FOXBORO, Mass. — Eliot Wolf, the de facto general manager of the New England Patriots, held a pre-NFL Draft news conference on Thursday. He said a lot and was refreshingly open about how the Patriots will approach their first draft in the post-Bill Belichick era.
But let’s focus on the No. 3 pick, which has generated immense speculation and rumor-mongering ahead of the draft. Three of Wolf’s more revealing quotes were about the pick and what New England might do with it.
Will the Patriots Keep or Trade the No. 3 Pick?
This is one of the NFL‘s top questions ahead of the 2024 NFL Draft. The Patriots need a new franchise quarterback, but their roster, in its current state, also might not be ready for a young QB.
Some believe New England would be better off trading the pick and gathering additional assets to accelerate its rebuild. The Minnesota Vikings reportedly want to move up to No. 3. And they probably aren’t alone.
Head coach Jerod Mayo and owner Robert Kraft both recently expressed a preference for selecting a QB but acknowledged a trade might be best for the franchise.
“We sit in a very enviable spot at three where we could take someone at three, or, if someone offers a ‘bag’ … a lot of first-round picks, we’d definitely have to talk about those things,” Mayo said in March.
But how does Wolf feel about it? Though not technically the Patriots’ GM, he’s their top personnel decision-maker.
“Ongoing,” Wolf said when asked about pre-draft trade discussions. “We’re open to anything — moving up, moving down. We’re open for business the first round and in every round. We have some holes we feel like we need to fill in the draft. We’re a draft-and-develop team; the more picks we have, the better.
“But if there’s an opportunity to move up and strike if the board recommends it, then we won’t be afraid to pull the trigger on that either.”
#Patriots executive Eliot Wolf on holding the No. 3 pick:
“We’re open for business… We have a lot of holes to fill through the draft and we feel the more picks we have the better.”
Wolf also said the team can keep the No. 3 pick and not draft a QB. pic.twitter.com/uwxM6YbVkb
— uSTADIUM (@uSTADIUM) April 18, 2024
Ultimately, drafting a quarterback feels like the most likely outcome for the Patriots.
One of Caleb Williams, Drake Maye, or Jayden Daniels is guaranteed to be available at No. 3. All three have franchise QB potential, and the Patriots can’t assume they’ll ever be in this position again.
Yet, if the right move presents itself, don’t be surprised if the Patriots turn into one of the more active teams on draft night.
How Do the Patriots View the Top QB Prospects?
Williams is going first overall to the Chicago Bears. Everyone knows it. So, the Patriots will have their pick of Maye, Daniels, or the fast-rising J.J. McCarthy at No. 3.
However, an interesting moment arrived when Wolf was asked whether the Patriots were confident they wouldn’t be “settling” by selecting any of the three QBs.
“Yeah, I think that’s fair,” Wolf said. “And I think you could open it up to some other names as well. I think it’s a really unique year.”
Wolf also was asked for his thoughts on Maye and McCarthy, specifically.
“The best thing is hearing what their teammates say about them,” he said. “They’re both very well thought of by all their teammates. … It’s just hearing how impressive they are as teammates, as people, as leaders.
” … I know you singled out two of them. … I think it’s a unique year. I’d say that’s been impressive with all six of these quarterbacks that are kind of the top guys.”
We’re filling in the blanks, but Wolf seemingly was referring to Michael Penix Jr. and Bo Nix, the latter of whom recently went to New England on a 30 visit. Neither are viewed as candidates to be drafted in the top five or even the top 10, but Wolf praising both could fuel speculation about the Patriots trading down and selecting a QB later in Round 1.
Wolf also was asked whether the team is targeting a QB who could start right away or one who might be more talented but needs additional seasoning.
“It’s a long-term decision,” he said it. “That’s the best way to characterize it. We look at upside. … We have positions where we think we need to supplement now, kind of plug-and-play-type players. And we have other positions where we feel like we can draft and develop those people.
“As far as the way we have them rated, I prefer to not really get into that at this point, at quarterback or at any other position.”
Wolf sounded like someone who wants to select a quarterback sometime next week. But he left all options open, including one that would be a total stunner.
Are the Patriots Locked In on QB for the No. 3 Pick?
This exchange occurred midway through Wolf’s presser:
Reporter: Whether you stay at three or move somewhere, do you feel like quarterback has to be the pick?
Wolf: No.
Reporter: Would you be comfortable using the No. 3 pick on one of the top three or four quarterbacks?
Wolf: I think we’d be comfortable with it.
Eliot Wolf was asked if he feels like quarterback has to be the #Patriots pick in the first round — he had a quick response:
“No.” pic.twitter.com/AEEhNtRAtn
— Carlos Talks Pats (@LosTalksPats) April 18, 2024
Obviously, we should take all of these comments with a grain of salt. Wolf isn’t going to put all of his cards on the table, and he, like all executives, is calculated with his remarks on the draft.
Nevertheless, the Patriots drafting someone other than a quarterback at No. 3 is a fascinating proposition. You easily could argue for New England drafting a receiver like Marvin Harrison Jr., or even tackle Joe Alt, before addressing QB later in the draft.
KEEP READING: Ranking the Patriots and Other QB-Needy Teams
Thankfully, all of these mysteries will be solved next Thursday night.