2018 NFL Draft Rumors: Patriots Viewed as 'Team to Watch' for Trade Up for QB

The New England Patriots reportedly remain interested in potentially trading up in the first round of the 2018 NFL draft to select a top-tier quarterback prospect. 

On Wednesday, Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network reported the Pats are still a "team to watch" for a deal to get in range for a QB when the draft kicks off Thursday night at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas.

Although the Patriots' rumored interest in trading up for a quarterback has always felt more like a smokescreen than a legitimate plan of attack, the speculation has persisted through the eve of the draft.

It's unclear why New England would sacrifice a major chunk of its draft capital, which includes the Nos. 23 and 31 overall picks in Round 1, to select a player who's going to sit behind Tom Brady for an undetermined period of time.

Last May, the Pats' 40-year-old starting QB told Ian O'Connor of ESPN.com he's planning to play at least until his mid-40s when asked about possibly playing until he turns 50:

"If you said 50, then you can say 60, too, then 70. I think 45 is a pretty good number for right now. I know the effort it takes to be 40. ... My love for the sport will never go away. I don't think at 45 it will go away. At some point, everybody moves on. Some people don't do it on their terms. I feel I want it to be on my terms. I've got to make appropriate choices on how to do that, how to put myself in the best position to reach my long-term goals."

Nevertheless, the Patriots have been linked to just about all of the notable quarterbacks in this year's loaded class at the position during the draft process.

That includes information that the team met with University of Louisville's Lamar Jackson a couple weeks ago, coming away from the visit "intrigued and impressed," per Rapoport.

All told, the Patriots do have the ammunition to push toward the top half of the first round if they want target a quarterback. It doesn't feel like the best use of resources for a championship contender with other holes to fill, including left tackle and defensive end, and Brady under center, though.