NFL Draft Expert Gives Patriots Advice Before Scouting Combine

Mike Vrabel and the Patriots should fly to Indianapolis and operate with ulterior motives.

That’s what ESPN NFL draft expert Matt Miller believes given the uncertainty atop the draft board and New England’s No. 4 pick. Vrabel and company should capitalize on the opportunity to do some wheeling and dealing as representatives from all 32 teams join them at the NFL Scouting Combine. It’s a watering hole, after all.

Miller offered the Patriots advice when he joined NESN’s “Foxboro Rush” podcast with George Balekji and Travis Thomas.

“Next week when we get to Indy and everyone is going to Prime and everyone is going to St. Elmo’s, I’m telling every journalist in the NFL, ‘Somebody is going to trade up for a quarterback.,'” Miller said referencing the Patriots. “Or I would even be saying, ‘Hey, you know what I heard? The Titans and the Browns might take a quarterback.'”

Miller’s reasoning is simple: New England should try to jumpstart a competition for quarterback prospects.

“If you’re the Patriots, you want to manufacture as much interest in Cam Ward and Shedeur Sanders as humanly possible,” Miller said. “Because what you really want is the Las Vegas Raiders to trade ahead of you to get a quarterback.”

Miller believes the top three picks are extremely “unpredictable.” The ESPN expert thinks Abdul Carter and Travis Hunter will be drafted in the top three selections, before the Patriots are on the clock, but the selection of a second QB would change that.

“I would say right now the chance of one quarterback going is like 100%,” Miller said. “What you want if you’re the Patriots is two quarterbacks going in the top three because then — we’re all math majors, right? You’re either getting Abdul Carter or Travis Hunter. So if you’re the Patriots, tell everyone who will listen, ‘I heard the Browns are going to draft Shedeur Sanders at No. 2.’ That’s what you want, someone moving up ahead of you to take these quarterbacks.”

Of course, manufacturing interest in QBs shouldn’t be New England’s main objective in Indianapolis. The Scouting Combine also will give the Patriots an opportunity to gain valuable insights on top draft prospects, and they’ll need it as they revamp their roster.

Check out the full interview with Miller on Spotify and YouTube.