Patriots Pass On Abdul Carter?! NFL Insider Floats Hypothetical

We’ve reached silly season, football fans.

NFL Media’s Ian Rapoport floated a hypothetical draft scenario Monday involving the New York Giants, New England Patriots and Jacksonville Jaguars. Rapoport questioned whether blue-chip prospect Abdul Carter could lose out to Shedeur Sanders and Will Campbell and ultimately slide past both the Giants (No. 3) and Patriots (No. 4) and into the claws of the Jaguars.

“The fate of Abdul Carter, to me, is almost as interesting or just as interesting as the fate of Shedeur Sanders,” Rapoport said on NFL Network. “If that happens (Giants draft Sanders) then something I think could be inconceivable may unfold, which is Abdul Carter not going three, I would say probably not going four if the Patriots end up going with an offensive lineman, maybe that’s Will Campbell.

“Does he (Carter) slide to five to the Jaguars? Which, again, is something you never think would happen.”

Rapoport’s hypothetical is a hypothetical for a reason, and probably shouldn’t get anyone too worked up. Especially since it feels like a massive stretch.

ESPN’s Adam Schefter is among the many who don’t believe Carter will be on the board when the Patriots are on the clock. The expectation is that New York will select Carter, one of two blue-chip talents in the class, and circle back for a quarterback later on. That’s the reality Patriots fans probably should be living in some 48 hours before the event.

If somehow Carter is on the board, though, it would be a stunner if New England passed on him. Mike Vrabel made it clear the Patriots want to target the best player available, and there isn’t anyone anywhere who thinks Campbell is a better prospect than Carter.