Trading to No. 5 overall
Patriots get: 5th overall
Dolphins get: 23rd overall, 87th overall (third round), 99th overall (third round), 125th overall (fourth round), a 2021 first-rounder and a 2021 second-rounder
This is a tricky one. The Patriots have a good relationship with coach Brian Flores, who was the linebackers coach and defensive play-caller for New England in 2018. But the Patriots aren’t as tight with GM Chris Grier. Would the Dolphins, an AFC East rival, really facilitate a trade to help the Patriots get a franchise quarterback? My first instinct: No. But if the Dolphins truly don’t want Tua, maybe they’ll bite at this deal. And that’s why — from a points standpoint — this looks like an overpay.
New England would target this draft slot to get ahead of the Los Angeles Chargers (6th), Carolina Panthers (7th) and the Jaguars (9th).