Patriots 'Real Interest' in Drafting Will Levis'; Coach Bill Belichick Trading QB Mac Jones?

If the Patriots have "real interest" in drafting Will Levis, with some "important folks" believing in him, doesn't that indicate a lack of "belief'' in Mac Jones?

The New England Patriots are either bluffing their way to confounding some of their foes in this week's NFL Draft ... or are maybe a bit confounded themselves.

The all-out devotion to young quarterback Mac Jones is already shaky enough and now along comes not only a late-last-week visit to Foxboro from draft prospect Will Levis, but also word that the Bill Belichick-led Patriots have "real interest'' in the Kentucky QB.

New England, which is presently slated to pick at No. 14, might've on paper had a crack at Levis as of a few weeks ago. Suddenly, though, he is in the conversation as a top-four pick in this draft, with some thinking - probably wrongly - that he's neck-and-neck with Alabama's Bryce Young as a candidate to be taken No. 1 overall by the Carolina Panthers.

But even short of that ... according to NFL Network's Mike Giardi, the Patriots have that "real interest" in Levis, adding that some "important folks" believe in him. And if they "believe'' in Levis ... doesn't that indicate a lack of "belief'' in Mac Jones?

There are Mac Jones trade rumors, of course, but know this: Right now, as the NFL Draft approaches, picks are gold. Non-established vets are not. So the Mac Jones trade value is literally at an all-time low. So ...

On the one hand, maybe Mac will get "toughened up'' by being put through this grinding process. This is a challenging business; if he can't take the challenge of rumors about replacements, maybe he's not the right guy for the job.

On the other hand, New England surely also needs to be mindful of the proper care and feeding of a kid who made the Pro Bowl as a rookie. We don't think Levis is going to be available in the middle of this draft (ironically right about at the same spot where the Patriots made Mac Jones the No. 15 pick two years ago), which makes us wonder why Bill Belichick is bothering with this exploration ... and which makes us wonder not what it might do to "Levis as a Patriot'' but rather about what it might do to "Mac as a Patriot.''

Mac Jones Should 'Ask for Trade' from Patriots, Says ESPN

Follow Patriots Country on Twitter and Facebook

Want the latest in breaking news and insider information on the Patriots? Click Here

More Patriots coverage from Sports Illustrated here.