5:58pm: To little surprise, NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero reports teams around the league believe New England will retain the third overall pick and use it on Maye. That would meet the team’s goal of adding a prospect capable of becoming a franchise passer and fall in line with the way draft winds have been blowing for quite some time. It would also, of course, increase attention on the Cardinals as the first team in position to select a non-QB.
10:34am: With Caleb Williams ticketed for Chicago and Jayden Daniels moving into clear pole position with Washington, where Drake Maye will end up has become perhaps this draft’s top talking point. A number of teams are on the radar for the two-year North Carolina starter, though the Patriots look set to have the right of first refusal.
Expected to come out of the first round with a passer, the Pats hosted Maye on a visit and have done plenty of work on this QB class. While trade-down rumblings have emerged, it does not appear strong offers have come the Pats’ way. They are expected to keep the No. 3 overall pick, and NBC Sports Boston’s Tom Curran believes Maye will be the Pats’ choice — barring a monster trade offer changing their mind. Curran mentions the Giants and Vikings as the teams that could change the Patriots’ mind with a big proposal.
This move would stand to appease ownership, which is taking a more hands-on role during this pre-draft process compared to how things ran under Bill Belichick. Pats ownership seems to carry a “strong preference” Eliot Wolf and Co. leave Round 1 with a quarterback, ESPN.com’s Dan Graziano notes. While rumors of the Pats having Michael Penix Jr. in their back pocket — in the event they trade out of No. 3 — the Washington prospect has since generated buzz about rising into the top 10. That may still be the less likely scenario for the left-hander, but the Pats would be taking a risk if they traded out of No. 3.
The Patriots are believed to, per ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, have Daniels rated ahead of Maye — a ranking we first heard about during the Combine — but that may well be a moot point due to the Commanders holding the No. 2 choice. Washington GM Adam Peters and OC Kliff Kingsbury are believed to be high on Daniels, setting up a Patriots Maye-or-J.J. McCarthy call. Washington is not expected to trade down, much to Las Vegas’ chagrin. Any (likely irrelevant) Daniels preference aside, Fowler adds the Pats still like the upside Maye — who, at 21, is two years younger than the reigning Heisman winner — brings to the table.
Maye met with the Patriots, Commanders and Giants and worked out for the Vikings in Minnesota. In the view of the Boston Globe’s Ben Volin, the 6-foot-4 prospect spoke more glowingly of his Giants meeting compared to how things went in Foxborough. Maye also declined to say if he met with Robert Kraft during his visit. The Giants, who hold the No. 6 pick, employ the play-caller in place when Josh Allen‘s ascent began (Brian Daboll). The Patriots are in transition, with Alex Van Pelt set to work as a regular play-caller for the first time — save for a 2020 Browns-Steelers wild-card game Kevin Stefanski missed due to COVID-19 — in 15 years.
The Giants and Vikings have a vested interest in how the Patriots proceed. The tide has either turned for the Giants in their Maye-or-McCarthy preference, or an elaborate smokescreen operation is afoot. Maye-Giants connections have continued to come out of New York, and ESPN.com’s Jordan Raanan furthers them by offering that the recent Tar Heels standout is indeed the QB — among the options expected to be within their reach — the team covets.
That said, McCarthy chimed in (during an appearance on the Rich Eisen Show) by saying he spent more time with the Giants than any other team during the run-up to the draft. The Michigan prospect joins Maye in receiving intense scrutiny, and while he was more closely tied to the Giants weeks ago, the Broncos have been linked to him more recently. It would be costly for Denver to move up from No. 12 for McCarthy or Maye, though it is interesting Sean Payton‘s team has been more closely tied to the former given the recent rumors tying the latter to New York and Minnesota.
Sitting at Nos. 4 and 5, the Cardinals and Chargers have discussed terms with QB-needy teams residing outside the top three. How the Pats proceed will crystallize the value of those choices. Maye being off the board at 3 could weaken the positions of Arizona and Los Angeles, and hours away from the draft, it looks like that will be the case.
He’s got some concerns–they all do–but I continue to think Maye has much better odds of being a top ten NFL quarterback than anyone in this class but Williams, and by a pretty comfortable margin.
QB Rankings:
1. Williams
2. Maye
3. McCarthy
4. Daniels
5. Nix
6. Penix Jr
7. Rattler
8. Pratt
Lmao in what universe is Daniels behind McCarthy hahahaha
@SentinelATL
Jayden Daniels didn’t have an amazing season until year 5 of college. Most great QBs don’t take that long. He also had a ton of NFL talent around him boosting him. He is like 200 pounds soaking wet and takes way too many hits.
To me you have 2 top talents in Williams and Maye and then the next tier with McCarthy and Daniels. McCarthy never had to carry the Wolverines, but he has a better build and I think the talent is there. He also had more college seasons putting up good performances. I don’t think he was a Heisman candidate any year, but he is younger than Daniels and put up two really good winning seasons. I don’t even like McCarthy I’m a Buckeyes fan but he’s the better prospect.
McCarthy had 2 years as starter and an offensive juggernaught around him as well as a hall of fame coach. That whole “surrounded by nfl” talent can be used for any and everybody. Let’s not pretend at least 15 Michigan players arent getting drafted this weekend. Daniels went up against harder competition and the too many hits thing can be coached. Look at Lamar. Took less hits this year and made it to afc finals. Come on man
Which NFL prospect WR was McCarthy throwing to last year? You could argue their WR corp is middle of the pack in the Big 10 East
Roman Wilson is listed by multiple scouts as a top 8 WR. If not for Nabers and Marvin he’d easily be #3 which is still very impressive
Not much threatening coverage in big 10 but still McCarthy has weapons. A top 5 national running back in Corum as well as playcall genius in Harbaugh. I like McCarthy but he’s not better than Daniels at all
Especially for QB’s, stylistic fit is really important.
Offensive Coordinators want the QB to match the type of offense that they want to run.
As a hypothetical example, Daniels might be #4, but for Washington, he fits their style better than Maye or McCarthy.
In Kliff offense Daniels is number 2 behind Caleb. In a general ranking Daniels is infront of McCarthy every time. His deep ball and pocket escape is way more polished than McCarthy who I still think is solid
I’m switching Penix and Nix but this has the feeling of the 2021 draft a whole lot of bust it’s kinda amazing the similarities this drafts is to that one with so much good WR and o-line depth
At least that class had the excuse of trying to scout in Covid years
McCarthy is overhyped Trash,
Out of all the QB’s that will be drafted in the first round. Who will be a major disappointment in their pro career as far as being that franchise QB?
Williams
“…but the Pats would be taking a risk if they traded out of No. 3”.
I don’t see much risk because they’ll probably be picking in the top 3 again next season, would have added draft capital from moving back now and might be looking at better overall QB options next year.
Very true but the scouting of QBs for next year compared to this year, I hope, has already been done. Too me it seems this year is a better class. Plus there is no guarantee of a top 3 pick. It is likely, but not guaranteed.
If the pats actually draft Maye then they really should draft Walker at some point just look at how much better Tua, Smith, and Burrow got when they got wr they played with in college (ya I know walker isn’t close too any of those wr)
Patriot ownership decisions tainted by Tug job that had sand in the lube making a rash decision.
I think they stay at 3…but the picture of Craft’s face looks like someone in the room farted.
some one asked the question about which QBs would be a major disappointment , seriously all them have degree of talent & the right fit on any certain they would shine & produce . My answer would be any QB going to either the Bears , Denver or New England as those teams have so many holes to fill & the QB picked can not carry that team