INDIANAPOLIS — It’s a superb yr for the Patriots to want a quarterback.
In an offseason that the Patriots needs to be trying to improve over Mac Jones and Bailey Zappe and maintain the No. 3 general choose within the 2024 NFL Draft, director of scouting Eliot Wolf confirmed the workforce plans to fulfill with the highest three gamers on the place on the NFL Scouting Combine.
Wolf mentioned the Patriots will meet with USC’s Caleb Williams, UNC’s Drake Maye and LSU’s Jayden Daniels this week in Indianapolis. A supply instructed the Herald the Patriots plan to fulfill with many of the QBs on the mix by formal and casual interviews.
“I think it’s a really good year for quarterbacks,” Wolf mentioned Tuesday at a podium on the mix. “It’s a really good year at a lot of positions. Like any position we’re going to we’re going to evaluate their strengths and weaknesses, determine who fits for us. We’re pretty early in the process here. Like, I haven’t met any of these guys. Jerod (Mayo) hasn’t met any of these guys. So as we continue through the process here, we’ll determine what’s best for the team. One thing about the quarterbacks in this draft specifically that I’m excited about is that they all look like they’re really tough guys, which is obviously great at any position, but the quarterback position especially.”
Other prime QB prospects embrace Michigan’s J.J. McCarthy, Oregon’s Bo Nix and Washington’s Michael Penix. Williams is thought to be the highest QB prospect within the draft, however different evaluators are torn on how one can order Maye and Daniels after him. One AFC East school scout instructed the Herald this week that he’d put Maye (his No. 2) nearer to Williams than Daniels (his No. 3) to Maye, however that it’s all private choice.
Wolf mentioned all choices are on the desk with what to do with the No. 3 general choose, together with a commerce. He mentioned the draft might be a collaborative effort, however that he would make the choose within the first spherical.
As for what qualities Wolf appears to be like for in quarterback, management is paramount.
“First of all being someone that can elevate his teammates,” Wolf mentioned. “Someone that your teammates want to play for. I think that’s an extremely underrated thing that people don’t really talk about that much. Leadership’s important and obviously physical talent. We wouldn’t be talking about these guys if they weren’t physically talented.”
Wolf was requested if it could be a good suggestion to drop a younger quarterback onto a roster with important holes. He appeared comparatively assured the workforce may patch a few of these holes of their aim to regain “respectability.”
The Patriots’ greatest wants, past quarterback, are positions that straight influence the QB at vast receiver, tight finish and offensive deal with. Fortunately for Wolf and the Patriots, vast receiver and offensive deal with are additionally strengths of this draft.
“I think it depends on who we’re talking about and what holes we end up having,” Wolf mentioned. “There’s a lot of time between now and the start of the season to patch those holes in. And hopefully we’re going to do more than patch them. We’re going to try to get the best players that we can and we’ll see what happens at the quarterback position.”
The Patriots have the third-most cap area within the NFL this offseason with the power to create much more by shifting on from cornerback J.C. Jackson. They can solely fill so many wants within the draft, so that they might want to do work in trades and free company to fill in a few of these gaps to assist a rookie quarterback.
Jones has struggled for 2 straight years as a starter as he and Zappe led the Patriots to a 4-13 document and last-place end within the AFC East final season. Wolf was completely happy to speak about each gamers when requested concerning the workforce’s plan at QB.
“I’d say there’s a lot of options on the table,” Wolf mentioned. “I’m glad you asked about Mac and Bailey. We’re not going to be a program that’s talking about these guys in terms of, through the media, we’re gonna we’re gonna do what’s best for the team behind the scenes and the strategy of that is going to be myself, Jerod Mayo, Matt Groh, and we’re going to try to do the right thing for the team.”
Wolf was a part of the entrance workplace that drafted Jones with the fifteenth general choose in 2021 and Zappe with a fourth-round choose in 2022. Jones had a strong rookie season that ended with a playoff look however has struggled in ensuing seasons. Zappe was a strong backup in 2022 but in addition faltered as a starter in 2023.
Wolf was requested what he’s realized about evaluating quarterbacks since taking Jones.
“I think the main thing is just trying to do everything we can to support that person once we get them in the building. We’re going to make the best decision we can in terms of who that person is – if we decide to go quarterback at No. 3. But really putting every resource into everything we have into that person to support them and make sure that we get the best version of themself,” he mentioned.
Wolf was requested a query unrelated to Jones about physique language at quarterback. Jones’ on-field physique language improved in 2023 after a irritating 2022 marketing campaign when his outbursts grew to become a speaking level within the media and rubbed some individuals within the group the flawed approach.
“Body language on the field is very important at that position,” Wolf mentioned. “You don’t want a guy that’s throwing his hands up after a bad play, or you can see him physically pointing at somebody. Body language is important. Everybody’s looking at the quarterback.”
Source: www.bostonherald.com