When the New England Patriots secured the third overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, the assumption was that they’d prioritize taking a quarterback, such as LSU’s Jayden Daniels. With Caleb Williams and Drake Maye projected to be drafted first and second, Daniels appears to be the next best QB prospect available.
Yet, despite the Patriots still not having a true franchise solution, some NFL Draft experts anticipate New England going in a different direction this offseason.
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New England Patriots may opt to reinforce roster before taking a QB
Mac Jones may not be the answer at QB for the New England Patriots, but a look at the rest of the talent on offense doesn’t instill confidence either. Are the Patriots sure a player like Jayden Daniels can immediately create a spark?
NFL Draft expert Jordan Reid says we should keep a close eye on the New England Patriots as a potential trade-down candidate.
“New England is really interesting to me. If you look at that roster on offense, it’s really, really bad. Like, they need receivers, they’re gonna need multiple offensive linemen, then of course, you still don’t have a quarterback either. So, maybe you look at Atlanta at eight, or Minnesota at 11, and say hey, let’s slide back a couple slots, get some picks for next year, take a defensive player, or take a wide receiver and build it up over time. As opposed to putting a quarterback in a disadvantageous situation with no weapons, questionable protection, with a first-year head coach too.”
NFL Draft expert Jordan Reid on New England Patriots’ mindset
If the Patriots did decide against taking a QB, it would certainly be a big shock, but what Reid says is true. This offense lacks playmakers, and just as we saw with Mac Jones, there aren’t enough playmakers to lead a winning effort.
However, if the Patriots can reinforce the offensive line while adding a top-flight receiver before going all out on a QB, it may be better in the long run. Then, there’s always the possibility of the Patriots not being enamored with Daniels too. Of course, the other side of this is that the Patriots rarely find themselves picking so high, and passing up on the opportunity to draft a potential game-changing QB could, in turn, be devastating in its own way.
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