Patriots Draft Plan: NFL Insider Reveals New England 'Leaning'

To trade down or draft a quarterback at No. 3 overall? New England Patriots general manager Eliot Wolf and head coach Jerod Mayo have to decide - but appear to be leaning one direction.

After trudging through a 4-13 season, the New England Patriots hastily answered their biggest question by replacing head coach Bill Belichick with Jerod Mayo.

But now, Mayo and staff are left searching for another critical solution: Quarterback.

As owners of the No. 3 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, the Patriots will have a chance to add a premiere player, though the quarterback dilemma persists.

USC's Caleb Williams and North Carolina's Drake Maye are expected to go off the board at No. 1 and No. 2 overall, with the Chicago Bears and Washington Commanders currently holding those picks.

But after those two, the picture grows murky.

LSU's Jayden Daniels, the reigning Heisman Trophy winner, is considered to be the next in line. Michigan's JJ McCarthy, Washington's Michael Penix Jr. and Oregon's Bo Nix have also generated buzz.

Nov 18, 2023; Baton Rouge, Louisiana, USA; Heisman Trophy candidate LSU Tigers quarterback Jayden Daniels (5) warms up before their game against the Georgia State Panthers at Tiger Stadium / Credit: Matthew Dobbins-USA TODAY Sports

Daniels is the favorite - but is he where the Patriots would go? NFL Network insider Ian Rapoport believes New England ultimately will select a signal caller, be it Daniels or someone else.

"My guess, right now, would be take the best quarterback available," Rapoport said on 98.5 The Sports Hub, via NESN. "Let’s just say, for the sake of argument, that there are two great quarterbacks at the top of the draft, and the next guy is three.

"When else are you gonna be here? Just take him. If you’re taking a quarterback at three (who you think should go at No. 10) - just take him."

Mayo previously hinted at New England drafting a quarterback, saying the team would take the best player at "a position that is very important."

The Patriots currently have three quarterbacks on their active roster - Mac Jones, Bailey Zappe and Nathan Rourke. None are considered long-term answers.

So, isn't the math simple? Won't the Patriots just draft the highest-remaining quarterback?

That appears to be the early lean ... but trading down and accumulating more capital rather than forcing the pick is also an option.

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It all equates to a complex equation for Patriots general manager Eliot Wolf - who's tasked with solving this off-season's most important puzzle.

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