Consolation Prize? How Free Agency Affects New England Patriots' No. 3 Overall Draft Pick

Who will start at quarterback in 2024 for the New England Patriots will be a huge decision for Jerod Mayo ... and the picture is starting to look clearer.

NFL Free Agency frenzy is off and running. A bundle of teams addressed their offseason needs in the open market this week. The plentiful moves will have major impact on the NFL Draft and how the New England Patriots approach it.

It's a new Patriots era after Bill Belichick and New England parted ways after 24 seasons. Jerod Mayo takes over as head coach with arduous task of bringing the Patriots back to relevancy.

Who will start at quarterback in 2024 will be a huge decision for Mayo ... and the picture is starting to look clearer. 

Clutchpoints

After three tumultuous seasons in Foxboro, ex New England quarterback Mac Jones was traded to the Jacksonville Jaguars in a "mutual parting." The Patriots also signed quarterback Jacoby Brissett to a one-year deal, potentially using the veteran as a bridge quarterback to develop a rookie signal-caller. 

All those moves leads to Sports Illustrated's latest mock draft having the Patriots picking North Carolina quarterback Drake Maye with the No. 3 overall pick. 

"This is the rare year where taking the third-best quarterback off the board at this spot is anything but a consolation prize," writes SI. "After trading away Mac Jones for the draft-pick equivalent of a room-temperature lobster roll, and bringing back veteran Jacoby Brissett on a one-year deal, Maye becomes the new quarterback of the future in New England."

Last season with the Washington Commanders, Brissett played in three games and totaled 224 passing yards and three touchdowns. In 2022 with the Cleveland Browns, Brissett appeared in 16 games and started in 11. He threw for 2,680 yards, 12 touchdowns and six interceptions.

Patriots' New Quarterback Jacoby Brissett Better Than Bailey Zappe & Mac Jones?

In two seasons as Tarheels starting quarterback, Maye scored 78 total touchdowns and threw for 7,929 yards. His passer rating was an impressive 157.9 and 149.0. 

In 2023, the New England Patriots finished with their fewest wins since 1992 and missed the postseason for the third time in four years. In comes a wave of change with Mayo, Brissett and possibly ... Maye. 

---