The Patriots have identified Drake Maye as a strong fit for their offense and intend to select him at No. 3 if he’s still available.
However, if Maye is taken before New England’s turn to pick, they are determined to draft a quarterback in the first round. In such a scenario, Jayden Daniels may not be their target, as there could be competition from the Minnesota Vikings and the Las Vegas Raiders to trade up for him, according to The Athletic’s Dianna Russini and Chad Graff.
According to reports, New England would redirect its attention to a quarterback who has seen a rapid ascent throughout the pre-draft process.
The Patriots are firm in their commitment to securing one of the top three available quarterbacks in the first round, specifically targeting Maye, Daniels, or J.J. McCarthy from Michigan, according to sources from The Athletic. If, by chance, Daniels were to fall and the Patriots traded down, their strategy would then be to trade back up to select McCarthy.
According to reports, New England views McCarthy as being on par with Daniels and Maye and considers him deserving of a top-10 selection. Additionally, McCarthy’s connection to the University of Michigan, where Tom Brady also attended, may hold significance for Patriots ownership. However, pursuing McCarthy would likely require certain circumstances to unfold. If Daniels is drafted by the Washington Commanders, as widely anticipated, Maye seems to be the Patriots’ preferred choice at No. 3.