The 2024 NFL Draft came and went, with new players being added by everyone. This included a first round that featured plenty of shock as well as some picks that didn’t surprise many people. That included the New England Patriots securing their quarterback of the future, Drake Maye.
However, the Patriots reportedly declined some big offers to get him.
Patriots Reportedly Rejected Major Offers To Select Drake Maye
Coming into the draft, the Patriots held the third overall pick, the perfect spot to pick a quarterback.
There was little chance they’d get Caleb Williams, as he was always expected to go to Chicago with the first pick. However, after that, there was then the group of Maye, Jayden Daniels, Michael Penix Jr., J.J. McCarthy, and Bo Nix. As a result, the Patriots were in a good spot to at least land one of those five.
In the end, that turned out to be Maye, with the Washington Commanders taking Daniels second overall.
There were multiple other teams interested in Maye, too, though, even offering big-time trade deals to the Patriots in return for the third overall pick.
According to Mike Reiss of ESPN, both the New York Giants and Minnesota Vikings made offers to move up.
The Giants offered the No. 6 pick and their 2025 first-round pick, while the Vikings offered Nos. 11 and 23 along with a 2025 first-round pick in exchange for the third pick and two mid-round selections from New England.
Ultimately, the Patriots declined both offers and selected Maye, who they believed to be their guy.
“The more exposure we had with Drake, the more comfortable we felt,” said Patriots head coach Jerod Mayo.
Maye’s NFL Potential
Heading into the draft, many considered Maye the best quarterback in the draft, including Pro Football Network Draft Analyst Ian Cummings.
“Maye is my QB1 in the 2024 NFL Draft and a top-three prospect along with Williams and Marvin Harrison Jr.,” said Cummings.
“It’s close between Maye and Williams for QB1, but Maye scored a marginally higher grade from me with his size, athleticism, arm, and leverage IQ,” said Cummings. “Maye and Williams have some differentiating factors within their archetypes.”
Some of Maye’s biggest strengths include his size, athleticism, and arm talent, his ability to push the ball outside the numbers, and his problem-solving ability. His weaknesses include inconsistent footwork, a tall and narrow base, and sometimes forcing throws.
Patriots’ QB Depth Chart
Following the 2024 NFL Draft, the Patriots now have five quarterbacks under contract. Maye is the most notable, as he was selected high. However, the Patriots also selected Tennessee’s Joe Milton III in the sixth round of the draft.
In free agency, the Patriots also brought in veteran Jacoby Brissett, who can compete with Maye for the job as well as teach him and Milton the ropes of being an NFL quarterback.
Brissett signed a one-year, $8 million deal and has thrown for 10,574 yards, 51 touchdowns, and 23 interceptions in eight seasons. He was drafted by the Patriots in 2016.
Finally, there’s also Bailey Zappe and Nathan Rourke, who are returning from the Patriots’ 2023 team.
Zappe started six games, going 2-4 and passing for 1,272 yards, six touchdowns, and nine interceptions.
Rourke has not had any regular season game action, but was a star for the Jacksonville Jaguars during the preseason.