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Bruce Clark breaks down who the New England Patriots could select with the No. 3 pick in the 2024 NFL Draft.
The last time the New England Patriots drafted within the top three in the NFL Draft was in 1993 when they drafted Drew Bledsoe. Thirty-one years later, the Patriots find themselves near the top of the draft again and equally need a quarterback. However, New England also requires many other positions, making the third pick this year's most intriguing draft position.
Having once been the model of stability, the Patriots are now somewhat unpredictable. Jerod Mayo has taken over head- coaching duties, and Eliot Wolf is now New England's de facto general manager, both replacing Bill Belichick's role. We do know that they are leaking to the media that they are very impressed with the quarterbacks in the class this season, and we also know they have many other holes to be filled.
The options available to New England are outlined briefly below. The options are not listed in order of likelihood -- odds are significantly more likely for Option 1 and Option 3 over Option 2. However, I would be doing a disservice if I didn't include a separate non-QB or non-trade option.
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Option 1: Draft a Quarterback
REPORT
Per: @AdamSchefter
“The Patriots, slated to pick No. 3, also have been fielding calls from teams. It would take a big offer for New England to move off that spot knowing it needs to come out of Round 1 with a quarterback, but the team has listened. And the Vikings,… pic.twitter.com/i9ADBsnaSv
— Savage (@SavageSports_) April 22, 2024
The Patriots have moved on from their most recent first-round quarterback, Mac Jones, who had a miserable past two seasons after showing some promise as a rookie in 2021. There's no doubt that New England needs some stability at the quarterback position moving forward. In 2022 and 2023, Patriots quarterbacks combined for 35 passing touchdowns and 35 interceptions, the second-worst TD-INT ratio in the league in that span.
Perhaps the most obvious decision the Patriots can make in this draft class is to take a quarterback; it's just a matter of which quarterback best fits the Patriots. It's a foregone conclusion that Caleb Williams will be a Bear at the end of the week and that Washington will be headed by either Drake Maye or Jayden Daniels for the 2024 season.
That would allow New England to take whoever Washington passes on between Maye and Daniels or even take always-on-the-rise J.J. McCarthy. Current betting odds on DraftKings have UNC's Maye as a pretty substantial favorite to go third overall at -300... though it may not be to the Patriots.
Option 2: Draft a Non-Quarterback
Marvin Harrison Jr. ➡️ Patriots❓@PJGlasser9 feels that New England should take the BEST player on the board and that's Maserati Marv. 🏈 pic.twitter.com/tkzY0Bffms
— BetQL (@betqlapp) April 18, 2024
The discourse surrounding the Patriots' draft-day decision seems to be focused on the mediocre roster that is currently constructed, leading many to speculate that a quarterback isn't the wisest investment for the team. Should New England pass on taking a quarterback at pick No. 3, it will have the pick of the litter for all non-quarterback blue-chippers.
Should New England opt to stick and pick while skipping out at the quarterback position (both quite unlikely), the clear-cut option is Marvin Harrison Jr. The Ohio State wideout has the total package to succeed in the NFL, and the Patriots' wide receiving corps would dramatically improve with his addition. Punting on the QB position may allow a quarterback they draft next season to have a certified stud receiver to help with meaningful development, something they cannot say this year.
Option 3: Don't Draft at Third Overall
.@AdamSchefter says the #Patriots have received “plenty of calls” to trade back, but Drake Maye is likely the third QB off the board regardless.
"The question is whether New England would stay there…
Maye stacks up right now as the third quarterback…”pic.twitter.com/bKYmS5Wj6N
— Carlos Talks Pats (@LosTalksPats) April 16, 2024
The most likely option outside of snagging either Maye or Daniels is allowing another team to pick one of those quarterbacks. As mentioned above, the miserable roster in New England may be enough to have the team-builders ponder taking on considerable draft capital by trading down for future draft picks.
Rumors have been swirling about multiple teams (specifically the New York Giants and Minnesota Vikings) being interested in trading a substantial amount for the opportunity to take a quarterback with the third pick, which may be what the Patriots need moving forward.
All indications seem to suggest New England being satisfied staying at the third pick, so do not be surprised if the answer to the title question is Drake Maye or Jayden Daniels -- though draft day will be an exciting one to see if any other options creep up.
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