As the final whistle blew on January 7, 2024, the 4-13 New England Patriots officially entered the offseason – it was about time.
The franchise knew there were holes to fill, and knew it’d have a premium pick in the NFL Draft. A 17-3 loss to the New York Jets – ugh, remember that one? – solidified the Pats’ third overall pick.
With many holes (tackle, quarterback, wide receiver) to fill on the offensive end, people started to speculate what New England would do in the draft. With de facto General Manager Eliot Wolf at the helm, taking over for Bill Belichick, Wolf spoke all offseason about the importance of building through the draft – and player development alongside it.
That was made apparent when the Patriots re-signed draft picks such as Mike Onwenu, Anfernee Jennings, Josh Uche, and Kyle Dugger.
Now, the time is, to add rookies to the team. After numerous mock drafts, Thursday is the real deal.
Do Wolf and company take a new franchise quarterback? Do they take a tackle to solidify the left side of the line? Or, do they trade back and gather more assets to fix more needs over the long term?
These are all questions fans have asked, and we’ll finally get our answer once the Patriots are on the clock.
In a column last month, I suggested the Patriots go for a tackle – like Joe Alt – with their first pick. However, since then, I’ve flipped my opinion and want New England to snag its franchise quarterback.
Reports suggest that Caleb Williams will go first overall and there’s a good chance Jayden Daniels will follow at two.
That leaves Drake Maye and JJ McCarthy. Although Michael Penix and Bo Nix are among other available gunslingers, to select them third overall is, well, too rich. A trade-back makes more sense for those prospects.
I want Maye, out of North Carolina. I think he’s the perfect – and I mean, perfect – quarterback for Alex Van Pelt’s offensive system and believe he’s the prototypical quarterback. Maye has a strong arm and a 6-4, 230-pound frame.
Some people compare him to Josh Allen or Justin Herbert, and by the tape, you can understand why. Maye has no problem driving the ball downfield and can do it with a flick of the wrist. He’s also athletic enough to escape the pocket and make plays on his feet if the pocket is collapsing – something Mac Jones couldn’t do.
Regarding McCarthy, I don’t buy the hype. I don’t think he can be a number one quarterback on a team like the Patriots. At Michigan, all he did was win – great. However, he was behind a great offensive line and a defense that was the best in college football. He has a strong arm and is athletic, but there weren’t many games in which McCarthy had to single-handedly get the job done.
Compare that to Maye, who went to a smaller football program at UNC, there were times when he had to win a game on his own. Mission accomplished.
McCarthy would be a perfect quarterback for a team like the Minnesota Vikings, a franchise with a generational receiver in Justin Jefferson and another top wideout in Jordan Addison. The offense has been established, and he’d be a game manager.
In New England, there’s a good chance that if Maye is the pick, he will sit a year, or at least a portion of the season, to develop while Jacoby Brissett takes snaps.
Remember, it is a rebuild. If Maye becomes elite, it most likely wouldn’t be overnight. We need to remain patient – even if it takes three or four years.
The first round of the NFL Draft begins at 8 p.m. and all eyes will be focused on everyone’s love-to-hate franchise from Foxborough.
