FOXBOROUGH, Mass. -- Quick-hit thoughts and notes around the New England Patriots and NFL:
1. Pains from ’19 draft: This is the season when teams that nailed the early part of the 2019 draft reap some of the greatest rewards from that work, with core players on affordable rookie contracts.
The Patriots, unfortunately for coach Bill Belichick, fall into a different category.
Last week’s trade/giveaway of 2019 first-round pick N’Keal Harry to the Chicago Bears for a 2024 seventh-round pick, which came months after dealing 2019 third-round pick Chase Winovich to the Cleveland Browns for linebacker Mack Wilson, means the Patriots have already moved on from two of their top three picks from '19.