New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft opened up a whole can of worms Monday when he passed along a text he received from a famous friend.

Rapper Meek Mill texted Kraft that Baltmore Ravens free-agent quarterback Lamar Jackson wants to play for the Patriots. Kraft’s response was that it’s head coach Bill Belichick’s decision.

Kraft was also complimentary of current Patriots starter Mac Jones to reporters Monday. Belichick wouldn’t confirm that Jones will start over 2022 fourth-round pick Bailey Zappe, though he wouldn’t confirm much during the breakfast assembly.

Patriots retired safety Devin McCourty, one of the most respected leaders in team history, wants the team to check in on a trade.

“You have to make a call and see,” McCourty said Tuesday on ESPN’s “Get Up," via NESN.com. “If you hear Lamar Jackson is interested in playing on your team — this guy won MVP of the league. He’s one of the rare quarterbacks that you say, ‘He’s a guy.’ When he gets out there, he can go change a franchise. So you’ve got to at least call and say, ‘Hey, Baltimore, what’s up? What are we talking about here? What is it going to take?’“

The answer is two first-round picks if the Patriots sign Jackson, who received a non-exclusive franchise tag from the Ravens, to an offer sheet and Baltimore declines to match.

Two first-rounders isn’t necessarily a huge price to pay for the Patriots, but they’d also need to sign him to a hefty contract extension, and that will get pricey. The Patriots have limited salary cap space in 2023 but plenty in 2024 and 2025. They could structure a deal to be backloaded if necessary.

It still seems unlikely that Jackson will be donning a Patriots uniform anytime soon. But Kraft at least opened up the possibility when he brought up the text from Meek Mill.

Featured image via Paul Rutherford-USA TODAY Sports