If the New England Patriots use the No. 3 overall pick on a quarterback, they’ll select Drake Maye or Jayden Daniels, right?
Probably, but a new report suggests the Patriots could make a shocking pick early in the 2024 NFL Draft.
Patriots Could Use Third Pick on Rising QB Prospect
New England met with Maye and Daniels last week while at the 2024 NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis. They also met with Caleb Williams, whom they likely could draft only after trading up for the No. 1 pick.
And all indications are the Patriots came away impressed with all three prospects. However, don’t rule out the possibility of New England drafting J.J. McCarthy with the third pick.
“I also wouldn’t totally dismiss the idea of McCarthy, maybe in a trade-down scenario or even at No. 3,” Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer reported Monday morning.
Coming into the combine, Chicago hoped to finalize its evaluation of Caleb Williams before free agency. The signs point toward a decision in the near future, writes @AlbertBreer in this week's takeaways https://t.co/htZzhFNnEK
— The MMQB (@theMMQB) March 4, 2024
Breer also corroborated other recent reports suggesting the Patriots could pursue pending free agent Baker Mayfield.
“It sounds like the Patriots are exploring all their options at quarterback,” Breer wrote. “So it’s fair to consider Mayfield there.”
J.J. McCarthy Boosted His Draft Stock at the Combine
McCarthy, who led the Michigan Wolverines to a national championship last season, entered the offseason as a presumed second-round pick. At best, he was viewed as a late first-rounder.
But the big-armed QB boosted his stock at the Combine, impressing teams during both interviews and on-field drills. He also measured at 6-foot-2 1/2 and 219 pounds — both of which were better than expected.
From Pro Football Network’s Ian Cummings, who was on-site at the NFL Combine:
“In all of the cosmetic tasks which McCarthy needed to perform well, he performed with aplomb. And in throwing drills, his easy velocity to all ranges of the field was clear. He has a crisp, efficient throwing motion and high-end arm talent. All of these things, in conjunction, made the Combine a success for him.
“Still, accuracy has proven to be an issue for McCarthy at times, especially when throwing to his left. When he had to work across his body at the Combine, he overthrew several targets. There’s still further refinement to undergo, but the 21-year-old’s potential is exciting.”
So, how seriously should we take Breer’s note on McCarthy and the Patriots?
We can’t discount the possibility of sources with ulterior motives trying to boost McCarthy’s stock; that kind of stuff happens all the time. Still, McCarthy checks a ton of Patriots boxes, including leadership, pocket-passing ability, and a likely willingness to learn behind a veteran rather than starting right away.
Patriots Expected To Draft QB With Third Pick
There still is plenty of time for things to change between now and when the NFL Draft starts in late April. New England could receive a trade offer it can’t refuse.
But the expectation is the Patriots will stay at No. 3 and select their next franchise quarterback.
“The Patriots really want to draft a quarterback with the No. 3 pick,” The Athletic’s Jeff Howe wrote last week. “The front office wrapped up its pre-free-agency meetings a week ago and seems to be on the same page that the best way to jump-start this rebuild and yield long-term success is to find a young quarterback in the NFL Draft to build around.”
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Mark Daniels of MassLive shared a similar report.
“According to multiple sources, the Patriots are planning to draft a quarterback with the No. 3 pick,” Daniels wrote last week.
When the dust settles, that quarterback probably will be Maye or Daniels. But keep McCarthy in the back of your mind as the draft nears.
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