APRIL 19: Outkick’s Armando Salguero notes, to little surprise, New England has yet to receive an offer strong enough to make the team consider a trade-down maneuver. Likewise, Jason La Canfora of the Washington Post adds the expectation around the league remains that the Patriots will stay in place at No. 3 (with McCarthy being “held in very high regard”). It will be interesting to see if teams up their offers to Wolf in the coming days to the point where a high-profile swap gains traction, or if not, which passer New England ultimately prefers.
APRIL 18: Both the Bears (set to select first overall) and Commanders (second) are universally expected to add quarterbacks at the top of the 2024 draft. If the Patriots retain the next selection, they will be well-positioned to do the same, but a move down the order could still be in play. 
During a Thursday press conference, Eliot Wolf – who is in charge of the Patriots’ draft but may not serve as de facto general manager afterwards – confirmed New England has engaged in trade talks centered on the No. 3 pick. The team has been connected to a trade-down maneuver this offseason, but the opportunity to add a potential franchise passer has left many expecting Wolf and Co. to stay put. Of course, much of New England’s final decision will depend on the value of offers made by other QB-needy teams.
A recent report indicated the Patriots’ asking price for the third overall pick will likely be too high for a deal to be worked out, and Wolf confirmed no offer made to date has been sufficient to move down the board. That could change in the coming days, with plenty of teams – such as the Giants, Vikings, Broncos and Raiders – known to be in the market for a Day 1 QB. New England has spent time on a number of prospect passers, and the one chosen at No. 3 could compete for the starting role right away.
Opinions appear to be split in the organization between Drake Maye and J.J. McCarthy, both of whom have visited the Patriots. However, NFL Network’s Peter Schrager notes he feels the Patriots will be “comfortable” adding whichever of Maye or Jayden Daniels is on the board after the Commanders’ selection. The latter is in pole position to be Washington’s choice, something which would leave Maye in place as a strong Patriots candidate.
Wolf added the Patriots are “open for business” in terms of trading up or down during all seven rounds of the draft. While that holds true for all teams to varying degrees, considerable intrigue still surrounds the third overall selection with plenty still to be determined as the countdown to the draft continues.
I wonder how many fans of potential trade up teams are thinking “I hope it’s not us?”
I’m sure this is just the first of many articles of this nature already being drafted.
Wouldn’t they want to trade up? Raiders and Vikings both make sense
I’d say you don’t want to trade up because you’re not taking the 3rd or 4th best player in the draft at #3. Plus, your team is giving up more future assets just to make that reach.
Unless Washington shocks the world at #2, which they could, I don’t see where it makes sense for the oft mentioned trade up candidates to actually trade up.
I think the Chargers should trade up for Marv. Imagine having a top tier WR in a top 3 market.
Good chance he’s there for them at 5
MHJ is clearly #1 but Odunze and Nabers should both be fantastic consolation prizes. I’m not sure the gap between Harrison and the other two is wide enough to warrant moving up.
Writers are desperate for draft headlines. There’s zero chance the Patriots are trading to #2. Absent a Godfather-like offer, the Patriots are taking a QB at #3 and that’s that. But headlines like “Patriots To Do What We All Know They’re Going To Do” doesn’t get clicks. Although I did click the article… soooo…the joke is on me.
Joke is on both of us haha patriots ain’t moving away from No 3
How do you know so definitively? Are you in the room with the decision makers? While it’s mentioned, the focus of this article is trading down, not up anyway.
They aren’t trading back because they have no QB. And this year’s #3 QB will probably be better than next years #1 QB.
And they aren’t trading up to #2 because the Commanders are not going to move off picking their favorite QB not named Caleb Williams. Which appears to be Daniels.
Every year we hear about how great the QB class is and that it’s much better than the following year’s projected class. This isn’t new or different.
Guess you didn’t follow last year at all? The headlines were how there were 4 guys that all had flaws, none had separated themselves and if Williams or Maye were in that class they would easily project higher. CJ did turn into a great story and Richardson flashed, but there’s a reason why we went into this year with a lot of hype for these guys.
I’m hoping it’s the Vikings. If you can extract JJ from them and then get some first picks out of it, you can satiate angry fans.
You give me both Minnesota’s 1’s this year, a 1 next year and Darrisaw and they can have 3.
Shoot, for that haul you can have my number 1s for the next two years.
I’m quasi-joking, but a franchise #1 wideout and a #1 tackle? Isn’t that what you’d hope to get from two #1s anyway?
Williams
Daniels
MARVIN HARRISON JR
Vikings trade up to 4 Maye
The Patriots trading back instead of acquiring the third QB choice would make plenty of sense if you believe as I do that they will be drafting third or higher again next season. They are at least two strong drafts away from being a playoff contender at this point.
I agree 100% with you on that. If they take a QB now, it’s likely going to be two years before there is enough offensive talent around him to evaluate if he has a chance to be good. By then you’re going into year 3 of the rookie contract, and conversations are already starting about the fifth year, and you still don’t truly know what you have.
If I was running the Patriots, I’m trading back. If I can’t find a deal, I’m taking Marvin Harrison Jr at #3 then because I’m getting the best player on the board at #3. I take my QB next year, and he already has someone in place to throw the ball to.
@crosseyedlemon they could get Marvin at #3, and shock the world it’s atleast it safe.
I think he would draw double coverage as the only offensive threat the Patriots have and it’s a rare WR who can thrive on a team with poor QBs.
@crosseyedlemon he has drawn the most double teams in college out of the top 3. Not sure Purdy would be the same qb on the patriots. They definitely need weapons. Some teams are a couple years away and can wait for a qb next year going to make a difference.
Everybody who seems to be a Patriots expert and a Patriots fan seem to forget the most successful timeIn our history was drafting a compensatory pic in the sixth round at number 199 named Tom Brady. I can go on and on about the shortcomings of the supposedly top three quarterbacks in this draft..but it would fall on deaf ears. Brock purdy anybody? Trading down with MN, picking up an extra 1st, and maybe a 2nd or third (,this yr or next)…you draft pennix or nix ( #11)….a top OT in Rd one (#23)…a serious WR at pick 34….go from there…but just a thought.. if you draft a left-handed quarterback, you don’t need a left tackle. You need a strong right tackle which the Patriots have two of right now….JUST SAYING
@patriottony not a pats fan but you can get Marvin and take a gamble on penix or nix rattler
No one forgets about Tom Brady or Brock Purdy. They just aren’t exactly repeatable plans–in Purdy’s case it involves having the best playmakers and best play caller in the league. I still think trading down from three is likely the best strategy for them, but let’s not go crazy. And teams still need two good tackles regardless of quarterback handedness.
JJ will be this year’s Mac Jones. Played on a loaded team, not asked to do too much & will get demolished in the league.
Absolutely agree with you. I don’t see a surefire lock in any of the top so-called five or six quarterbacks… Caleb Williams who heard of…senior QB..painting his freaking nails and crying on mommies shoulder when he loses? Maybe? I’m down south…I have watched him and rattler for 4 yrs in person…big ??? on both of them.
There is no manning…Rodgers, etc etc in this batch of QB. I wouldn’t waste #3 on any of them. Trade down collect capital.
I don’t see a team desperate for a QB moving back in the draft unless they really don’t like Maye or McCarthy(Daniel’s will go second I personally like him over Williams). There are many teams desperate to move up for one of those two but they are teams that would have to offer an absolute haul to get there. I think this is more about a team who always listens to offers because who knows what some desperate gm will offer but at the end of the day the Pats will be picking third come draft day