Reports this week out of New England indicate the Patriots may be interested in drafting a quarterback to start grooming as the heir to Tom Brady. And, the one they have in mind is UCLA’s Josh Rosen.
The Patriots, however, don’t have a pick in the first round until No. 23, by which point Rosen will be long gone, as will the other top-graded quarterbacks, Sam Darnold of USC, Josh Allen of Wyoming and Baker Mayfield of Oklahoma.
That’s where the 49ers would come in.
Mike Florio of NBC’s Pro Football Talk is writing that the 49ers and Patriots could make a deal involving a quarterback for the second time in less than a year. Last year, the Patriots traded Jimmy Garoppolo to the Niners. Next week, the 49ers could deal their ninth-overall pick to the Pats for their 23rd overall choice and, perhaps, their other Round 1 pick at No. 31.
That would give the Patriots the quarterback they need to eventually step in for Brady to keep their dynasty rolling, while San Francisco GM John Lynch gets two first-round choices. Writes Florio: “It makes too much sense for the 49ers and Patriots to do another quarterback-driven deal.”
Doug Kyed of the New England Sports Network also believes it’s a likely scenario, especially since Brady has not yet committed publicly to playing in 2018 or 2019.
“If Rosen is available at No. 9 overall, could they (the Pats) swing a deal with the San Francisco 49ers to move up for Rosen?" wrote Kyed. "The draft trade value chart says it would take either the Patriots’ No. 23 overall pick and the 31st overall pick, or Nos. 23, 43 and 95 to move up. The 49ers may owe the Patriots a favor anyway after acquiring … Garoppolo for just a second-round pick. Either scenario seems worthwhile for a quarterback deemed by some as the most talented passer in the draft.”
