Why the Patriots will be sweating out the NFL Draft's first three picks
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Heisman winner Travis Hunter is one of this draft's top prizes. Photo: Todd Rosenberg/Getty Images
Despite picking fourth, the Patriots have a chance of landing one of the NFL Draft's two elite prospects — depending on how desperate for a quarterback the teams ahead of them are.
State of play: Entering the draft, which begins Thursday in Green Bay, draft analysts broadly agree that this year's prospect pool has two superstar-level standouts.
- One is Travis Hunter, the reigning Heisman Trophy winner, who plays both offense and defense. Scouts consider the University of Colorado product the best cornerback prospect in the draft AND its best wide receiver prospect.
- The other stud: Abdul Carter, a pass rusher from Penn State who would terrorize quarterbacks for the Pats for years to come.
Friction point: Even in a quarterback class that's considered weak, the University of Miami's Cam Ward is a virtual lock to go No. 1 overall to the Tennessee Titans.
- If a second QB is taken by Browns at No. 2 or Giants at No. 3 — most likely Shedeur Sanders, another Colorado standout whose dad is football legend Deion "Coach Prime" Sanders — then Carter or Hunter would fall to the Pats.
Yes, but: Most draft analysts agree the talent level falls off after those two.
- So if they're gone when the Patriots pick, their options for surrounding quarterback Drake Maye with a top talent could be underwhelming.
The bottom line: The Pats and their fans will be sweating bullets as the first three picks come off the board Thursday night.