Locked On Patriots - Daily Podcast On The New England Patriots - Right on Trask? The Impact of the Darnold Trade on the New England Patriots — 4/6/2021

Episode Date: April 6, 2021

The New England Patriots once (infamously) made quarterback Sam Darnold see ‘ghosts.’ Now, the Pats will no longer be seeing the signal-caller twice per year, as the New York Jets traded him to the Carolina Panthers on Monday. Joining host Mike D’Abate is Steve Balestrieri of PatsFans.com. The duo discuss the impact of the trade on New England, and provide a draft profile of Florida quarterback Kyle Trask.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. 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. All of you Foxborough faithful. You are now locked in to the Lockdown Patriots podcast. Today is Tuesday, the 6th of April, 2021, and it's time for our weekly dose of reason 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. Greetings and salutations, Patriots Nation, and thank you once again for joining me here

on this Tuesday episode of the pod. My name is Mike DeBate, your host of the Lockdown Patriots podcast, which of course is a proud part of the Lockdown 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. Therefore, 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 Tuesday traveling through that Twitterverse, please

be sure to follow the Lockdown Patriots account as well at LO underscore Patriots. Pats fans, the football universe continues to march toward the 2021 NFL draft, which will officially kick off on Thursday, April 29th, 2021 from Cleveland, Ohio. And here in Patriots Nation, the eyes continue to be fixated on the quarterback position. With the Patriots using early free agency to seemingly fill just about every other hole they had on the roster, or at least significantly upgrade, the signal caller position still remains a question for a lot of you out there. Right now, Cam Newton is assumed to be the starter, with Jarrett Stidham backing him up.

But a lot of you out there, myself included, do not believe the Patriots are done adding at the signal caller position just yet. Some are still holding out hope that the Patriots will be able to finagle a way for Jimmy Garoppolo to come back. Others believe the Patriots may grab another veteran and bring him in to compete with Cam for the starting job. The consensus majority, however, seems to believe that if the Patriots are going to make a move at the quarterback position, it's going to be via the NFL draft. And with the top five prospects likely to come off the board within the top ten picks, the Patriots would need to move up. They currently hold the number 15 selection. But we all know that trading up is not going to be easy.

It's going to be expensive. And right up until yesterday, some thought that it might be out of the Patriots' price range. However, let it be written through all of history that the Patriots may have actually gotten some help from the New York Jets yesterday. Because those pesky J-E-T-S Jets, Jets, Jets were involved in a trade with one of the teams that the Patriots might have been competing against to trade up in

the 2021 NFL Draft. Sam Darnold, our old ghost-seeing friend, is off to Carolina, not just in his mind, but in reality. The Carolina Panthers trading for the former number three overall pick in 2018. In return, the Jets getting a sixth rounder in the upcoming 2021 NFL draft and also a second rounder and a fourth rounder in 2022. For the Jets, this pretty much confirms what we knew all along. Barring any unforeseen circumstances, they will be selecting Zach Wilson of BYU with the number two pick in the upcoming draft. For the Panthers, they finally get the quarterback they've been looking for, having made it inescapably obvious that they were looking to move on from Teddy Bridgewater after only one season in Carolina.

Darnold, on the other hand, gets the opportunity to resurrect his career. So one of those rare circumstances where the trade may actually benefit every party involved. The Jets, the Panthers, and Sam Darnold himself. But the effect of this move is not going to be just on those two franchises. It's not even going to be just on Sam Darnold itself. That ripple effect will have an impact on other franchises as well, including your New England Patriots. As I previously stated,

the Patriots currently own the number 15 overall pick in the upcoming draft. That may not be good enough to be able to snare their quarterback of the future. And if Bill Belichick and the Patriots brain trust believe that quarterback is in this draft, they're going to need to trade up to get him. Now the good news here for the Patriots is that the Panthers appear to be out when it comes to looking for a quarterback in the upcoming draft. That is one less team that the Patriots have to compete with in terms of being able to trade up. They currently own a lot of draft capital and reportedly are willing to deal some of it. But make no mistake about it, the Patriots are not the only team interested in

trading up. Word has it that the Denver Broncos might be very interested in moving up. They hold the number nine overall pick. And even though the Patriots may have a greater treasure trove of picks to deal, the number nine pick is a little bit higher than the number 15 pick. And if you're currently dealing with a team like the Atlanta Falcons who own the number 4 selection, they may be a little more intrigued by what Denver has to offer as opposed to what New England has to offer. And folks, if your heart is really set on trading with the Atlanta Falcons for that number 4 overall pick, maybe not the best time to make 28-3 jokes. I'm just saying, sometimes you just gotta keep your friends close and your enemies closer.

Bottom line, the Jets dealing Sam Darnold to the Panthers makes the Patriots trading up a little bit more possible, but not necessarily a little bit more probable. At least that's how I see it. But don't forget, today is Tuesday, and that means we welcome in our resident voice of reason to help us sort it all out. My Patriots Paizan, Steve Balistrieri of Patsfans.com is about to join me here on the hot seat, where we will discuss the Darnold trade, and especially what it means for your New England Patriots. Steve and I will also dare to ask the question, what if Bill Belichick is unable to trade up in this draft? What if the quarterback he really wants is out of his reach? Does that mean that the hoodie would think about

taking another player at another position with 15, maybe trading back, and looking for a quarterback in the middle rounds? If that is the case, then Steve and I have some thoughts on a player that might be available to the New England Patriots on day two or even day three. University of Florida quarterback Kyle Trask. Steve recently profiled Kyle for Patsfans.com and will discuss his scouting report as well as my thoughts on Kyle Trask and make the determination on whether or not he'd be a good fit here in Foxborough. So sit tight, folks, and settle in an action-packed agenda talking quarterbacks with my good friend Steve Balistrieri when this Tuesday episode of the Locked On Patriots podcast continues.

But first, Locked On listeners, football games on the field might be over, but the NBA and the NHL are in full swing. When you want to put your prognostication skills to the test, there is only one place that has you covered and one place we trust. BetOnline.ag. BetOnline is the fastest and easiest way to bet on all of your sports action. But BetOnline even covers awards, TV shows, and reality TV. They give you real-time updated odds and props on almost anything you can imagine.

Simply put, BetOnline has you covered for all the news, all the scores, and all the odds. It's the best way to place your bets, and what makes it even better is it's free to sign up. Head over to their website, betonline.ag, or use your mobile device to sign up today to receive your 50% welcome bonus on your first deposit. Don't forget to use the promo code LOCKEDON. Don't sit on the sidelines any longer. Get in on the action. Head to betonline.ag today, sign up, and receive your 50% welcome bonus on your first deposit when you use the promo code LOCKEDON. BetOnline, your online sportsbook experts. LockedOn listeners get all the sports news you need in under 20 minutes with the LockedOn Today podcast. Host Peter Bukowski updates you on the latest news in every major sport with the Locked On Today podcast. Host Peter Bukowski updates you on the latest news in every major sport

with the help of our local experts. Follow the Locked On Today podcast on the Odyssey app or wherever you get your podcasts. Patriots fans, another AFCE starting quarterback has left the fold. Sam Darnold will be seeing his ghosts in Carolina from this day forward. And it means a new quarterback for the J-E-T-S Jets, Jets, Jets. But what does it all mean for your New England Patriots? Well, here today to provide his wisdom and counsel and to break it all down with us is

our resident voice of reason here on Locked On Patriots. He is one of the best and most knowledgeable columnists that you'll find anywhere in Patriots media. You know his great work from patsfans.com, as well as being the co-host of not one, but two amazing podcasts. Patriots 4th and 2, featuring Steve, Russ Goldman, and Derek Havens. And of course, One Patriots Place, featuring Steve, our good friend, the Count of Murphy Fisto himself, the legendary Thomas Murphy, and the Countess of Klaas, Miss Claire Cooper. He is my Patriots paisan, and the Countess of Clas, Miss Claire Cooper.

He is my Patriots Paisan, and despite what he will tell you, he's worthy of all the praise he gets and then some. Steve Balistrieri joins me here today. Welcome back to Locked On Patriots, my friend. Thanks for having me, Mike. It's always a pleasure, as you know, and thank you for all those nice, kind words. And there's never a dull moment, is there, for all those nice, kind words. There's never a dull moment, is there, around here?

There really isn't. Even when things don't directly affect the New England Patriots, they still have a way of affecting the team. So there's never a dull moment in Foxborough. That ripple effect now extends all the way to the Atlantic Ocean at the very tip of Cape Cod for the region here in New England. And we continue to try to bring it to you as best we possibly can. And, Steve, we're always lucky because on this Tuesday, we really need some level-headed wisdom and counsel. We need some reason.

And we'll start with the news of the last 24 hours. The New York Jets trading quarterback Sam Donald to the Carolina Panthers. The Jets receiving three picks in return, a sixth rounder in the 2021 NFL draft later this month, and a second rounder and a fourth rounder in 2022. So, Steve, this move does have an impact on teams that might be in the hunt for a quarterback, including the Patriots, because it's almost a near certainty now that the Panthers are going to be out of the quarterback hunt when it comes to the draft. Before we get to the implications that this has for the Patriots, Steve, what was your reaction

to the deal? What is the future for Darnold, for Carolina, for the New York Jets? And was there a winner in this trade, in your opinion? Well, I think everyone got what they wanted. I think, you know, the Jets have a new regime in place, you know, with Robert Saleh. They have Joe Douglas. And so, you know, Darnell wasn't their guy. And there's still some questions about, you know, whether or not he's going to be the guy, because even though he had been there for three years, which is a good amount of time to evaluate a quarterback, because of the situation with him and, you know, the Jets, as we all know, you know, so dysfunctional, so unstable,

it's really tough to get a read on whether or not Donald, you know, is going to be that person or he's not going to be that person. You know, in three years, he's had two head coaches and one general manager fired him underneath him. He's had probably the worst supporting cast. I know Patriots fans like to point to 2020. I think the Jets were even worse. And then, you know, substandard coaching. So I think it's a win all around. I think Sam Darnall

is going to benefit from, you know, getting a fresh start. I think Carolina believes that they can, you know, work with him and make him the quarterback he can be. And because of that, I look at that, you know, that second round pick of next year, which tells me the Panthers believe that he's going to be around. And then the Jets, obviously, they want to start fresh with the new regime, and they're going to get Zach Wilson. So I think it's a win all the way around.

You know, I know it sounds cliche to say that, but I think everyone's going to benefit from this. Yeah, I think so as well. Look, bottom line, I think there is a lot of benefit that can be had on all sides. Carolina obviously was looking for an upgrade from Teddy Bridgewater. I mean, there were reports out there that they were dangling him plus a pick to try to snare Matt Stafford away from the Detroit Lions. Obviously, Stafford is now an L.A. Ram, but it was clear that Carolina was looking for other options. They were either going to do so in the draft,

or they were going to try to maybe enter the Deshaun Watson dealings. Obviously, those are significantly on hold now with everything that's going on there. Or they were going to do exactly what they did, look for a quarterback within the league that they could trade for, that could come in and be the guy that they knew that could lead their team for the future. I do think Darnold does have the ability to do it for all the ghost jokes that he gets. And look, you and I have both made them. Believe me, if I could have, I would have opened up Locked On Patriots today

with the Ghostbusters theme. If we had the rights and the copyright to be able to do that with that song, I would have gladly done it because it's funny. You know, we love it, especially here in New England. But I'm glad that you mentioned supporting cast because if you think the Patriots in 2020 were bad, look at what the Jets have had or have have given sam donald over the last three years um bottom line he played

under two head coaches two different offensive systems like you said no 1 000 yard rusher on the roster no 1 000 yard wide receiver on the roster and he played behind a New York City subway bay of turnstiles for an offensive line for three years I mean they gave him virtually no protection so this is an opportunity for him to rejuvenate his career Carolina gets the quarterback they were hoping for and for the Jets they do have some promise especially if they are going to go with Zach Wilson of BYU it looks like that's the consensus pick at number two for the Jets. They'll have their guy, and now it's going to be about moving forward and doing what's best for their team, and maybe they can finally start to turn the corner. It's the Jets, folks. I'll believe

it when I see it, but ultimately it looks like they're trying to move in the right direction as well. Steve, again, this move does have an impact on a lot of other teams because the Panthers are now one less team looking for help with the quarterback position in the draft. This could mean an easier path for the team, for the New England Patriots, meaning to trade up to get that type of help that they need in the 2021 NFL draft. A lot of teams might be looking to the Falcons pick at number four. The Falcons are going to be getting a lot of offers, I think, over the course of the next few days and weeks to trade down in the draft. Patriots currently hold the number 15 pick. They could be in that mix. The Denver Broncos hold the ninth pick in the draft. They could be in that mix as well. So this could end up being a battle of whips

between the Patriots front office, the Broncos front office, and seeing who wants that number four pick more. Steve, we know that the rumor mill has been rampant lately with potential moves that the Patriots might make at quarterback, whether it be to trade for a veteran, whether it be to trade up. All of a sudden now with Darnold being moved, that rumor mill is churning a lot faster. A lot more people that we hold in high regard, whether it be in the Patriots media, certainly the fan base, are churning along saying that the Patriots now need to make that move to trade up in the draft.

In your opinion, when you look at the Darnold trade, do you think it makes it more or less likely that the Patriots do make that move up in the 2021 NFL draft? Well, I think they're going to attempt to. I have no doubt in my mind that the Patriots will attempt to move up. And I'm looking at that Atlanta pick because if you want one of the top four or five quarterbacks, you're going to have to move up because we know now that the top three picks are going to be quarterbacks.

I mean, Trevor Lawrence is a no-brainer. Now Zach Wilson, and now with number three going to the 49ers, rumor has it that they really like Mack Jones and not Justin Fields. So if you want to get one of those guys, I think, you know, we'd probably be looking at either Justin Fields or Trey Lance. I think you have to move up into that Carolina. I mean, excuse me, the Atlanta pick at number four. And I think it could be had now it's going to be very expensive, obviously. But, you know, when you look at that Atlanta pick at number four. And I think it could be had. Now, it's going to be very expensive, obviously.

But, you know, when you look at that Atlanta pick, they seem to have committed to Matt Ryan for a couple of more years. And this would be a great way for that team, with a lot of holes on that roster, to slide back a little bit and gather more draft capital. Yeah, without question. I completely agree with you on that. Look, bottom line, if Atlanta is looking to move down,

and I agree that with the indications they've been giving about committing to Matt Ryan for at least a couple of more years, this gives them the opportunity to stockpile. This could be a good opportunity for the Falcons to do just that, like you said. With regard to the Broncos now, all of a sudden you're going to find out, I think very in short, very much in short order, how committed they are to drew luck for the long-term future. We've heard that maybe lock is the guy that they really want to see quarterback the Broncos, but all the indications that we've been getting are that they would be in the market for a quarterback. So if they are serious about getting their guy and not having to essentially have to wait it out to find out if maybe the guys that are available, like you said, maybe a Fields or a Trey Lance would be available, they're going to be aggressive in moving up, too. I think this could be an interesting chess match over the course of the next couple of weeks as we lead into the draft.

But in a lot of ways, I also look at this now as the Patriots looking to the number four pick and saying what type of capital would they need to give up to be able to get him. And like you said, it would be expensive. They would almost certainly be packaging. In fact, they would certainly be packaging the number 15 pick. How many subsequent picks in this draft? Maybe, you know, first rounders in subsequent years. Things could end up getting interesting in New England. Have they identified their quarterback of the future? If they have, then I agree with you. I

think they need to do it. I think they absolutely should pursue it and do everything they can to make it happen. But if they're not completely sure that their guy for the future is in this draft, then Bill Belichick may break the hearts of a lot of Patriots fans and maybe choose to address the quarterback position in subsequent rounds, whether that means holding on to the 15 pick or maybe even trading down. I know, folks, you're listening to this right now. You're ready to throw something against the wall telling me don't give Bill Belichick any ideas. Believe me, I guarantee you he's considered it. If I'm telling you about it, I guarantee you he's considered it. And the one thing that we haven't really looked at either is the fact that because Darnold now has moved on to the Panthers,

if the Broncos are more aggressive in trading up, then does that mean that the Patriots now may wait for another quarterback option, maybe a free agent option that has yet to be shaken free from their current team? Teddy Bridgewater, you have to think, is going to be on the move. I don't see him being the guy in Carolina. You don't spend the type of guy in carolina you don't

spend the type of draft capital that you did uh on sam donald to bring him in and be a backup i think he's going to be the main guy do the niners waiver in their stance about jimmy garoppolo that first round uh asking price now all of a sudden looks insanely overpriced uh when it comes to what uh the panthers uh Panthers just gave up to get Darnold. The Jaguars and Gardner Minshew, maybe the fiendish plot that Murph has been talking about for the last month or so finally comes true. Again, folks, I'm just throwing options out there because they are options that are out there. But the Patriots have some questions at the quarterback position. And if they want to get first-round talent,

they may have to give up a lot to be able to get it. Steve, your wisdom, your reason always bring us back to a level-headed place here on Tuesdays, even despite my best efforts just a few seconds ago to take us into stratospheres that no Patriots fan wants to consider. You always bring us back to the level-headed approach, and that's why we love having you here. And good news because we're not done yet in just a moment steve balistrieri will offer more of his thoughts on the upcoming 2021 nfl draft would bill belichick actually do

the unthinkable and let the first round of the nfl draft pass without procuring the services of a quarterback i know since chills up and down your spine, but it is possible, folks. If that happens, who might be a good fit here in Foxborough at the position? Find out when the Locked On Patriots podcast continues. Locked On listeners, the NFL draft is weeks away, and it's time to start following our Locked On NFL Draft Duo. The Draft Dudes podcast watches every prospect so that you don't have to. And the Locked On NFL Draft podcast is your daily draft news and mock draft podcast.

Follow the Locked On NFL Draft podcast on the Odyssey app or wherever you get your podcasts. Patriots fan Steve Balistrieri joins me here today on the pod. But as I said earlier in the previous segment, moves like those that were made by the 49ers a couple of weeks ago, aggressively moving up to the number three draft spot, or moves like the Carolina Panthers made yesterday in trading for Sam Darnold, these moves have a ripple effect on the league, most notably on teams that are looking for certain positions in the upcoming 2021 NFL draft. Very much like your New England Patriots, they're looking for quarterback help,

reportedly, and right now they're in that middle part of the first round, and they might be looking to move up. Yesterday's trade definitely makes their path a little bit easier to do that, because Carolina is now not a team that you have to compete with to try to procure the services of a quarterback. It's most likely the Broncos that you're going to be competing with if you want to trade up to that number four overall spot. Steve, if the Patriots choose or if they're outbid by the Denver Broncos, then you and I both know that Bill Belichick loves his value. At that point, they may just roll the dice,

take their chances with what they have at number 15, or they may even look to trade down. And I know that's going to upset a lot of people, but it's an option, especially if your guys or the guys that you have your eye on at the quarterback position are no longer there. Recently, for patsfans.com, you put out a very good draft profile, a very accurate draft profile on Kyle Trask at the University of Florida.

Now, Trask is not a name that we've mentioned here a lot on Locked On Patriots. We've mentioned it in passing, but we haven't really taken a deep dive into what Kyle Trask could be as an NFL quarterback and as a member of the Patriots if the Patriots choose to do that. Before we put him in a Patriots uniform, though, Steve, tell us a little bit about Kyle Trask, the film that you've watched, the analysis that you've done. What kind of NFL quarterback could this kid make,

and where do you see him realistically having the chance to be taken in the NFL draft? Well, you know, it's funny. We've been talking about the top five quarterbacks, and then everyone's talking about Kellen Mond and, you know, the kid out of Stanford. And, you know, Trask put up historic numbers last year in the SEC. I mean, he completed 68.9% of his passes for 4,283 yards, which was 9.8 yards average per pass with 43 touchdown passes and only eight interceptions.

I mean, look at those numbers. It's amazing that nobody's talking about him, and it has to do with he's not the new wave NFL quarterback. He's this athletic guy who's going to make plays with his feet. He's not that guy whatsoever. He's a big guy. He's 6'4", 239 pounds. But he can handle, you know, the rough play inside the pocket. But, you know, when you look at him, a lot of, you know, what the Patriots like in football players, you know, is him. He's had a guy, he's been a guy that's had the

claw and scratch ever since high school. He wasn't even a starter in high school. The starting quarterback for the Miami Hurricanes was the starting quarterback at his high school. He was the backup. But, you know, they were such a good team. He had so much quality tape that Florida gave him a shot. Again, he had to take his time. He had to buy this time.

And then the last two seasons, he's been really, really good. Now, you know, when you look at him, why isn't he considered one of the top prospects? Well, as I already mentioned, he's not, you know, athletically gifted. His arm strength is only adequate. It isn't great. So that's one of the things you'll have to look at. But you know, when you look at a guy

that fits the, you know, Earhart Perkins offensive system, I think this is a perfect fit for him. And he's smart. You know, he's a cerebral quarterback. He really makes mistakes with the ball. That's a big thing with Bill Belichick. He's only thrown 15 career interceptions in 28 games, and that's something Belichick likes. He does a great job of looking off his wide receivers and moving safety with his eyes.

And his back shoulder throws on the perimeter. Just absolutely outstanding. I think he reminds me of a young Ben Roethlisberger, which when I said that I get so many negative comments and I was like, well, if they were to draft this guy and day two or day three and he got the kind of career Roethlisberger had Roethlisberger is going to Canton folks. So you can hate on him and the Steelers all you want, but he's going to end up in Canton.

If this kid had a similar type of career, that wouldn't be such a bad thing. No, it definitely wouldn't be such a bad thing. Look, bottom line, and I think the Roethlisberger comparison is an apt comparison when you talk about the size of the quarterback, the ability for him to be that type of grip it and rip it thrower. I do find him to be a lot more cerebral than Ben. This is a kid that definitely he's decisive. He's quick, highly intelligent.

I think he attacks with a plan. He's someone that can attack all three levels of the field. Great with experiencing reads. That, to me, is something that would endear him to a New England Patriots team. Like you said, I think what worries me when you look at Kyle Trask is the athleticism. It's his ability to consistently make off-script plays. That could be a problem with a guy like Josh McDaniels, who loves to run off-script plays, especially with the types

of quarterbacks that he's now employing, whether it be Cam Newton or maybe even Jared Stidham at the time. I don't know how he'd necessarily fit in that quarterback room, but it is someone that's used to playing through a lot of perseverance, a lot of patience, and he's had his difficulties. You mentioned him being a backup in high school he wasn't even the full-time starter at florida until his junior season so he had to show a lot of patience getting his chance in a big time quarterback uh you know program like the florida gators and really became a very adequate leader for them and i think that that's something that could endear him to patriots nation if he's chosen here. If the Patriots were to make this move,

or if the Patriots choose to stay out of the first round in terms of addressing the quarterback position, where do you see Kyle Trask fitting in on this team? Would he have a shot to make this roster? And could he eventually be the starter here in Foxborough with someone like Belichick and someone like McDaniels still calling the plays here for many years to come yeah I believe he has a legitimate shot of coming to New England I think he's a fit here I think he'll be available in the second round and possibly

even to the third not again these things aren't scientific, but I did a mock draft with Pro Football Network's mock draft simulator, complete with trades and, you know, the whole nine yards there. And, you know, as a GM for the Patriots, I was trying to move up and get one of those top quarterbacks. And the trades, the entire compensation that you're going to have to pay was way, way, way out of whack, which I didn't see Bill Belichick making. So I stuck with 15, and I drafted a different type of player, and then it just so happened I rolled the dice,

and Kyle Trask was available all the way back into the third round. So I think that, you know, that is a possibility. He's not highly thought of. I don't understand why. But, you know, if I'm the Patriots, I would take a shot with him in the second round because I do think with a year under his belt in the system, I don't think he'd be an immediate starter. I think he would have to sit and learn the offense.

He would have to be joined at the hip with Josh McDaniels this entire 2021 season. And I think at that point, he would be possibly ready to take over in 2022. Steve, what can I say? I always appreciate you taking the time out. Thank you for the insight on Kyle Trask and the scouting report. Again, folks, a quarterback we hadn't talked a whole lot about here on Locked On Patriots, but maybe we've helped to nudge you in the right direction or the wrong direction, depending on how you look at it, as to whether or not he'd be a fit here in Foxborough.

And of course, Steve's always spot on insight on the Sam Darnold trade and what it means for New England. Before I let you go, buddy, please let all of our listeners know where they can find you on social media, where they can find your great work, and what we can look forward to in the coming days and weeks from the great voice and pen of Steve Balistrieri. Well, thanks again, Mike, for having me on. As always, I really appreciate it. And the kind words. You do a fantastic job here, you know, on Locked On. And it's one of the best podcasts out there anywhere.

And, hey, you know, we're going to continue to be looking at the draft and draft possibilities. And I know fans didn't want to hear, you know, about not trading up and to use one of those godfather quotes. I apologize if I offended you, but I'm not a stranger in this country, and we know what that means. You know, Bill has always kind of gone against the beaten path, I guess you could say.

But, hey, I'll be looking at the draft. We'll be looking at some draft prospects. And, you know, there, there's still some free agents out there, but I think the, the majority of those guys are signed. Well, Steve, what can I say? Absolutely. Uh, you know, I, I appreciate the kind words. Uh, I appreciate the Godfather quote. We almost made it through another episode without getting one, but again,

you, uh, you did it. And, uh, you. And Steve, bottom line, there are people who will pay a lot of money for that information. But then this podcast would lose a paisan instead of gaining a voice of reason. But in any case, always my honor

to welcome you here. Thank you for the kind words about the podcast once again. What helps to make Locked On Patriots what it is is the amazing guests and the company with which I keep. And it always humbles me. It always honors me. And you're at the top of that list, my friend. I look forward to sharing the microphone with you every Tuesday here on Locked On Patriots. And we look forward to doing that again and again as we look forward into the draft and even beyond to do some analysis.

So, Steve, in the meantime, stay safe, stay well. We look forward to having you back here next Tuesday. More draft analysis, folks, and, of course, more Godfather quotes because Steve and I just can't help ourselves. All the best, buddy. Thanks again. Thanks for having me. Patriots Nation, we are almost halfway through your work week already,

but fear not because there is still plenty of New England Patriots coverage still to come this week. So to ensure that you do not miss a single second of the action, follow the Locked On Patriots podcast on platforms such as the Odyssey app, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Apple Podcasts, wherever you get your podcasts. Just make sure that you are staying locked in to Locked On Patriots. Once again, my name is Mike DeBate. I thank my good friend Steve Balistrieri for his time, his insight, and his appearance on today's pod.

But most of all, I thank each and every one of you so much for listening and for taking the time to make Locked On Patriots a daily part of your New England Patriots coverage. Until tomorrow, Foxborough faithful, stay safe, stay well, always be the change you wish to see in the world. Have a great day, everyone.