Tom Brady’s choice for his draft heir got Bill Belichick to crack

Lamar Jackson hopes to begin a long and accomplished NFL career beginning Thursday night at the draft, but he may have his biggest feat already wrapped up. The Louisville quarterback had a pair of pre-draft visits with the Patriots, including a trip to their facility, where he met with the typically stern head coach. “We were just talking, having a conversation and he was just giggling,� said Jackson, who didn’t remember how he got Belichick to crack. While Jackson is not in the group of the top-four quarterbacks — Josh Allen, Sam Darnold, Baker Mayfield and Josh Rosen — bunched at the top of most draft boards, his stock has seemed to rise recently with more reports linking him to the Patriots, who have picks No. 23 and 31.