ORLANDO, Fla. — The Patriots are in an ideal spot with the No. 3 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft to take their quarterback of the future this spring. But no one has committed on the record to that plan this offseason.
Head coach Jerod Mayo said Monday at the NFL Annual Meeting that the Patriots are open to trading down, but owner Robert Kraft confirmed Tuesday that his preference is still to take a QB at No. 3.
“You know, I guess as a fan, I put my fan hat on, I definitely would. In the end, you can’t win in this league consistently unless you have a first-rate quarterback and a first-rate coach,” Kraft said Tuesday morning at the NFL Annual Meeting. “On the other hand, you’re in a different position, and we’ve never been in the third draft position since we owned the team. What happens, a lot of people behind are really desperate to move up. We’re going to be open to whatever can come our way, but in the end, I’ll let the team make the decision with what they think is best. One way or another, I’d like to see us get a top-rate young quarterback.”
For months, USC’s Caleb Williams, UNC’s Drake Maye and LSU’s Jayden Daniels have been regarded as the top three quarterbacks in the draft. But J.J. McCarthy has generated buzz with NFL Media’s Tom Pelissero reporting this week that executives around the league believe the Michigan QB prospect will be the Commanders’ pick at No. 2 overall.
De facto general manager Eliot Wolf will have final say in who the Patriots draft at No. 3 overall. But Kraft didn’t commit to Wolf, whose official title is “director of scouting,” keeping the top job after the draft.
“I think Eliot has good training, good pedigree. And we actually have a good group of young people. We’re starting new chapters in our development as we evolve here. I like the young people we have doing this,” Kraft said. “We were in an environment where everything really funneled to the top. And maybe some of the young people that have worked real hard didn’t get a chance to have their position heard. Or maybe didn’t speak up as much. I’ve encouraged them to be collaborative and I think the combination of Jerod and Matt (Groh) and together with Eliot, I’m actually excited what I’ve seen. And that also sort of ties in with how players have changed too really over the last 10-15 years, and how systems have changed. So I think they’re in tune, and I’m excited. I mean, some people call me an eternal optimist, so I don’t know how much you should take what I say, but I’m excited about what’s going on and the process. And they’re through. They’re very thorough.
“I’m excited with what I’ve seen so far, and we’ll evaluate after the draft and see how that’s gone and decide where we go from there.”
