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Before the Cleveland Browns made Baker Mayfield the No. 1 overall pick in the NFL Draft, the New England Patriots were apparently so high on the young quarterback that they thought about trading up to No. 2 to get him, according to the quarterback’s agent.
According to Jeff Howe of The Athletic, Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels told a member of Mayfield’s camp that they would consider possibly trading up to the top spots in the draft in order to set up an interview with Mayfield.
The top prospect had refused to meet with them previously because he didn’t think they had a chance to take him. The plan ended up working just as the Pats wanted it to, as Mayfield granted them a meeting a week before the draft.
Howe further clarifies the detail of the No. 2 pick, which the Patriots did not specifically tell Mayfield’s camp they would trade up to. It was just a matter of connecting the dots since the Jets had reportedly promised to take Mayfield at No. 3, and they weren’t going to trade with their division rivals. So, it made logical sense that if the Pats were dead-set on taking Mayfield, they would have to go one spot higher, which was the Giants at No. 2.
Howe didn’t specify whether the Patriots still remained interested in making the blockbuster move had Mayfield fallen. But with the number of picks it likely would’ve needed to get the deal done – both firsts, both seconds, a third, and next year’s first – Bill Belichick most likely wasn’t going to pull the trigger even if Mayfield was still on the board.
