INDIANAPOLIS — Some members of the Patriots’ workers are sitting fairly with the No. 3 total choose within the 2024 NFL Draft.
Multiple members of the Patriots workers have informed the Herald that they view all three high quarterback prospects, USC’s Caleb Williams, UNC’s Drake Maye and LSU’s Jayden Daniels, as worthy of a top-three choice. Williams remains to be broadly considered the highest QB within the draft, however evaluators on workers who spoke to the Herald could be completely satisfied if any of the three quarterbacks had been obtainable with their No. 3 total choose. If a agency choice has been made to draft a quarterback at No. 3 total, nonetheless, that will be information to a number of high-ranking members of the personnel division, per sources.
The Patriots held formal interviews with all three gamers plus Michigan’s J.J. McCarthy and Oregon’s Bo Nix, on the NFL Scouting Combine this week. The Patriots’ subsequent step within the analysis course of will likely be to attend QB professional days and invite gamers to Gillette Stadium for “top 30” visits.
One supply informed the Herald that Maye, who’s most probably to go No. 2 or 3 total within the draft, made a powerful impression on the group in his formal interview with the group.
The feeling was mutual.
“Yeah, I was really impressed with them,” Maye mentioned. “Being in there, New England is obviously a great sports town. And the meeting with them, I thought it went well. New England is a great spot.”
The UNC passer, whose 2022 tape needs to be extra related than his 2023 marketing campaign given UNC’s change in offenses and lack of offensive playmakers, mentioned he congratulated head coach Jerod Mayo on his promotion throughout his assembly with the Patriots.
De facto common supervisor Eliot Wolf would possible have to commerce as much as No. 1 total if they need Williams, however the USC QB did come away from his assembly that included Wolf, head coach Jerod Mayo and offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt with a constructive feeling concerning the group.
“The Patriots were cool,” Williams mentioned. “The room wasn’t as packed. They had just a few guys here. And we talked mainly about ball. It was a good impression. They were asking me questions about my life, about ball and testing me and things like that. So all of the meetings were good. And they were all kind of in the same ballpark. They don’t really get to see you and test your mental for this quick 10, 20 minutes that they have. That’s what they’re mainly trying to do to get out of you.”
One league supply did inform the Herald this week that evaluators can inform when a prospect has been coached up and can see via it with their questions on ideas inside the offense they had been operating.
Williams elected to not undergo medical testing on the mix, which could be a primary for a prospect. Teams that present sufficient curiosity will get that info, nonetheless.
“For the medical stuff, I’ll be doing the medical stuff, just not here in Indy. I’ll be doing it at the team interviews,” Williams mentioned. “You know, not 32 teams can draft me. There’s only one of me. And so, the teams that I go to for my visits, those teams will have the medical, and that’ll be it.”
Maye, Williams and Daniels had been all too younger to expertise the Patriots’ first dynasty, however the group’s repute as a winner nonetheless carries with the younger quarterbacks.
“It would be dope. Obviously, growing up and seeing what Tom Brady did there, six Super Bowls,” Daniels mentioned. “That’s tough to live up to, but it would be dope to see the success they had and help them get back on that track.”
McCarthy additionally has followers inside the group however not with the third total choose. He known as his interview with the Patriots “amazing.”
“Coach Mayo, awesome guy, asked some really great questions,” McCarthy mentioned. “You can definitely tell he’s been around this process for along time and been a part of it. Great interactions and it would be an honor to be a part of their organization.”
The Patriots desperately need assistance at quarterback given 2021 first-round choose Mac Jones’ struggles over the past two seasons. It appears possible that Jones, who went 2-9 as a starter in 2023, will likely be moved this offseason, and sources across the mix have projected the Patriots may obtain a fifth- or sixth-round choose in a commerce return.
Bailey Zappe, who was 2-4 in six begins, remains to be underneath contract and could possibly be stored as a reserve possibility on the roster.
On high of finishing 72.2% of passes for 3,812 yards with 40 passing touchdowns and simply 4 interceptions, Daniels, final season’s Heisman winner, additionally rushed for 1,250 yards with 10 touchdowns. Williams, the 2022 Heisman winner, accomplished 68.6% of his passes for 3,633 yards with 30 touchdowns and 5 interceptions whereas speeding for 11 extra scores in 2023. Maye accomplished 63.3% of his passes for 3,608 yards with 24 touchdowns and 9 interceptions whereas speeding for 582 yards with 9 touchdowns.
Source: www.bostonherald.com