New England Patriots' path to Drake Maye: UNC QB the expected choice at No. 3

Will the New England Patriots select their next franchise quarterback with the No. 3 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft?  The odds are on their side considering the talent at the QB position at the top of the draft.

Whether it’s North Carolina’s Drake Maye, LSU’s Jayden Daniels or potentially Michigan’s J.J. McCarthy, Patriots de facto general manager Eliot Wolf and new head coach Jerod Mayo is expected to fill their needs at the position.  Unless something crazy or unexpected happens, the consensus sure bet is on Maye, who is a prototypical size quarterback with the traits and arm talent to be a star in the NFL.

2024 NFL Draft: Drake Maye is the man for the New England Patriots

In his final NFL Mock Draft, NBC Sports Boston’s Patriots Insider Phil Perry has the team locked on Maye because of that arm talent and how the team overall feels about the skillset and leadership he can bring to the table.

Perry Notes:

“Maye has the kind of arm that will help him play through the elements in Foxboro, and he's impressed in all of his pre-draft meetings with the organization thanks to what he's shown from a football IQ standpoint. The coaching staff is confident in its ability to iron out whatever mechanical issues Maye may take with him to his new home, and some insist -- due to coaching and personnel changes in 2023 -- his 2022 film is a much better indicator of what he'll be with the right people in his ear.”

With Daniels expected to go to the Commanders at No. 2, the Patriots will have a QB who is not only a fearless passer, but also has the athleticism to create plays and buy time with his feet.  What the Patriots may face on draft day is the temptation of a trade with other teams like the New York Giants and Minnesota Vikings also coveting a talent like Maye.

If one of those teams offer the Patriots an offer they can’t refuse, do they jump at an opportunity to gain more draft capitol and perhaps an established star in the league over the possibility of securing their QB needs for years to come?

It’s a tough decision for Wolf and a rookie head coach in Mayo to make.  Unless the team values McCarthy more, or perhaps a second-tier quarterback like a Michael Penix Jr or Bo Nix intrigue them more, they will entertain a massive offer.  But, if they feel the way Perry does, they will stick to their guns and take the big gun.