6:57PM: It was certainly accurate to call this situation murky. After reports earlier today seemed to indicate that New England would stick with their No. 3 overall pick and perhaps explore options other than quarterback, newer reports from the first day of the NFL annual owners meetings see Mayo muddying the waters, according to Mike Reiss of ESPN.
“Obviously, quarterback is definitely a priority,” Mayo told the media. “With that being said, we’re still open to any type of deals that come our way. We’re very far (into) the process, but we still have a long way to go. Definitely feel like we have time to really nail down our prospects in who we are going to go after.”
Patriots director of scouting Eliot Wolf echoed those sentiments, claiming that their decision will factor in how they have the available players ranked and what potential trade offers come in. The popular opinion is that New England will still aim to pursue a passer at No. 3, but if some insane trade offer comes in, the team is willing to listen.
2:11PM: It is widely assumed around the league the Bears and Commanders will use the top two selections in April’s draft on quarterbacks. The latest developments in both cases reinforce that notion, but the situation could be murkier with respect to the Patriots. 
New England owns the No. 3 pick, and with Mac Jones no longer in the fold the team is need of a quarterback addition. Veteran Jacoby Brissett was brought back to potentially serve as a bridge starter, but a long-term investment under center would come as no surprise. When asked about the team’s position, though, rookie head coach Jerod Mayo cautioned the Patriots are not fully committed to using their top selection on a passer.
“It’s the priority right now,” Mayo said in an interview with NFL Network’s Steve Wyche. “But with that being said, you have to really be in love with the guy to take him at No. 3. So really all the options are still open for us.”
New England will likely be left with one member of the Caleb Williams–Jayden Daniels–Drake Maye trio if the team stays put at the third slot. The Patriots may not be sold on the latter, something which could become increasingly relevant if he finds himself as the top passer on the board with New England on the clock and interested suitors willing to move up the order. A trade out of the No. 3 position would nevertheless come as a surprise, however.
ESPN’s Dan Graziano notes confidence grew during the Combine that New England would turn down the opportunity to move back and instead use the third overall pick on a signal-caller. As detailed by Graziano’s colleague Mike Reiss, the Patriots have been among the teams heavily interested in the Pro Days of the 2024 class’ top quarterbacks, something which will continue this coming week. Signs therefore continue to point to a rookie being added, although the presence of Brissett means even a first-round selection may not start right away.
“To get him back in the building is definitely helpful for us,” Mayo said of the latter. “And honestly, look, he could absolutely be our starter this year. We’ll have to see. Like I said, we’re not dead set at taking a quarterback at No. 3, but we do feel good having a guy like Jacoby ready to go.”
New England currently owns seven picks other than No. 3, including the 34th overall selection. The team could have the chance to add a second-tier QB as a result, and with the fourth and fifth picks known to be available a bidding war could develop amongst trade-up candidates. The Patriots’ actions will be worth watching closely as the draft draws nearer.
“New England will likely be left with one member of the Caleb Williams–Jayden Daniels–Drake Maye trio if the team stays put at the third slot.” Likely? What other option is there??
These articles are either written by AI with the input of an imbecile, or the imbecile is allowed to write the article themself.
The only other possible explanation is that Mayo and company are going to pull a Mike Tice era Vikings maneuver and though staying with the 3rd pick, they fail to get it in on time.
You should both learn to read and stop unfairly attacking the author. Since you asked, there are, in fact, 2 other options. If there is not ONE member available, as the author suggested, there could be TWO members or even ALL THREE members. It’s unlikely, but that’s exactly the word the author correctly used – it’s LIKELY that only 1 of the 3 will be available.
Both of you big, bad Internet bullies owe the author an apology.
They should ask for a refund on their subscriptions….oh wait!
The White Knight has arrived.
::: quietly whispering:::
The author is suggesting that either the Bears or Commanders might surprise everyone by either not drafting a QB, or, by trading out of the 1 or 2 spots by trading to a mystery team that might not draft a QB. Though highly unlikely, either outcome would result in the Patriots being able to choose from two of the three.
Then again, there’s even a theoretical, if not real, possibility that the Patriots could elect to trade up into the first or second spot. If either of Chicago or Washington isn’t in love with any of the three, they could get the #3 selection plus an asset from the Pats.
Personally, I think it’s good journalism to not write as if any future outcome can be 100% presumed.
If the Pats don’t like all 3 they SHOULD trade up. When you are THAT close to a top QB in the draft, you should do everything you can (within reason) to get him if you don’t feel strongly about the rest of the QB class.
Otherwise, what? Are they planning to be even worse next year and get the 1st or 2nd pick?
Has anyone seen Bob Kraft or that other cheap prick in Boston John Henry is the same room? Both seem to be worried about the brand and making bottom line than anything. Life time Sox and Patriots fan struggling with ownership direction. Pats have how much left in cap space? Burning cash ? Full throttle?
The dynasty who knew it was fiction. RKK go eat a bag of dicks or better yet get busted getting a TUG job u dumb &@;(:
You’re gone. I hate the Pats, but between them and the RS, they win a championship every two years.
They’re not fooling anyone
The problem with this scenario isn’t whether the love him or not, it’s can they stand to watch another team use him to win a division. And since grading QB’s is crap shot, they’re most likely going to take him even if they’re not 100%.
Love the way teams keep turning to Brissett and pumping him up and then realizing….oh crap, he’s not very good and we’re going nowhere with him.
He’s a backup. Relax.
In summary, maybe they trade down and maybe they don’t?
Simply draft the Best Player available… MHJr. and then target a QB in the next two rounds. Nix or Pennix should be available.
By “latter” I assume we’re discussing the last option in the Williams-Daniels-Maye trio? There’s a 100% chance that one of the three will still be on the board, but I think that Mayo at least spoke the perfect truth. Quarterback is a priority, but you have to love the guy to take him at 3. Would the Patriots take Daniels or Maye simply because they need a QB, without caring which it is? Taking a player just because you need the position essentially states that you consider all players at that spot as being the same.
Personally, I’m very, very low on Daniels. I’m not particularly high, though not particularly low, on Williams, and lukewarm on Maye, but my own opinions aside, I would only take one of them if I believed in his skillset. Taking a quarterback just because you need a quarterback can set you back a long time (Zach Wilson and the Jets are a recent example). I get that you want to use the pick while you have it, because you might not again, but having the right place in line doesn’t guarantee that your pick will be right.
Wow, a person that’s low on Daniels. I thought I was the only one. I dare say anything aloud, but here goes. He’s of course very athletic, very accurate and incredibly mobile. BUT…
All his film shows him out of the pocket, he doesn’t scramble to stay in the pocket like Caleb, he hits the F it button and relies on running. At that point no OC can plan and defenses are going to get used to that. They’ve been doing so since the advent of the 21st century dual threat QB. I want a QB that can’t run so they have to manage things PRE-SNAP, audible, sharpen their reads and manage the pocket.
The other thing that really bothers me about him is how long it takes for his passes to get to receivers in that 10-20 yd spectrum. His passes float like…3–4 Mississippi. LOL They’re way accurate, but the only person I can remember that gets away with birds like that is Peyton Manning (age 38).
I don’t know how that’s going to translate to rocket sped NFL. At #2 overall, give me Stafford, Allen, like…a fingertip gunner with pocket brains.
I think Caleb is very solid, but as far as the rest of them go they all are a flip of the coin and speak more to the teams needs. As a Broncos fan, I’d be fine with JJ or Nix just to take a chance. But I’m not hot on Daniels.
Sorry for the diatribe, but that’s been on my mind a while amidst the draft fervor.
I am not high on Daniels either. however, everything you said about him is exactly what everyone was saying about Jackson. just saying.
I hear ya. If he can play at that level, he’d better go to a team that handles him better than the Bears handled Justin Fields because Jackson requires a completely different setup.
Also, I honestly think Jackson is more unique than most and will be compared to any QB with running talent in subsequent drafts as well for years to come.
Got a feeling the Patriots will be drafting in the top 5 for a few more drafts after this so they don’t really need to rush for a quick fix. We’ve seen what happens when teams stick a rookie QB behind a dismal OL so that is not the approach to take.
Trade down, collect picks, and let someone else reach.
Williams can probably start day 1. The others need to sit a year or two and learn the NFL game. Why can’t people see this?
isnt that what Brissett is for? Why cant people see this?