When the New England Patriots hired Bill Belichick in 2000, they waited until the 6th round of that year’s draft to select Tom Brady and ultimately kickstart the greatest dynasty in NFL history. Their new head coach, Jerod Mayo, doesn’t seem intent on waiting nearly that long in the war room to get his starter though.
According to NFL insider Ian Rapoport and NFL reporter Albert Breer, the New England Patriots are bringing in two of the top quarterback prospects in the 2024 NFL Draft not named Caleb Williams. Breer reported that UNC quarterback Drake Maye will be making a visit to Gillette Stadium tomorrow.
“The Patriots are hosting North Carolina QB Drake Maye on a 30 visit tomorrow at Gillette Stadium, per sources. New England holds the third overall pick, and met with Maye at the combine, and again before his pro day in Chapel Hill,” Breer wrote.
Rapoport wrote that LSU quarterback Jayden Daniels will be heading there on Monday.
“#LSU QB and Heisman Trophy winner Jayden Daniels is set to meet with two of the top 3 teams in the NFL Draft. First up: He’ll head to New England on Monday to meet with the #Patriots, per his agent (Ron Butler),” Rapoport wrote.
The Patriots pretty much have to interview two quarterbacks as the Bears have the top pick and will be using it on Williams, while the Washington Commanders have the No. 2 overall pick and will either draft a quarterback themselves or trade the pick to a team that will.
Maye has been viewed as a polished passer for several years now and at one point was even viewed as a better NFL prospect than Williams.
Daniels was solid but unremarkable for his first few years in college football before exploding onto the scene in 2023, enjoying a record-setting season and emerging as one of the most dynamic quarterbacks the sport has seen in nearly a decade.
One of those quarterbacks may not be available when the Patriots pick third. But at least one of them will.