Kiper projects Broncos trade down, Patriots snag QB at nine

Mel Kiper’s second mock for the 2021 NFL draft is out and for the first time the ESPN analyst has projected trades through his 32 picks.

In his mock he projects the Denver Broncos will trade down with the New England Patriots to take cornerback Caleb Farley from Virginia Tech with the 15th overall pick. The Patriots will in turn move up six spots and get their quarterback of the future in Trey Lance with the ninth-overall pick.

Mock Draft 2.0 — with three projected trades https://t.co/MttyvM9jOg

— Mel Kiper Jr. (@MelKiperESPN) February 25, 2021

“Cornerback is the position I’d target for Denver. And I’d even feel comfortable taking Farley at No. 9 if the Broncos don’t trade back, so this is good value,” Kiper wrote. “He showed in 2019 that he can be an elite, lockdown corner, though I would like to have seen one more year of film. He’s still raw.”

In Kiper’s mock he states that the Patriots would have to send the Broncos at least the 15th-overall pick, a second-round pick and potentially a 2022 first-round pick “to get the deal over the finish line.”

This would give Denver 10 picks in the 2021 draft:
– 1st Round
– 2nd Round
– 2nd Round (From Patriots)
– 3rd Round
– 4th Round
– 5th Round
– 6th Round
– 7th Round
– 7th Round (From Giants)
– 7th Round (From Browns)

While Patriots coach Bill Belichick isn’t known for trading up, Kiper projects that a big move would be in the works if the team is able to get their quarterback of the future.

New general manager George Paton showed a “draft and develop” history during his time with the Minnesota Vikings, but also proved he can be aggressive in the free agent and trade markets when necessary.

Since 2008 the Vikings acquired 22 Pro Bowl players at 12 different positions with 15 coming through the draft, two undrafted free agents, four veteran free agents and one player received in a trade.