The New England Patriots are widely viewed as being locked in on one specific player ahead of the NFL Draft, and that might be exactly what they want other teams to think.
Just about every mock draft you can find has the Patriots selecting LSU offensive tackle Will Campbell with the fourth overall pick on Thursday night. Odds at most sportsbooks suggest Campbell being taken at No. 4 pick is a virtual lock, but what if New England is not the team that winds up on the clock at that spot?
According to a Tuesday report from Mark Daniels of MassLive.com, the Patriots are not set on using the No. 4 pick. Mike Vrabel and company are open to trading back, though it is unclear if teams are willing to move up to a spot that would not guarantee them either Travis Hunter or Abdul Carter.
There was also a report on Tuesday that several teams have inquired about trading up to either No. 2 or No. 3 overall. Some of those teams may have interest in star running back Ashton Jeanty, who should be available at No. 4.
Maybe the Patriots are really in love with Campbell. However, if they like another player (say, star pass-rusher Jalon Walker) just as much, they could be leaking information about how much they want Campbell in order to make rival teams believe they are not budging from the fourth overall spot. That would, in theory, put New England in a stronger position if a team had interest in the pick.
One thing is for certain: The Patriots need offensive line help. They have had one of the worst O-lines in football for several seasons, and drafting a left tackle to protect Drake Maye would be a wise decision. The big question is whether they can accomplish that later in the draft, which is something New England could very well be considering.
