MARCH 1: Providing a rebuttal to the MassLive report, Andrew Callahan and Doug Kyed of the Boston Herald write that no multi-step plan has been agreed upon and communicated throughout the Patriots’ organization. Nevertheless, they corroborate the overwhelming expectation around the league that New England will keep the No. 3 pick and use it on a quarterback of the future. The team’s actions aside from taking that route will of course be interesting to follow.
FEBRUARY 29: With a new regime in place and the opportunity to add a franchise passer in the draft, the Patriots will be a team to watch closely as the offseason unfolds. Trading out of the No. 3 slot remains a possibility, of course, but New England could favor remaining near the top of the board and adding one of the top signal-callers in the 2024 class. 
The Patriots have “explored their options” with respect to free agent quarterbacks, Chad Graff and Jeff Howe of The Athletic report (subscription required). It remains the team’s preference, however, to make a long-term investment at the position through the draft, they add. Caleb Williams is likely to go first overall (provided the Bears move on from Justin Fields), which will leave the Commanders and Patriots with Drake Maye and Jayden Daniels to choose from in the second and third slots.
The Athletic report confirms Eliot Wolf – now in charge of roster decisions – values QB traits which align with Maye and Daniels. It adds that the second tier of passers in this year’s class (J.J. McCarthy, Bo Nix and Michael Penix Jr.) could each be off the board by the next time New England picks at 34th overall. That could provide further incentive to remain at No. 3 and take the top available signal-caller.
Providing further detail on the subject, MassLive’s Karen Guregian and Chris Mason report the Patriots have a three-step plan in place at the QB spot. They corroborate that the first of those steps is selecting a passer third overall, although the second phase involves signing a veteran in free agency. The addition of a bridge option like Gardner Minshew, Jacoby Brissett or Ryan Tannehill would allow the newly-drafted rookie to begin his career on the sidelines. The Packers (with whom Wolf spent considerable time prior to his Patriots tenure) have allowed first-round quarterbacks to sit behind established starters in the case of both Aaron Rodgers and Jordan Love, though New England’s situation will of course be different if an experienced option arrives via free agency.
With respect to Mac Jones, the Athletic report confirms a trade is seen around the league as something which would represent the best outcome for both team and player. The former first-rounder has struggled over the past two seasons, and moving on would allow him to attempt to re-build his value in a new environment. Guregian and Mason note a Jones trade is indeed the final step in the Patriots’ plan for the offseason.
After bottoming out during Bill Belichick‘s final season at the helm of the franchise, the Patriots have a number of other roster holes to consider filling in free agency and the draft. Seen as being much more than one quarterback away from contention, a move down the board would yield extra draft capital and likely allow for an addition at the receiver or tackle spot. If the team’s evaluation of Maye and Daniels checks out in the coming weeks, though, it would come as no surprise if one of them ultimately became New England’s top option.
Belichick’s evaluation of the 2024 class produced an affinity for Daniels, NFL Network’s Bridget Condon reports (video link). While that is essentially a moot point with Wolf and new head coach Jerod Mayo now tasked with overseeing New England’s rebuild, it will be interesting to see if their examination of the top prospects yields a similar conclusion. In any case, the Patriots remain on track to have at least one new face in the QB room in 2024.
This is very simple. Draft Maye or Daniels, whichever one is still available.
And then we will find out the real stud was drafted in round 4
I like the idea of taking a QB at 3 and benching him the first year.
Obviously the team needs more than a QB to get back in to contention which would lead to poor development in his first year.
Teams seem to underestimate the power of the bench year for rookie QBs. I think we can all agree that the best QBs of recent years have been Tom Brady, Aaron Rodgers, and Pat Mahomes. What do they all have in common? Benched year one.
One of those guys sat behind a hall of famer. One of those guys sat behind a very good veteran while also being developed by a hall of fame offensive coach. One of those guys sat behind a very good veteran and is the greatest outlier in NFL history.
Over that same time span, plenty of really good QBs have started immediately. Josh Allen and Joe Burrow come to mind among recents.
Your point is well taken about the team needs, though. I wonder if New England wouldn’t be better off trying to trade down in the top ten and still landing either one of the top three receivers or top two tackles. That’s if they’re not completely sold on Daniels (which I think a lot of people won’t be).
The plan for Josh Allen was to sit behind Peterman, but that changed in the first game (against Baltimore) after Peterman posted a 0.0 passer rating in the first half. It pays to have a quality veteran leading the offense with a rookie QB
Don’t forget Love. He sat and learned behind Rodgers. Came on strong midway through the season for GB.
Drafting a QB in the first round and sitting him for three years isn’t exactly a repeatable plan, and he sat behind a hall of famer.
I’m piggybacking off what futuregm12 said: Mahomes, Brady, & Rodgers all sat and learned. Sure Love sat longer, but saw 2 MVP season’s up close. GB stumbled at the start of the season, but they clearly found a solid groove half way through the season and almost beat 9’ers in the playoffs.
Meanwhile recently #1 drafted QB’s Young, Trevor L, K Murray, & Mayfield started their 1st season and not much to show for it, other than big contracts. Add in the rest of the top 5 drafted QB’s and I bet 80% don’t stick w/ their original team.
Lawrence had some drop issues, some offensive line issues, and some injury issues this year. I don’t think he needed to sit. I also think a lot of guys actively need the reps more than they need to sit. It’s not a one size fits all thing. Sitting was definitely what Love needed. In this year’s draft, I think McCarthy will for sure need to sit at first, but I think that’s less true for Williams. I think he might need to learn some lessons the hard way in game action (and I say that as someone who thinks he’s the slam dunk number one pick and a future star).
I agree it’s not a one size fits all. But sitting and just learning how the pro game and life works is important. It’s a huge change from college then add in tens of millions of dollars….
Trevor has been good, but not generational. Not even close. Jacksonville isn’t in a rush to sign him this offseason. That’s been stated by the GM.
As for Williams, I take the exact opposite opinion. He reminds me of Manzel. Cocky and won’t come close to living up to #1 hype (yes I know Mazel went later in round 1). Top 25 D’s humbled him throughout his college career. He feasted on nobody teams.
Straight from google: In games where Caleb Williams played across his entire college career, his teams are 6-8 (42%) against ranked foes.
Don’t give me ‘he doesn’t play D stance’. Heisman and #1 QB’s win those games, not be under .500.
We’ll see though.
I don’t care about college wins and losses as they pertain to prospecting a QB. Mahomes had a losing season his last year (also with Kliff Kingsbury calling plays–good luck with that Dan Quinn!).
It sounds like Williams rubs you the wrong way. That’s fine. The Manziel comp is way over the top to me. Manziel was arrested on multiple charges, had substance problems, and had other behavioral issues. He was also a smaller, less talented player with more red flags on the field. Throwing prayers to Mike Evans made him look a lot better. Turns out that guy is really good.
I’m not worried that Williams is cocky. He certainly has some maturing to do on the field, and probably off it, but he also has very rare ability, and he’s shown it enough for me to believe in him. I think he’s a higher upside and much higher probability QB prospect than Maye or Daniels.
I hope you’re right. Until someone else steps up, it’s Mahome’s NFL world. He needs QB competition.
Year one for Stroud was certainly auspicious. Maybe Harbaugh can properly build around Herbert. Hopefully Buffalo and Cincinnati have some better injury luck. But yeah, Mahomes and Reid with a couple of other hall of famers on the team is pretty hard to unseat.
As an OU alum, I watch plenty of Sooner games and saw exactly what you described. Started to dread nationally televised games because of it.
I was nowhere close to surprised when he followed Riley to USC.
I’m also in the camp behind Chicago trading #1 again if they can get draft capital and a player like they did last year
Are you talking about Rodgers or Love?
Steelers used the same year 1 strategy with Roethlisberger until T Maddox got hurt. Worked out well for them.
I like the idea of the Patriots trading back from pick 3…especially if they are just going to have that guy hold a clipboard for a year. They will be a bad team again this season and might be drafting even higher than 3 next year. Next years draft might offer better QB prospects as well. New England has major holes to fill so there is no need for them to rush for a quick fix (which usually don’t work anyway).
I don’t watch college football, but everything I’ve read says that next year’s QB class isn’t impressive. Of course, things change very quickly.
One vet that people keep forgetting (granted he hasn’t been cut yet but rumors say he will be) it Russell Wilson so if they bring in a vet he should be the number one option he seems like a great player to help a young rookie and not being a whiny brat
I haven’t seen anything that would indicate Wilson would be anything other than a whiny brat. Did you miss his behavior in Denver? He’s a diva, married to a has been diva, and both are attention whores. I wouldn’t let that mediocre washed up QB anywhere near a team.
Define washed. Over 3K yards and a 26:8 TD ratio with a dog crap team and an extremely overpaid and overrated head coach doesn’t scream ‘washed’ to me.
While he is a major diva and unlikable, washed isn’t a word I’d describe him as. 2022 was an anomaly, and most likely a Hackett issue..
I’d take him over Pickett here in Pgh any day.
Draft MHJr. and Trade for Fields or if Junior isn’t there at 3…. Trade the pick to recoup at least 3 #1’s.
I’m not sure what traits Jayden Daniels shares with Drake Maye, but then again, I’m pretty low on Daniels’ potential as an NFL passer.
It seems to me that the depth in the QB class this year, plus the questions surrounding them, make it easier to spend a lower pick on one. A few of these guys might end up good, as they’ve all been productive college players, but they all seem to need good support and a good/proven offensive staff going forward to develop. It doesn’t look like New England has either, especially on offense. Perhaps picking a more generational talent (like Harrison) with the third, or moving down a few in exchange for a good pick and another good quarterback prospect, is a wiser choice. Multi-year rebuilds probably do best with multiple picks to help.
Hello Ak.
Based on your concerns of Jayden Daniels, would NE be better off taking Marvin Harrison Jr at #3 and taking best available QB with the #34 pick?
(Penix or Bo Nix if they are still available)
The 2025 QB class does not look very promising. I think if NE is going to draft a QB it has to be this year. NE could take MHJ at 3 and trade back into the 1st round to grab a guy before they are all gone. Or trade up from 34 to 33 with Carolina to guarantee they have the first pick of Round 2 (if the guy they want is available).
Just tossing around ideas, thanks for reading.
That would be my choice: take MHJ at 3 then trade back into the 1st to get your best remaining QB.
I’m no expert, but I would agree. I think Harrison is less replaceable prospect-wise than Daniels, and New England does need a receiver.
There should be a hist of options at QB available in a trade-down scenario, or if NE leverages its lower pick into a later trade up. Even then, there will be a couple of later selections that should offer decent upside, like Rattler, and there’s a good chance that at least one of the first round QBs slides this year.
I could see it both ways, but the pick is worth a whole lot, and the Pats are likely to picking pretty high again next year. And, if the bulk of the draft package were 2025 picks, they would almost assuredly have a big pick in 2025, as well as multiple picks.
Mac may not be The Man but I just can’t judge the kid when his weapons have been straight basura.
It’s not like he’s had a Garrett Wilson (yeah, low hanging fruit shade lol)
Trade back
Get capital
Sign FAs
¯\_(ツ)_/¯
I agree with what I think you’re getting at. I know that football hates excuses, rightfully so, but Jones hasn’t exactly been handed a winning hand. With all due respect to Belichick as a coach, his personnel choices on offense have pretty bad, even when considering the difficulty of filling those spots. That’s not to say that I am endorsing Jones as a starting quarterback as of now, but the coaching on the offensive side hasn’t been great. To me, that’s been the most impactful development for Jones in his progression (or really, lack thereof) as a player.
That said, is Jones’ future in New England? Not impossible, but not likely right now. But who wants him enough to trade for him? Jones is far removed from his best work, for a young guy. In another year, when veteran QBs were less plentiful or draft prospects less deep, a former first rounder with starting experience, despite recent disappointments, would be much more valuable. Right now, not as much.
The way that I see it, under a new regime and with a depleted offensive roster, the Patriots don’t hurt much by retaining Jones if they don’t get a good offer. With all of the options available this offseason, I don’t see the urgency for a team to offer for Jones that they may in another year. If NE picks a new QB, Jones could either be a gap starter in a rebuild year or good competition to make the rookie earn his job. If the market were better, the path would likely be clearer. Right now, between the draft and free agency, I don’t think that the market favors a QB trade as much as in the past.