Players the Patriots should consider for future drafts

The New England Patriots are coming off of another Super Bowl title, but that doesn't mean that the team shouldn't be looking towards the future. With one of the most forward-thinking organizations in sports, the team is surely already hard at work at figuring out how to keep their dynasty in tact long after the Tom Brady era ends. But these players, in particular, should be looked at in future NFL Drafts, as they could keep the Patriots rolling for years to come.

Trevor Lawrence, Clemson



Chances are that the Patriots won't have the top pick in the draft when Trevor Lawrence is eligible to leave Clemson to become a professional. But the Patriots would be smart to do everything they could to get him given the flashes that Lawrence has shown in one season as the Tigers signal-caller. Having won a title in his only year of play in college, it's clear that Lawrence is more than capable of being the face of a championship team.

Lawrence is already the co-favorite to win the Heisman Trophy in his sophomore season, with American football odds over at bet365 putting him at +275 to see him even with Alabama quarterback Tua Tagovailoa. Lawrence projects to be a more prototypical passing prospect due to his size, though, and will likely go number one overall in 2021.

The common question about sitting out until his draft year has already been asked of Lawrence, who has answered by stating that he plans to play college football for now. If the Patriots could swing a trade for the top pick, he could guarantee that the Pats would remain rock solid at the quarterback position should Tom Brady ever have to call it quits.

The common question about sitting out until his draft year has already been asked of Lawrence, who has answered by stating that he plans to play college football for now. If the Patriots could swing a trade for the top pick, he could guarantee that the Pats would remain rock solid at the quarterback position should Tom Brady ever have to call it quits.

Travis Etienne, Clemson



If this seems like a Clemson-heavy list, that is only because Clemson has emerged as a top program in college football with players who could fit on the Patriots in the future. In 2020, Travis Etienne projects to be a late first-round pick, where the Patriots will likely be picking assuming another successful season. And with their penchant for utilizing inexpensive running back talent, Etienne could be the next young player to make a difference in their backfield.

Etienne has the potential to set records at Clemson, and could be a great replacement for players like James White and Rex Burkhead, who aren't cheap at a position that is usually the most replaceable on the field. Going with an all-youth running back corps of Etienne and Sony Michel could help the Patriots address other areas on the field, while not sacrificing a high degree of skill at the running back position.

With Michel being a smaller, faster back and Etienne showing an ability to be incredibly powerful, those two backs would go together nicely. And if the Patriots still had Brady and company to go with them, there is no reason that the Patriots couldn't continue to sit at the top of the AFC and the NFL in general.