4 partners if Carolina Panthers decide to trade down from No. 8

New England Patriots

At first glance, this trade partner might seem a bit odd. Bill Belichick is known for trading down in the first round and hasn’t moved up since 2012, all while never trading higher than the 13th pick. That being said, history doesn’t seem to suggest the New England Patriots will be ready to move up to the eighth-overall selection.

The difference this year though is that the impact of losing Tom Brady was evident in 2020, and former Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton didn’t exactly establish himself as his long-term successor in his first year with the Pats. As a result, it wouldn’t be shocking to see Belichick move up to take what could be his future franchise signal-caller.

Newton signed a one-year deal to return to the Patriots in March. But their level of commitment to him beyond the 2021 campaign remains to be seen.

Trevor Lawrence and Zach Wilson are essentially locked to be taken with the first and second picks, leaving Justin Fields, Mac Jones, and Trey Lance as the other three top quarterback prospects.

Jones is a player that has been linked to New England for some time now, but according to more recent reports, he could be a potential target for the 49ers at No. 3. Depending on what Atlanta does with the fourth pick, they could take another quarterback off the board, leaving perhaps only one of the five by the time the Panthers are slated to go on the clock.

If it’s Fields or Lance, then one could stand to reason that Newton may be the ideal mentor.

Fields is without question more NFL-ready than Lance, but either player would stand to benefit by sitting a year behind the former MVP and one of the most lethal dual-threat quarterbacks to ever play the game. It would make sense for the Patriots to take either, but they would almost certainly have to trade up.

If they were to do so with the Panthers, Carolina would draft 15th and likely inherit at least an additional second-rounder if not other future picks.