Patriots Remain ‘Open to Anything’ Ahead of NFL Draft

Dan Gartland | Apr 18, 2024

Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

The New England Patriots are keeping their options open as they prepare for next week’s NFL draft.

New England holds the No. 3 pick but is willing to listen to trade offers, either to move up or down, scouting director and de facto general manager Eliot Wolf told reporters Thursday.

”We’re open to anything,” Wolf said. “Moving up, moving down. We’re open for business in 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.”

Wolf added that the team would be comfortable taking a quarterback with its first-round pick but that New England hasn’t decided it will take a QB at No. 3. If that is the route the Patriots end up taking, though, Wolf said that he believes the team has “a solid foundation and a solid system in place” that would make life easier for a rookie quarterback.

The Patriots traded incumbent starter Mac Jones to the Jacksonville Jaguars last month and subsequently signed veteran quarterback Jacoby Brissett in free agency. Bailey Zappe, who started six games under center last season, remains under contract, as does former CFL quarterback Nathan Rourke.