Three quarterbacks are anticipated to be selected by New England with the third overall pick: LSU’s Jayden Daniels, UNC’s Drake Maye, and USC’s Caleb Williams.
Some members of the New England Patriots’ staff believe that holding the No. 3 overall pick in the NFL Draft puts the team in a favorable position. According to reports from the Boston Herald, several staff members consider all three top quarterback prospects—Caleb Williams from USC, Drake Maye from UNC, and Jayden Daniels from LSU—as deserving of a top-three selection. While Williams is still widely seen as the top quarterback in the draft, evaluators within the Patriots’ staff expressed contentment with the prospect of acquiring any of these three quarterbacks with their No. 3 overall pick.
During the combine, the Patriots conducted formal interviews with all three quarterbacks, as well as with J.J. McCarthy from Michigan and Bo Nix from Oregon. The next steps in the evaluation process for the Patriots involve attending pro days and extending invitations to selected players for “top 30” visits at Gillette Stadium.
One source mentioned that Maye, who is anticipated to be chosen around the second or third overall pick, left a positive impression on the team during his formal interview.
Maye himself reciprocated the sentiment, stating, “Yeah, I was really impressed with them. Being in there, New England is obviously a great sports town. And the meeting with them, I thought it went well. New England is a great spot.”
The UNC quarterback, recognizing the greater relevance of his 2022 tape over his 2023 performance due to UNC’s offensive changes and the departure of key playmakers, conveyed his congratulations to Coach Jerod Mayo on his recent promotion during his meeting with the Patriots.
For the USC quarterback, a potential top pick, the prospect of landing with the Patriots seemed positive following a meeting that included discussions with de facto general manager Eliot Wolf, Coach Mayo, and offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt. Expressing satisfaction, the USC QB mentioned, “The Patriots were cool,” highlighting the relatively small and focused meeting room. The discussion primarily revolved around football matters, delving into questions about his life and the game itself.
Despite being too young to witness the Patriots’ initial dynasty, quarterbacks Maye, Williams, and Daniels all acknowledge the team’s legacy of success. Daniels expressed his admiration for the Patriots’ history, acknowledging the challenge of living up to Tom Brady’s accomplishments but expressing excitement about the prospect of contributing to the team’s resurgence.
Meanwhile, quarterback McCarthy, though appreciated within the organization, doesn’t seem to be a consideration for the Patriots’ third overall pick. Despite this, McCarthy described his interview with the Patriots as “amazing.”
The New England Patriots find themselves in dire need of quarterback assistance, particularly in light of the struggles faced by their 2021 first-round pick, Mac Jones, over the past two seasons. With Jones potentially on the move this offseason, having posted a 2-9 record as a starter in 2023, sources at the combine suggest the Patriots could secure a fifth- or sixth-round pick in return through a trade.
Bailey Zappe, who managed a 2-4 record in six starts, remains under contract and could be retained as a backup option for the roster. The team’s pursuit of a solution at quarterback centers around the impressive performances of prospects like Jayden Daniels, last season’s Heisman winner. Daniels demonstrated his versatility by completing 72.2% of passes for 3,812 yards with 40 passing touchdowns and minimal interceptions, coupled with an impressive 1,250 rushing yards and 10 touchdowns. Similarly, Caleb Williams, the 2022 Heisman winner, showcased his skills by completing 68.6% of passes for 3,633 yards with 30 touchdowns, along with 11 rushing scores in 2023. Drake Maye, completing 63.3% of passes for 3,608 yards with 24 touchdowns and displaying a dual threat with 582 rushing yards and nine touchdowns, is also under consideration.
In a strategic move to bolster their financial flexibility, the Patriots released cornerback J.C. Jackson, freeing up over $13 million in cap space and establishing themselves as the NFL team with the most cap space, boasting over $101 million to spend this offseason, as reported by OverTheCap.com. This maneuver follows the Patriots’ acquisition of Jackson and a seventh-round pick from the Chargers last season, a move prompted by the loss of rookie cornerback Christian Gonzalez to a season-ending torn labrum.
Meanwhile, in a clear signal of organizational change, the Washington Commanders released starting left tackle Charles Leno and tight end Logan Thomas, parting ways with two veteran players in their 30s as the new regime takes charge of the organization.