While it may not be the preferred option, a New England Patriots insider says the team could break away from expectations at the 2024 NFL Draft and follow a similar blueprint to what the Detroit Lions have done in recent years.
This will be a very important offseason for the New England Patriots. After a horrid 4-13 showing in the 2023-24 NFL season, the organization has a new head coach, a boatload of money to spend in free agency, and the third overall pick in April’s NFL Draft.
For many in and around the organization, a shared belief is that they will look to upgrade the quarterback spot for 2024 after former first-round pick Mac Jones had a disastrous showing this past season. Many assume they will use their top pick in the draft to find their future franchise QB. However, on Thursday ESPN Patriots insider Mike Reiss offered up a different approach. Hold on to Jones and build around him.
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New England Patriots news: Could the team go best player available instead of QB at 2024 NFL Draft?
“Taking the best player available has worked well for the Detroit Lions under third-year general manager Brad Holmes. The Lions were in a similar situation as the Patriots a few years ago — close to rock bottom and in need of an infusion of talent — and are now coming off a trip to the NFC Championship Game,” Reiss wrote.
“It was challenging to find many who were convinced the Lions had their long-term answer at quarterback after acquiring veteran Jared Goff in a 2021 trade with the Los Angeles Rams. But instead of selecting a QB early in the past three drafts, Holmes used top picks to support Goff.”
That strategy has worked brilliantly and the Lions offense ended the 2023-24 NFL season as one of the top units in our NFL offense rankings and nearly took them to the Super Bowl. And drafting a QB with a top pick brings as much risk as it offers huge potential. The big question for the Patriots is if Jones now is as good as Goff was in 2021.
After being benched several times last season, and recent reports, Jones is seen by some as “toxic” within the New England Patriots locker room. The 25-year-old wants to stay and get a chance under new head coach Jerod Mayo, however, there is a lot of work he would have to do to fix his reputation with teammates and fans, and we may be way passed that at the moment.
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