Mock Draft Roundup: Marvin Harrison Jr in play for Patriots at No. 3 over big gun quarterbacks

The Chicago Bears hold the major chip in the 2024 NFL Draft, but the New England Patriots are the most intriguing team at the top of the draft because they are a team with big holes to fill at some key positions on offense.

Yes, I know, just about every team in the top 10 has major holes, but the Patriots with the No. 3 overall pick in the draft has a chance to either fill their biggest need at the QB position or use the pick to bring in talent in other areas.  That could include landing a big-time playmaker in the draft.  In a less popular move, the team could decide to go tackle with their top pick.  The hope there is that the team use some of their $100 million in cap space to address that position.

In focusing on the draft, the Patriots will have a shot at one of the top players in the draft not named Caleb Williams.  That includes selecting either LSU’s Jayden Daniels or North Carolina’s Drake Maye to get their quarterback or going with a generational talent at the wide receiver position in former Ohio State star Marvin Harrison Jr.

With Michigan’s  J.J. McCarthy rising up some mock drafts following the NFL Scouting Combine, his name has been added to that mix of possible selections whether realistic or not, but the focus for the Patriots should be on the three players mentioned and some interesting mock drafts have made strong cases for each player.

CBS Sports Mock Draft has the Patriots going playmaker and adding a QB in round two

What if the Patriots don’t’ feel either Daniels or Maye is the answer at quarterback?

Rather than selecting any of the tier 2 quarterbacks in the NFL draft at No. 3 (*cough* McCarthy), CBS Sports writer Chris Trapasso has the team selecting Marvin Harrison Jr. at No. 3 and using their high second-round pick on a quarterback.  This seems to be a path for the team that is formulating some steam given the QB talent in the draft.

Trapasso writes:

“The Patriots wait on drafting a young quarterback -- maybe it's Michael Penix in Round 2? -- and nab the consensus top wideout in this class.”

A team that has been yearning for a No. 1 receiver over the past few seasons finally get their man.  They would also get a left-handed gunslinger who was the 2023 Heisman Trophy runner up and a first round talent who could sit and learn behind a veteran QB to at least start the season.

NFL.com mock draft makes Drake Maye the man

NFL analyst Charles Davis has the Patriots sticking to their guns and drafting one of the big guns in his latest mock draft.  With Jayden Daniels off the board, Davis has New England staying pat at No. 3 and selecting Drake Maye.

He writes:

“Under new management! As Maverick from Top Gun would say, ‘Don't think, just do.’ The Pats select their new QB right here.”

It seems draft analysts and evaluators are trying to find reasons for Maye to drop in this draft, but as a top QB prospect with arm talent and prototypical size, it would be tough for the Patriots to pass him up unless there is some quarterback later in the draft who the team falls in love with.  Penix Jr., J.J. McCarthy and Bo Nix could be one of those next tier of QB’s the Patriots feel are a better fit later in the draft or even the second round.

Musketfire and NFL Mocks say Jayden Daniels is the man

The idea of the Patriots drafting the quarterback compared to Lamar Jackson has Musketfire.com contributor Mike DeVito drooling over the possibility.  In his latest mock, he believes Patriots de facto general manager Eliot Wolf will hit a home run by selecting the Heisman Trophy winner.

He writes:

“Wolf selects Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Jayden Daniels from LSU. The team's top need is a quarterback. He fills it. The top Pats' pick by Wolf goes to a true, dual-threat, modern-day, NFL-ready quarterback. What's not to like? The draft is already an A+ by Wolf. Eliot is on the move.”

NFL Mocks is not disagreeing with our sister site.  FanSided writer Ryan Heckman views Daniels as a “clear-cut, Day 1 starter” who brings a different dimension to the Patriots offense.  His dual-threat ability will bring some excitement back to the Patriots offense if they get some playmakers around him.

So, who should be the man at No. 3 for the New England Patriots?  Will it be the generational playmaker, the prototypical gunslinger or the dual-threat option who is winning fans over?