The Patriots are in unfamiliar territory, this is the first time in 23 years that somebody not named Bill Belichick will be making the draft selections for the Patriots. This mystery newcomer in charge possesses the highest draft pick they’ve held since 1993 (Drew Bledsoe, pick 1). All these changes mean the pressing question for the Patriots these next few months will be, “Who will New England take with the third pick in the draft?”
A brand new head coach (Jerod Mayo), a vacancy in the general manager position, and the third overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft? There is no shortage of uncertainty for the New England Patriots this offseason.
With the Washington Commanders possessing the second overall pick as well as a multitude of weaknesses in their roster, there is no telling which direction they will go come draft night. This complicates things for New England, as the Commanders have fairly similar draft needs as the Patriots.
Quarterback Caleb Williams out of USC appears to be the consensus favorite to be selected with the first overall pick regardless of who possesses it. After that, nobody seems to have a clear idea of who will be selected with the following picks. In many mock drafts the three most commonly selected players with the second and third picks are Drake Maye, Jayden Daniels, and Marvin Harrison Jr.
So who will be available with the third overall pick? Who should the Patriots select? We will have to wait until April 25th to get answers to these questions, so for now, let’s take a deeper look at these potential prospects for the New England Patriots.
Quarterback Drake Maye had a great couple of years at UNC. Maye was named the starter in 2022 following the departure of Sam Howell for the NFL Draft. As a redshirt freshman, Maye dropped jaws around the college football world thriving under former UNC offensive coordinator Phil Longo’s aggressive air-raid style offense. Maye finished the season 342-517 for 4,321 yards and 38 touchdowns to his seven interceptions. Maye, a great athlete, also tacked on 698 rushing yards and seven rushing touchdowns.
This was enough to lead a UNC team that was projected to finish eighth in the ACC to an ACC championship game appearance. The combination of an ankle injury and Phil Longo’s departure resulted in a drop in Maye’s 2023 numbers. Maye finished 269-425 with 3,608 yards, 24 passing touchdowns, and nine interceptions.
Despite a statistical dropoff in 2023, Maye remains at the top of most draft boards. This is in no small part due to the intangibles that Maye possesses. Maye is as fierce of a competitor as they come. In an interview with ESPN, Phil Longo told a story about Maye and Sam Howell getting into a never-ending ping-pong match. “They stayed at the house until 2 in the morning because neither wanted to leave until they were ahead. You just couldn’t get them out of the house. At some point, we had to go in there and kick them out,” said Longo.
Maye has proven he is capable as a passer, a runner, and a competitor. However, some scouts worry about the young quarterback’s decision-making and consistency. Should he become a Patriot in this year’s draft, it will be on Jerod Mayo’s revamped coaching staff to develop Maye into a more mature quarterback. If they are successful, New England may have a potential top-10 quarterback on their hands.
Should Drake Maye be selected in the top two, another quarterback that ESPN has closely trailing Maye in their best available players ranking is Jayden Daniels. Daniels had a historic 2023 season at LSU, earning him the Heisman Trophy and the title of AP Player of the Year.
Daniels had a much improved year throwing the ball, finishing the 2023 season 236 for 327 with 3,812 yards, 40 touchdowns, four interceptions, and an NCAA Division 1 leading 208.0 passer rating. In addition to putting up incredible passing numbers, Daniels has made a strong case to be considered the most mobile quarterback in the draft, as he rushed for 1,134 yards and 10 touchdowns.
The primary question mark with Daniels is whether or not he will be able to translate his game to the pro level. Daniels may struggle to beat NFL defenses with his athleticism as effectively as he did at LSU. If forced to rely on his arm at a higher rate, some scouts fear that Daniels may struggle at the next level.
Regardless, there is no denying his pure talent and unteachable athleticism. With the potential to be the dynamic playmaker that the Patriots desperately need, New England may have a hard time passing up on Daniels with the third pick.
Speaking of dynamic playmakers, Marvin Harrison Jr. is one of the most sought-after wide receiver prospects in recent years. The Ohio State superstar ended his Biletnikoff Award-winning 2023 season with 67 receptions for 1,211 yards and 14 touchdowns.
NFL scouts have been salivating over Harrison Jr. since before he even became draft-eligible. Following Harrison Jr.’s dazzling 2022 season, NFL scouts flocked to Ohio State’s pro day to watch the sophomore phenom run routes. One scout described the experience as “Like window shopping at a Lamborghini dealership for the model that doesn’t come out until next year.”
At 6’4” and 208 pounds, Harrison Jr. is capable of bench pressing 380 pounds, squatting 500 pounds, and running a 4.39-second 40-yard dash. Harrison Jr. possesses all of the physical tools and route-running ability to be a superstar wide receiver at the next level. The decision that this brand new Patriots front office must make on draft night is whether or not they trust their current quarterbacks to get him the ball.
The New England Patriots certainly have a lot to consider in the months leading up to the NFL draft. However, the star-studded top of this draft class will make it tough for the team holding the third overall pick to go wrong.
