NFL writers differ on how Patriots will handle No. 3 NFL Draft pick

NFL senior writer Nick Baumgardner and New England Patriots insider Chad Graff of The Athletic seem split on what the Patriots should do with the third overall pick of the 2024 NFL Draft. 

"From a here-and-now football sense, my opinion is that the Patriots need to move off No. 3 and make sure they’re ready for a rookie quarterback next year," Baumgardner explained. "...The (offensive line) isn’t that far away, but it’s going to be young, and there will be lumps. The offense is also badly in need of more speed, both in the backfield and at receiver. Widening the margin for error in the draft is always the best course of action for a rebuilding team."

However, Graff said he thinks that "if the quarterback that the Patriots favor...slips to them at No. 3, I think they’re taking that guy and hanging up the phones" regardless of what they are offered for the selection by a club such as the Minnesota Vikings or New York Giants. 

At this point, it seems a given that the Chicago Bears will make USC Trojans star QB Caleb Williams the draft's first pick on the night of April 25. 

From there, it remains unclear if the Washington Commanders will select North Carolina Tar Heels quarterback Drake Maye, LSU Tigers signal-caller Jayden Daniels or QB J.J. McCarthy of the Michigan Wolverines at No. 2 (assuming Washington stays put in the draft order). 

Patriots reporters Chris Mason and Mark Daniels of MassLive are among knowledgeable individuals who previously suggested New England won't pass on a quarterback at No. 3 following the trade of former starter Mac Jones. 

That was before Patriots head coach Jerod Mayo revealed at the owners meetings that "Maye had a fantastic interview at the combine." Mayo also said that "there is really no ceiling with a guy like" Maye.

Nevertheless, a Patriots team that finished the 2023 season at 4-13 and has made one postseason appearance across the past four campaigns needs an influx of talent. Thus, Baumgardner said that New England sending the third pick of the draft to Minnesota "feels most likely." 

In Baumgardner's scenario, New England would acquire picks No. 11 and No. 23 this year and a 2025 third-round selection from Minnesota for No. 3. This would allow the Patriots to grab a signal-caller such as Bo Nix of the Oregon Ducks via the 23rd overall choice. 

"Nix is talented enough to win a job and start in the NFL," Baumgardner said about Nix potentially competing with veteran Jacoby Brissett for the Patriots' QB1 gig. "Not sure I’m ready to go beyond that on his potential upside right now. But if you surround him with quality talent, he could surprise you." 

Both Baumgardner and Graff noted that Patriots owner Robert Kraft is 82 years old and may not want de facto general manager Eliot Wolf to mess around with trades when New England could spend the third pick on an advertised top-tier quarterback prospect. 

With many high on Maye, Daniels and McCarthy, New England theoretically could end April 25 holding the rights for a future franchise player at the sport's most important position no matter what Washington does with the second selection.