NFL insider floats two-time Pro Bowl QB as trade option for Patriots

If the Patriots don’t land a top-three draft pick, could they go after this two-time Pro Bowl QB?

The Athletic’s Jeff Howe recently threw out a hypothetical trade scenario where the New England Patriots would be a candidate to acquire Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray.

This is partly because of Arizona’s position in the draft. They currently have the second overall selection, and that could stick if they continue to lose games. That means they could be in a position to select current USC quarterback Caleb Williams or current UNC quarterback Drake Maye.

Both quarterbacks would be hard to pass up, and it could make Murray a very valuable trade candidate.

The Patriots would have to want to move on from Mac Jones. Murray also has a $48.69 million salary cap hit over the next five seasons. There are several variables at play here. However, Howe believes Murray could fit in New England.

Howe wrote:

Most of those QB-needy teams aren’t heavily invested in the position for the long term. So if, let’s say, the New England Patriots, Tampa Bay Buccaneers or [Atlanta] Falcons aren’t able to fill their needs in the draft, Murray could be the next best option.

With New England currently sitting with the fourth overall pick in the 2024 NFL draft, they could lose out on Williams and Maye. This could make Murray a prime candidate for a team that needs a jump-start at the quarterback position. He has shown flashes of explosiveness, and he is only 26 years old.

Whatever the case may be, it will be interesting to see what New England makes of the position moving forward.

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Texas LT Kelvin Banks reportedly looked impressive in first practice

Kelvin Banks is a grown man.

Texas left tackle Kelvin Banks might be close to game ready.

After the media’s first glance at Texas’ fall camp, Horns247’s Jeff Howe took notice of the massive freshman offensive lineman.

Howe had the following to say about Banks.

Texas football returned to the practice field today. Media viewing window is closed. Best on the hoof among newcomers might have been Kelvin Banks, who’s working at left tackle to open camp.

The news is exciting for a handful of reasons. Head coach Steve Sarkisian does not need Kelvin Banks to start, but he does need up to four linemen to emerge as high quality starters alongside Junior Angilau.

Jake Majors and Christian Jones might be among the more fundamentally sound linemen in the run game, but they could improve in pass protection. Hayden Conner has been lauded by the coaching staff dating to last season.

The wealth of talent paired with continued development should yield a strong two-deep roster up front.

If the offensive line can prove reliable, the Texas offense has a chance to be special.

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