New England Patriots' Trending Toward Quarterback With No. 3 Pick?

The New England Patriots will face a franchise-defining decision when picking at No. 3 overall in the NFL Draft later this month. The evidence leaking out of Foxboro suggests a quarterback is in the cards.

December 31, 2022; Glendale, Ariz; USA; Michigan quarterback JJ McCarthy (9) throws a pass during / Patrick Breen/The Republic / USA TODAY

One doesn't need to be a lead detective to figure out this one. The New England Patriots are stacking up the clues in plain view.

With fewer than three weeks until the NFL Draft, the focus is on the Patriots' plan for the No. 3 overall selection and the signs are pointing toward securing the potential franchise quarterback that they've been missing since Tom Brady left town.

"We can take someone at 3, or if someone offers a bag, as we would say, a lot of first round picks [in a trade], we definitely have to talk about those things," said rookie head coach Jerod Mayo at the league meetings late last month in Orlando.

December 31, 2022; Glendale, Ariz; USA; Michigan quarterback JJ McCarthy (9) throws a pass during / Patrick Breen/The Republic / USA TODAY

Needing to be blown away by the offer to even consider parting ways with the premium draft pick, the Patriots seemingly recognize how important this decision is to the future of the organization. The opportunity to land a Drake Maye or Jayden Daniels doesn't come around every year.

Mayo has already hinted that drafting will play a significant part in rebuilding the Patriots' roster.

"You want to draft and develop. When it's all said and done you want to draft and develop," said Mayo.

If that indeed is the Patriots' motto, one would think they would apply that approach to the most important position on the field and their actions are suggesting they will. While Mayo was speaking in Orlando, de facto general manager Eliot Wolf was home at the team facility preparing for his next move.

New England passing on the chance to draft its next signal caller means the front office is content with heading into the season featuring Jacoby Brissett as QB1. It doesn't appear as if that option is anyone's
top preference.

Then, there's the fact that Mayo led a New England contingent through a four-stop Pro Day tour to evaluate USC's Caleb Williams, North Carolina's Maye, LSU's Daniels and Michigan's JJ McCarthy.

On Friday, Sports Illustrated's Albert Breer reported that the Patriots hosted a "Top 30" prospect visit for Maye with a Daniels meeting slated for Monday and Tuesday. Breer said that McCarthy will make his visit the following week.

There's still the possibility of trading down or using the No. 3 selection on a wide receiver like Marvin Harrison Jr. because we all know the Patriots could use one of those, too. At this point, however, a quarterback seems like the probable pick.