Did the Patriots want to trade up for Baker Mayfield?

The agent for Baker Mayfield says if the quarterback hadn't been chosen No. 1 by the Browns, the Patriots were interested in trading up to No. 2 to draft him.

MORE PATRIOTS - PERRY: Some final thoughts on the draft

Speaking on a podcast with Andrew Brandt, the former NFL executive who writes for Sports Illustrated's MMQB and The Athletic, Mayfield's agent Jack Mills said the Patriots would have selected Mayfield had they pulled off the trade with the Giants for the No. 2 pick. The Patriots discussion is 28 minutes into the podcast.

From podcast with Jack Mills, agent for @bakermayfield: "We knew that the Jets at 3 was the bottom line. We had another team that said 'you may get a big surprise on draft day at number two if he is available.' And that team was... the Patriots": https://t.co/b7oCfoc83t
— Andrew Brandt (@AndrewBrandt) May 1, 2018

According to NBCSportsBoston's Mike Giardi, Pats offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels was enamored with Mayfield, the closest thing to Jimmy Garoppolo in this draft, according to a team source.

Repeated rumblings that McDaniels was lusting for the player. https://t.co/qhthEw1Q1B
— Mike Giardi (@MikeGiardi) May 1, 2018

At least 2 AFC East teams were told by Mayfield's camp that the Pats were hunting for the Oklahoma QB. Just spoke to a team source who said Mayfield was the closest thing to Garoppolo in this draft.
— Mike Giardi (@MikeGiardi) May 1, 2018

The Patriots did meet with Mayfield a week before the draft, but, according to the MMQB's Albert Breer, they had sought a meeting earlier in the draft before New England had acquired the No. 23 pick.

So this can be told now ... @RobertKlemko and I were told the Pats tried to set up a visit with Mayfield early in the process. Baker's camp said no. New England then acquired the 23rd pick from the Rams, circled back, and that's when last week's meeting with the Pats was set up. https://t.co/cLpDF6N24u
— Albert Breer (@AlbertBreer) May 1, 2018

It's unclear what the Giants, who chose Penn State running back Saquan Barkley at No. 2, would have demanded from the Patriots (more than two firsts and two seconds?), but the trade would have shaken up the draft board, the NFL and more than likely, New England's incumbent QB who Monday said "I take the fifth" when asked if he was appreciated by his coach and team.

The Patriots did draft a quarterback 217 picks after No. 2 when they selected LSU's Danny Etling in the seventh round.