So everyone knows I'm a Browns fan and they will always be my #1 team, but over the years I've also developed an affinity for the Patriots. It would be easy to call me a front-runner or whatever but it's really not the case (still don't like the Lakers, Yankees, etc) and it has a lot more to do with how they run their organization and that starts with the draft. I'm not sure whether I want to say Belichick is a genius or he is just taking advantage of other teams' momentary lapses of judgement; it's probably a combination of both.

Some examples just from this draft:

Their #17 overall pick (which easily could have been a top 10 or top 5 selection, lol raiders) came from an aging defensive lineman who wanted a massive retiremente contract.

They trade down from the #28 pick, which is used by NO on a running back, the Pats select a running back with the pick they get in the second round, presumably a bit of a downgrade from a guy like Ingram. For their trouble? A future first round pick of course.

They pick possibly a second shutdown corner (that should be scary for AFC teams) at #33, which they got from Carolina for their 3rd rounder last year. Yeah, nobody could have foresaw the Panthers picking first overall, but they could have won the Super Bowl and it would still be a good trade for the Pats.

In the 3rd round, they pick arguably the best pure passer in the draft, a value in and of itself, but when you consider they got the pick (or one of them) by trading a 34 year old malcontent wide receiver it makes it even more hilarious. Now they can groom a high level backup QB in the short-term, and when the time comes he can be the heir to Brady or they can trade him for some more high picks.

The Pats also trade up a lot more than people realize, presumably targetting specific players that fit their schemes and personality profiles etc. But when they trade up they are giving up mid-late round picks; when they trade down they are picking up 1st, 2nd, and 3rd rounders.

It's all so brilliant.