be musing the draft, maybe a little more watered down musing than usual, but we will be discussing a lot of this, including how resigning Cam Newton might just alter the Patriots draft plans. But first, it's almost as if the football gods demand that we talk offensive line when you join me here on the microphone. But I really think there is some sort of cosmic force that really mandates that we have to talk about offensive line. Of course, folks, I'm talking about yesterday,

the reports that the Patriots are about to bid a fond farewell, fond but survivor, which is remarkable, probably his best and most significant accomplishment other than being, you know, a husband, a father, a family man. One of the great guys in this league. I've really enjoyed my time being able to cover Marcus here in New England, but he is apparently off to the Houston Texans where he does still have familial ties, former TCU grad. So, you know, he's definitely, you know, going home. But the Patriots not only got significant cap space freed up, almost 6.3 million, according to our good friend, the Pats cap, but they improved their fourth, their fifth,

their sixth round draft selections. This move made a lot of sense for the Patriots. And it really kind of was handwriting on the wall, if we're being honest. The Trent Brown trade really looked like it was leaning toward Marcus being jettisoned from the Patriots. Trent was likely coming in here to be the right tackle. Isaiah Wynn would probably play left tackle, maybe Michael Wainu moving over, playing left guard, because it looked like Joe Tooney was probably on his way out of New England as well, especially when they didn't use the franchise tag on him.

But here's where the plot thickens, Bud, and I know you saw the reports earlier Monday morning, prior to the start of, again, the legal tampering period. MMQB's Albert Breer reporting that since the Trent Brown trade, the Pats have actually been talking with Joe Tooney and his representatives and that there's some interest in him coming back. Now, this could have a lot of implications, and nothing is set in stone. By the time our listeners are listening to this podcast, this may be a moot point.

But, Murph, what was your reaction to the Tooney news, and what do you think this means for the Patriots' offensive line? I thought it was fantastic. There was a very good chance that he was going to be released outright considering the cap hit that he has and where he's sitting on the death chart right now with how well Bill has drafted and developed offensive linemen over the year. Yeah, there you go.

Bill can draft, people. No, I wasn't surprised at all. It really works out for both teams, as our good friend Steve Balistrieri illustrated so well last year, that it could have been the year before last, could have been his last stint in a Patriots uniform. And it was a man who really wanted to be home in Texas, was really tired of winters here in New England. And I think this works out really well for everybody. The pick swaps are a very nice add.

But most of all, it's the fact that they clear up this cap space in the way that they did and get something back in return for it. So, you know, I'm happy all around. Absolutely. I am happy all around as well. I called it a pleasant surprise earlier this morning on Twitter. And look, I think that's a very accurate assessment. One thing that I think people have to worry about, not worry about, but I think one thing people have to be realistic about is that the two sides still have to come together on a price. So it's not a slam dunk, but the fact that there is dialogue shows that there's interest, mutual interest in these two entities coming together. And I love Tooney. I've

always loved the way he plays the game. He is that Swiss army type of offensive lineman a rare breed that can play a number of positions he can play on the inside he can play the guard the tackle position he can slot in at center he's done so and he's done so effectively that's not his natural position i would have to believe that if tooney is looking for a long-term deal to remain in new england that it would be at his natural position at guard. But you never really know for sure with someone like Tooney who really just does his job and does it well and does whatever the team needs. So maybe that's a possibility. There are a lot of things floating around out there.

Again, folks, by the time you're listening to this, Joe Tooney may already be in another uniform or at least presumably will be in another uniform, or he could be back with the New England Patriots. But the fact that there was dialogue, to me, is really encouraging, and it's really, really interesting. Remember this, that this could just be another domino to fall in bringing Tooney back. It could be a prerequisite. If the Patriots are aggressive in the way that people think they're going to be in free agency, it's going to wipe out the pick, the compensation pick, that Tooney could bring back, and Bill hates that. If he can work something out today with Tooney and Andrews to that effect, you could also look for a trade of Shaq Mason on the other side to maybe bring back that that that future pick or a pick another pick this year. There's a there's a very good chance of that. So if these two signings or even one of them happens today, don't be surprised if it isn't Tooney, Andrews,

and Mason, because Mason is on a very friendly contract now as compared to two years ago when he signed it. And Bill could float that out, and he could be part of a package to bring somebody in here. That is an interesting possibility, and one that i don't see bandied about an awful lot and folks again uh shaq mason does have an amenable contract to be able to work something like this out so all different types of dominoes will fall and there usually is another shoe to drop when a move like this is at least either announced or into that so beware of all that and you know but it's almost like Bill has a plan.

Imagine that. I mean, yeah. Bill, the GM, he actually has a plan. He knows what he's doing. Wow. It's incredible. Who would have thought? Who would have thought a man with eight Super Bowl wins would, you know, would have had

a plan, you know, but this is why we love the legal tampering period. It's always, always fun. And again, at the time that our listeners are listening to this podcast, the Pats may have already made some significant moves. Murph just mentioned a couple. There may be more out there. But you did mention uncharacteristically aggressive. We've been hearing that. Our good mutual friend Tom Curran had mentioned that weeks ago.

And we continue to hear rumors that the Patriots are going to be active in next couple of days and is there a name out there that you feel confident might be a Patriot when the dust starts to settle at the end of the week and I don't just mean an external free agent maybe it's someone internally like a Tooney that no one thought the Patriots would resign is there a name out there that after all of this settles where you look at and say wow this, this guy's a patriot and I'm really excited about it? Wow, there's an uncomfortable silence. I don't believe that they are going to be overly aggressive in the way that everybody is talking.

I don't think they're going to jump on that number one name. It's a very difficult time to be the GM of this team. Do you want to move away from what has worked so well for so many years. It's whether or not you want to dream or whether or not you want to have a lucid dream, something that really has a possibility of happening. And you have to look at the re-signing of Cam Newton to see how this is going to happen. At this point in time, Cam Newton is not the type of quarterback that you were, is going to be able to drill balls into,

into tight holes. And so you're going to look at those kinds of free agents that are going to help Cam more than Cam is helping them. I would love to see Curtis Samuel here. I would love to see, why am I at a complete loss for Njoku here. I think these are guys that get separation, that are able to use their bodies in a way that are going to help this offense, which, as we all know, has morphed into a power running style offense and I think is going to stay that think has a chance of coming here.

I don't think Hunter Henry is coming. I would love to see it, but I don't. Oh, you know I'd love to see it. But again, I really think that a lot of that is pie in the sky. And I think you give a level headed approach to all this murph and that's something that you know that's something that i think a lot of us here in patriots nation whether it be fans media whatnot you get excited on days like this and then all of a sudden the anticipation doesn't quite live up to the hype

folks there is a plan the moves that the patriots have made in the last couple of days have indicated that and they will continue to indicate that now does that necessarily mean that they won't be is a plan. The moves that the Patriots have made in the last couple of days have indicated that, and they will continue to indicate that. Now, does that necessarily mean that they won't be active or bring in some names that maybe you haven't expected? I do believe they will be active, but in terms of the top shelf names, that's still up for debate and that's still up for a lot of speculation. So keep a sharp eye over the course of the next couple of days, folks, on the comings and goings of free agents in the NFL. Just remember, what people think of as aggressive,

Bill Belichick doesn't think of as aggressive. It's very rarely that he goes out on day one of free agency and brings in the guys. He's more apt to figure out something with Joe Tooney and Gilmore than he is to, you know, go out and make a giant splash in free agency. You dance with the ones who brung you. And if he thinks it's a better way to spend money, that's the way he's going to do it. Absolutely. And I'm so glad that you clarified the definition of aggression, because I think a lot of times people look at aggression and say, oh, well, that's not

a name I recognize, or that's not a move I recognize. Being aggressive means filling holes, filling them actively with players that can make an impact right away. It doesn't have to be the big name. It just has to be the right fit. And Bill Belichick has done that as well as, or arguably better than anyone in the last 20 years. Murph, we always love talking news of the day, but this is a day where news is a bit more abundant. And again, folks, please keep a sharp eye on the Locked On Patriots account, my Twitter feed, Murph's Twitter feed, all over.

Murph's got a great tweet out there and some great accounts to follow over the course of the next couple of days. I endorse every single one of those names, especially this man at the top of the list. If he says it, I'm taking it to the bank because it's always accurate. And Murph is not a hot taker, folks. He gives it to you the way it needs to be told. Whether you like it, whether you don't, it's always straightforward.

But it is still Muse Draft Monday here across the network well it's mock draft monday but again we don't make fun of the draft but we muse it and we are going to muse the draft in just a little bit we're going to discuss something that still keeps a lot of the fan base up at night prepare yourself folks quarterback talk coming in the second segment today murph and i will let you know our thoughts when the Locked On Patriots podcast continues. Locked On listeners, we've been telling you about Built Bar, the best tasting protein bar on the market for a while now. And that's because Built Bar is the amazing low-calorie,

low-sugar, high-protein, high-fiber, amazing-tasting protein bar with 100% chocolate on all of their bars. Well, now it's time to find out which Bilt Bar is the best. That's right, folks. It's Bilt Bar Madness. And today's matchup in the Bilt Bar Madness bracket is a battle of the heavyweights. Mint brownie versus toffee almond. If either of those are your favorite flavor, make sure it advances to the next round.

Vote by visiting BiltBar.com or visit Bilt Bar on Twitter at at Bar underscore Built and cast your vote for your favorite flavor. And folks, remember, when you place your order for your delicious Built Bars, use the promo code LOCKED15 to get 15% off your next order. That's LOCKED15 to get 15% off your next order at BuiltBar.com. And don't forget to check back to see who won today's matchup and who will become the best tasting protein bar from Bilt Bar. Lockdown listeners don't miss the biggest stories from around the NFL as Monday's Lockdown NFL host Bo Brock interviews the local experts on the biggest stories from around the league.

Big wins, shocking endings, top performances, and unexpected developments. Get the in-depth analysis and insightful breakdowns from those in the know every Monday on Locked On NFL. Subscribe to Locked On NFL wherever you get your podcasts. Pats fans, Thomas Murphy joins me here on the pod today. The return of hashtag LockedOnMurphMonday. And we always love having Murph here, especially on the opening day of legal tampering. But at the time we're recording this podcast, again, folks, the biggest news out of Pats

camp still remains the Patriots' decision to re-sign Cam Newton, which we learned about on Friday morning. And even though it's possible that the Pats have had an active Monday, this move is still going to be one of those watershed moves. It's going to help to shape their offseason. And Murph, you've been vocal about your feelings on Cam Newton, his ability or lack thereof to run this offense in 2021. But for better or for worse, buddy, the Patriots felt it was in

their best interest to bring Cam back, at least in some capacity. It could also have a ripple effect on reports that Nikhil Harry might be on the trade block, which we heard a little bit last week as well. And there's a pretty strong connection between these two guys. It could affect Jarrett Stidham standing here in the wing one. There's a lot of effect that Cam Newton's re-signing could have. Before we get into our draft musings, Bud, what was your reaction first off to the Cam Newton deal, and what do you believe it could mean for the Patriots in the very near future as they attempt to try to make some free agent additions on offense

in the next couple of days? I really think it's going to be difficult to bring a free agent in here at the quarterback position with Cam signed for another year. I believe that this was, you know, Bill really likes Cam. And I don't know why he wouldn't. He's a fantastic ball player, a fantastic person, a good teammate, fantastic in the locker room. But what really bothers me is the fact that all the talk about using Cam Newton as a recruiting tool.

This is twofold in my estimation one, the fact that Bill Belichick an eight-time Super Bowl winning coach six-time head coach and he needs Cam Newton to recruit players to come here and work I don't understand that

that tends to push me the wrong way. And, and the other thing is if you were going to draft a quarterback and bring him in here, what quarterback are you, are you going to draft that that Cam Newton is going to be the mentor for that, that, that also upset. Cause I'm looking more at the top of the draft again, guys that are going to go in the first 10 picks, and then again the Patriots are selling out

when they don't have the ability to really do that. They're not young enough in both age and contract-wise to be able to wait on a young QB to get acclimated to this system and the speed of the pro game, which a lot of them really are not set to do. These guys have not had a lot of time underneath center in college, the top names that you're talking about. And that really bothers me is the fact that, but most of that you need Cam Newton to sell Bill Belichick and the New England Patriots on any free agent. Yeah, absolutely. And in a lot of ways, it is a little disheartening when you think about recruiting tools and what the Patriots would need to do. The ultimate recruiting tool was Super Bowl rings. I mean, really, I mean, when you thought about it, you know, the Patriots always had that in their back pocket. Of course, they had Tom Brady in the last couple of years that Tom was here that said, no, you know, Tom's getting up there.

I'm going to go somewhere else. Yeah. And, you know, so is Cam coming here to play with Cam Newton? Is that really, you know, because he's a good guy? Because you like hanging out with him? Is that really, you know, is that enough of a reason to come here? These players see what he did last year. These players see what he did last year. Their agents see what he did last year.

Do you want to come here on a two- or a three-year deal, depending on when you have six or seven years left in the league, and say, yeah, I'm going to hang my hat on Cam Newton and this offense over the next two years? Yeah, that's true. I don't know. I'm just throwing stuff two years. Yeah, that's true. I don't know. You know, I'm just throwing stuff out there.

No, you are. And I agree with you in some regards when it comes to that. With Cam, I think in a lot of ways, I think the Patriots looked at this and said, well, I think Cam Newton is a better recruiting tool in having him on the roster than simply having Jarrett Stidham on the roster. There's no guarantee that you're going to be able to use the trade market to trade up to get your quarterback of the future, which we will discuss in just a moment, folks, or bring in an also-ran free agent,

maybe someone that has either a lesser reputation or a lesser upside than a healthy Cam Newton. We know from talking with our mutual friend Evan Lazar of CLNS Media that the Patriots kicked the tires on Jimmy Garoppolo. They called the Las Vegas Raiders and inquired, not just about Marcus Mariota, but they inquired about Derek Carr. So they did try to swing somewhat for the fences,

the Deshaun Watson rumors, folks, all that stuff out there. That's nice. That's nice window dressing, but there's not a lot of substance behind it, but the Patriots did try to keep their options open. They looked at it and said,

well, Cam gives us the best chance to be able to do that um and maybe move forward and especially with some veterans now looking like they will be on the free agent market again uh you know albert breer having a busy day not uh just too long ago mentioning onzolec and bertrand that a name to keep an eye on for the patriots over the course of the next day or so is tight end John Smith, who apparently is not going to be resigning with the Titans. This per Diana Rossini of ESPN, he could be a name out there to watch. So Claire, we're watching for John Smith right now. Help at the tight end position could be on the way for the Patriots. Who knows that right now is still just a rumor, folks, but it's interesting that these rumors will continue to be out there.

Last but certainly not least today, bud, it is still Muse Draft Monday here on the pod, and with all the talk about free agency, it's going to continue to be the story of the day. No one's arguing that. No one's denying it, But we still have some draft questions for the Patriots. And because we never mock the draft, we always offer the draft friendship. We always come to them with respect. We try to pull away from the quarterback position, but it just pulls us back in. And I thought we'd delve into that a little bit today because Cam's deal does leave a lot of room for the patriots to remain active in the quarterback market you brought out a good point and i agree with you

that i think it's unlikely that a free agent would come here to co-sign alongside cam newton it's feeling like the team is looking to cam to be their starter this year but what this said to me was that the patriots might be more serious about trying to find that quarterback of the future in the draft, especially if they're going to bring in Cam for only a year. This has mentor deal written all over it in terms of the way I'm reading it. If they do, it might be that the Patriots look to the draft earlier than we originally thought. So seeing that Cam is at best case the starter, worst case an insurance policy. If the Patriots believe that it's in their best interest to draft a quarterback this year, folks, I really apologize for this in advance.

I just could not help myself. Who is the guy on whom the Patriots should have their sharp eye. At 15, it's Mac Jones. I can't get off it. All the film that I watch, everything that I see, all the naysayers who talk about the fact that he's essentially playing with professionals out there. Well, guess what? He's going to play with professionals at the next level too, but also a little bit deeper. I've really, you know, people have gotten on me for this.

They've tried to talk sense to me. Even Mark Schofield sat me down and scolded me a little bit, but I like Kyle Trask in Florida as a later round option. The third round maybe he could get pushed up into the second round with the way everybody is scrambling for quarterback help. I just cannot see Trevor Lawrence being there or them being able to put together a package to trade up for him that's not happening we know that um but but zach wilson i i don't like justin fields i i

it's the ohio state thing i can't get over trey lance i'm sorry son i i watched your entire workout the other day which everybody got on bill bel Belichick for not going to watch, but, you know, he saw everything that I could have seen, and I'm just not doing it. It's Matt Jones, you know, somewhere in the first round, 15 or lower, and I also like Kyle Trask. I am not sold on Kellen Mond or Jamie Newman, the kid out of Georgia. I know that's going to upset a few people, but I'm not, you know, I don't think he's going to have it at the next level. It's either a trade to bring in somebody for two or three years, which I also don't see happening right now,

because if Cam is here, I want him to be the starter. I don't want a fractured locker room. I don't want those kind of issues. Let him mentor somebody. I know Mac Jones is a those kind of issues. Let him mentor somebody. And I know Mac Jones is a different kind of quarterback, but he's the kind that we know and love around here. As I've said before, I am not looking for the next Tom Brady. I'm looking for the next Steve Grogan.

And I think that there's a couple of guys in this draft that could fit that, that, um, little window of, uh, of opportunity here without giving away the farm to trade up for, uh, for guys that I'm just not sold on. Interesting. Uh, very, very interesting. And I like that you brought up Kyle Tress cause that's a name that we've mentioned kind of sporadically here on the pod, but it's not a name that we've really delved into. Obviously, when Mark was here, we talked a lot about Trey Lance. We talked a little bit about Justin Fields and some of the fit that he might have. Steve Balistrieri and I talked a little bit about Justin Fields as well. And when you look at Cam Newton and you say, okay, Cam's going to be a mentor, naturally those are the two names that come to mind. They're very similar styles. But at that point, it will be about the Patriots needing to trade up significantly to get into that top echelon in the draft. The Cannon trade does improve their draft stock a little bit. They're upgraded their fourth round, or they upgraded their fifth round, or they upgraded their their sixth rounder but did they do enough to upgrade those positions to be able to

offer something that would allow teams to be able to even consider that type of a deal you can say oh yeah well maybe they're going to throw in win on the deal or maybe this is what they're packaging gilmore with and they're going to put together this monster package to move up i think that's a little bit aggressive right maybe this is the patriots plan but I think that's a little bit aggressive. And again, maybe this is the Patriots' plan, but I think it's a little over-aggressive, and I don't think the Patriots are going to go that route. So we're more like-minded on this.

I think the Patriots bring in that developmental quarterback could lead into being their starter and seeing what they have in Cam alongside him um post type erhart perkins offensive system that kyle trask is very good at running down in florida is something that could do but he does have design quarterback runs he's got a pretty big frame that's an asset on runs during short conversion situations so something that cam newton is very good at he's got a big frame he can run for short conversions as well we've seen him do that so maybe this could be a budding type of mentor um you know protege relationship that could end up being interesting so keep an eye out there on kyle trask name folks murph always drops the knowledge i know you mentioned kyle pittson one trask and three how much would you love him in that?

Florida fans would love it. I mean, this would be a dream come true for them to see those two guys up here in New England. Kind of that Auburn flavor that the Patriots had last year with a lot of Auburn guys. Lazar would love half of that draft. Oh, he would. He would absolutely love half of that as well. And you know if he's listening. And I know Evan does tune in periodically. I know he would. He would absolutely love half of that as well. And you know if he's listening, and I know Evan does tune in periodically, I know he'd be loving that.

And we did mention that Florida flavor that could be an Auburn flavor. Before I let you go today, Bud, really quick, did this trade, or trade, did this move to bring back Cam Newton and the talk about the Patriots looking to the draft as a way to bring in a mentor?

Does this in any way cast doubt in your mind that Jared Stidham will be a Patriot in 2021? No, I think they'll ride it out. He's on a cheap contract. They'll just keep seeing what's going on. They'll feed us all year long that, you know, we like him, we love him, he just hasn't had enough time, yada, yada, yada. But no, I don't think that he's going to be going anywhere. It's not worth the cut. And it's a body that knows most of the system right now. And who knows? I mean, maybe the third year is a charm.

It could be. You never know. I still hold out a little bit of hope for Jared in terms of the talent that I've seen him be able to utilize. But sometimes fits in certain systems just aren't exactly what you thought they'd be. But who knows? Maybe this year will be a year to bring him back to prominence a little bit we've heard

that he is working out with jordan palmer has been since february uh maybe this is a situation where he gets a little bit of a fire lit under him and maybe some good things can happen so the quarterback room is going to continue to be interesting in the coming days, in the coming weeks, and especially as we move toward OTA and mini camps and a full offseason workout regimen for your New England Patriots, but also for all teams in the NFL. And Bud, we'll be right there to cover it all because it really, really is interesting every time the New England Patriots take the field. And every time any NFL team takes the field, it's always interesting stuff. But what can I say? You always lend your wisdom and counsel like no other.

That's why your family here on Locked On Patriots, you've got the head seat at the table and it's yours for a reason. That chair is embroidered with your name for good reason, folks. And you should already be following this man, but for any of our new listeners, and we may have several over the course of the next couple of days, and we welcome you and hope you enjoy the content here on Locked On Patriots, by all means, it is a must that you follow this man.

The Count of Murphy Fisto himself, my good friend Murph, on Twitter, at TeamMurph207. All of his insight and, of course his written columns, never miss them, especially the monster keys during the season, but does publish them during the off season as well. They are always point click, learn enrichment material proudly found on diehard Boston sports fans.com.

And of course, never miss an episode of one Patriots place with Murph, our other great mutual friend Steve Balistrieri, and of course the Countess of Clas herself, Ms. Claire Cooper. Buddy, thank you again, honored and humbled as always by your presence. Always my pleasure, my friend. Always my pleasure, and yeah, good stuff coming tomorrow with Steve. Absolutely. The Voice of Reason joins us here, and we'll break down all of the day one activity, get a little preview into what we can expect on Tuesday. And then it all officially begins on Wednesday.

And who would have thought the official beginning actually might be the end of a lot of the news that we're going to see. It's interesting. It's unique in the NFL, but it's always fun. In the meantime, but stay safe, stay well. We look forward to breaking down draft and anything and everything related to the Patriots right here next Monday on Locked on Murph Monday. Take care, buddy. And thanks again for joining me today. My pleasure, man.

Just like that, Patriots fans, one day down and an action-packed week still to come here on the pod. And of course, breaking news before we let you go today, Dietrich Wise Jr., defensive end of the New England Patriots, is reportedly heading back to Foxborough. That will be one of the moves we discuss tomorrow here on the pod. So to ensure that you do not miss a single second of the action, download and subscribe to the Locked On Patriots podcast

on platforms such as radio.com, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Apple Podcasts, wherever you get your podcasts. Just make sure that you're staying locked into Locked On Patriots. Once again, my name is Mike DeBate. I thank my good friend Thomas Murphy for his time, his insight, and his appearance on today's pod. But most of all, I thank you so much for listening and for continuing to make Locked On Patriots a daily part of your New England Patriots coverage.

Until tomorrow, Pats fans, stay safe, stay well, continue to be the change you wish to see in the world. Have a great day, everyone.