The New England Patriots have up to now held onto the No. 3 total choose within the 2024 NFL Draft regardless of hypothesis and rumors they could commerce down if they don’t seem to be enamored with any of the highest quarterbacks on this yr’s draft. However new head coach Jerod Mayo mentioned on the NFL’s annual conferences Sunday that the Patriots are nonetheless evaluating their choices with their first-round choose and haven’t dominated out a possible commerce down.
 “Clearly, quarterback is certainly a precedence. With that being mentioned, we’re nonetheless open to any kind of offers that come our manner,” Mayo told ESPN. “We’re very far [into] the method, however we nonetheless have a protracted technique to go. Positively really feel like we have now time to actually nail down our prospects in who we’re going to go after.”
All eyes in New England are on Mayo and prime entrance workplace govt Eliot Wolf, who’re taking on for head coach/basic supervisor Invoice Belichick after the long run Corridor of Famer’s 24-year run within the twin position that included all six of the Tremendous Bowl titles in Patriots franchise historical past. Mayo and Wolf had been amongst a number of Patriots staffers current on the professional days of USC’s Caleb Williams and Michigan’s J.J. McCarthy, two of the quarterbacks thought of among the many prime 4 on this yr’s class. The professional days for the opposite two, North Carolina’s Drake Maye and LSU’s Jayden Daniels, haven’t but taken place.
Caleb Williams & Drake Maye in Joel Klatt’s 2024 mock draft 2.0
If the Patriots maintain their choose, they’re prone to choose whichever one in every of Maye or Daniels is just not chosen by the Washington Commanders at No. 2 total, with the Chicago Bears extensively anticipated to take Williams with the primary total choose. As Mayo touched on in his feedback to ESPN, the Patriots have a gap at quarterback after buying and selling struggling 2023 starter Mac Jones to the Jacksonville Jaguars. Proper now, New England has journeyman Jacoby Brisett, in his second stint with the group, atop its quarterback depth chart.
“However … you must actually be in love with the man to take him at No. 3. So actually all of the choices are nonetheless open for us,” Mayo told NFL Media.
Mayo additionally praised Brissett, whom the Patriots initially drafted in 2016, and advised NFL Media the veteran may “completely” be the group’s beginning quarterback subsequent season. Brissett additionally was with the Cleveland Browns in 2022, the place he hung out with new Patriots offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt.Â
Mayo additionally confirmed the group closely pursued free-agent large receiver Calvin Ridley so as to add a dynamic pass-catcher that New England has sorely lacked in current seasons. Ridley wound up signing with the Tennessee Titans on a four-year, $92 million contract with $50 million assured.
If the Patriots do commerce again within the NFL Draft, the New York Giants at No. 6 total and the Minnesota Vikings at No. 11 total appear to be essentially the most logical commerce companions. Minnesota additionally lately added the No. 23 total choose in a commerce with the Houston Texans, giving them one other first-rounder to presumably commerce up with.
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