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The NFL Draft kicks off on Thursday and there is a lot of chatter in the source world about the Patriots and what they might do next weekend. 

Here’s what we are hearing.

1.The Patriots like Will Campbell a lot but sources around the league are not convinced they would draft him at four. It is not so much the arm length issue, they like Armand Membou as well and the uncertainty with the Giants at three has them in sort of a holding pattern on going offensive tackle at four.

2.From an organizational standpoint, the Patriots really like this offensive tackle class and there are five to six offensive tackles they would feel comfortable drafting in the first two rounds.

3.Don’t be surprised if the Patriots “draft ahead” in the first two rounds. In other words, they could draft at a position that is not a need now but could be one in a year or two based on the current contracts on the roster. One would think tight end, guard and safety could be three positions to watch. 

4.Speaking of tight end. I’ve been told that while everyone is focused on a wide receiver in this draft, don’t be surprised if the tight end and running back positions are two positions the Patriots could focus on in day two or three.The Patriots met with close to 20 running backs in the pre-draft process.

 5. Nothing on the quarterback front but again, you’d have to think the Patriots will draft one at some point, especially day three. In many ways, drafting a quarterback will go a long way in telling us just how much say and influence Eliot Wolf still has in this organization.

6.As far as trading up or down, no one seems to know what the Patriots will do. From a couple of sources I spoke to, the Patriots have kept things close to the vest. It sounds like if they do put the fourth pick up for sale, it won’t be until this week. This also reinforces what we heard about Mike Vrabel earlier this off-season. One source told me that he’s open to anything but doesn’t like to waste time with “overthinking the draft.” He just wants to pick good players who fit the established culture.