The calendar is about to turn to April, which means we have finally reached NFL Draft month. Patriots fans have been talking quarterbacks since the middle of last season, and it's finally time to see who New England's signal caller will be in 2024.
While having Caleb Williams in a Patriots uniform might be a dream scenario, it appears that Chicago is fully locked in on selecting the USC Heisman Trophy winner No. 1 overall.
That leaves New England in play for five other top QB prospects. Here is a countdown of the top-5 fits for the Patriots.
Ranking the Patriots' 5 quarterback choices in 2024 NFL Draft
5. Bo Nix (Oregon)
If the Patriots end up with Nix as their quarterback selection, a lot will have happened. It's no secret that Minnesota is all-in on getting a top quarterback in this draft. Word on the streets is the Pats and Vikings have already had discussions for the No. 3 pick. It would likely need to be a "Godfather" offer for the Patriots to move out of the No. 3 pick, especially if they zero in on a particular QB.
If New England and Minnesota do make the deal, however, it would put Nix very much in play for the Patriots. The NCAA record holder with an astounding 61 career starts, he put a stamp on his career with an impressive 2023 campaign with career-bests in passing yards (4,508), passing touchdowns (45), and completion percentage (NCAA-leading 77.4%).
Possibly more impressive is the fact that Nix only threw three interceptions and only took five sacks the entire season. He finished third in the Heisman Trophy voting and led Oregon to a Fiesta Bowl victory.
Nix opted not to do testing drills but showcased plenty of arm talent at the Combine and Oregon Pro Day to ensure he's on everyone's radar. Will Nix be available at 34 in the second round, or would the Pats need to look at him at 23 if they do the Vikings deal?
Either way, if the other top-four quarterbacks are off the board, New England needs to do what it can to secure Nix in the late-first or early-second.
4. Michael Penix, Jr. (Washington)
Penix took the college football world by storm in 2024, finishing as the Heisman Trophy runner-up and throwing darts in the College Football Playoff to lead Washington to the national title game.
At Washington's pro day, he opened some eyes by posting a sub-4.6 40-yard-dash time. Penix had the chance to cement himself as a top QB against an elite Michigan defense in the National Championship Game, but struggled with a performance of 27-of-51 passing for 255 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions as Michigan came away with a 34-13 victory.
That said, Penix's talent and upside cannot be denied. He had 4,903 yards passing, 36 touchdowns, and 11 interceptions and took only 11 sacks throughout the 2023 season. While he only rushed for eight yards on the season, he did have three touchdowns on the ground.
With his injury history, it makes sense that he would try to limit the number of hits he takes. If his pro day proved anything, it's that he still has the speed to get out of trouble when necessary. How does Penix end up a Patriot?
Like Nix, he would come into play if New England makes the Minnesota deal or trades down with someone else. It's possible that Penix will be gone by the 34th pick, so the Patriots may need to look at him at No. 23 if they have that pick—only if the Pats choose not to select a quarterback at No. 3.
3. Drake Maye (UNC)
One of the biggest microscopes this offseason has been on Maye, as he has often been linked to the Patriots in mock drafts. The potential is clearly there, but there are some inconsistencies.
He completed 63.3 percent of his passes (lowest among the top-5 quarterbacks), but he did throw for 3,608 yards and 24 touchdowns to just nine interceptions. And if you look back at his 2022 season, which really put him on the map, he had 4,321 yards passing, 38 touchdowns, and just seven interceptions. It's really a matter of him returning to that 2022 form.
The word of the draft season in regards to Maye is "upside", and it's impossible not to see when watching what he did at North Carolina. Maye makes throws that only a handful of NFL quarterbacks can make (Patrick Mahomes and Josh Allen come to mind). With the success/duals Mahomes and Allen have had in the playoffs, it's hard to ignore the prospects of having a similar quarterback at the helm in Foxboro.
Maye opted not to do running drills at the Combine or North Carolina's Pro Day, so in regards to his speed/mobility, all we have is what he put on tape and the stats sheet. In 2023, Maye rushed for 449 yards and nine touchdowns, following up a 2022 season in which he ran for 698 yards and seven touchdowns.
All five QBs at the top of this draft have some level of mobility, and Maye certainly fits that mold as a dual threat. He will almost certainly be gone after the No. 3 pick, whether that is to Washington, New England, Minnesota, or someone else that trades up.
2. Jayden Daniels (LSU)
Perhaps the biggest question mark in this year's NFL Draft is, who does Washington take at No. 2? For the longest time, it seemed like the Commanders would take Daniels. LSU head coach Brian Kelly even mentioned Daniels and Washington in the same interview response, although it was clarified that the question was specifically regarding the Commanders.
The reasons why the Patriots should select Daniels if he's available are well-documented. He possesses home run speed from the quarterback position, but what jumps off the screen is elite accuracy whether it be on the run or in a clean pocket.
The stats back it up, as he completed 72.2% of his passes while throwing for 3,812 yards and 40 touchdowns to just four interceptions. The comparisons to Lamar Jackson regarding running ability are valid, but Daniels' game leans much more towards the passing game. Jackson never completed above 60% of his passes at Louisville, so Daniels at least has a head start in that category heading into the league.
After a similar completion percentage of 58.2% as a rookie, Jackson has maintained a completion percentage between 62% and 67%. So, if Daniels is already at that level, we could see him in MVP conversations sooner rather than later. Daniels also chose not to do running drills at the Combine or LSU's pro day, instead opting to let his 1,134 yards and ten touchdowns on the ground during his 2023 Heisman campaign do the talking.
Like Maye, Daniels will likely not slip past No. 3 in the draft. If Washington takes one of the other QBs, it will be extremely hard for the Patriots not to make Daniels their next quarterback with the No. 3 overall pick.
1. J.J. McCarthy (Michigan)
Surprise, surprise. The last time New England drafted a reigning National Championship quarterback, the results left a lot to be desired. Why would the Patriots take the same risk again? McCarthy has had a meteoric rise up mock draft boards this offseason, but it's been 100% earned. There have even been reports that go as far as Washington taking McCarthy at No. 2.
Smoke season, or actual fire? Either way, the Patriots should be taking a long look at McCarthy.
Watching him play throughout his college career, it's hard to find a true weakness in his game. His 2,991 yards passing in 2023 might be a little off-putting, but when you look closer, you will see that he completed 72.3% of his passes and had 22 touchdowns to just four interceptions. His rushing stats are also underwhelming, with 202 yards and three touchdowns. But those are also a little bit deceptive.
McCarthy’s 4.23 shuttle time at the NFL Combine was tied for the best among quarterbacks, and it shows up clearly on the tape. It's unfortunate that all of the quarterbacks didn't line up and test 40-yard dashes against each other, so we'll just have to settle for the what-if game. Now, for the fun part. Could New England make the Minnesota deal (getting picks 11 and 23 this year) AND get McCarthy at 11?
My gut says no.
The Pats could possibly make the deal and then look at flipping some of the assets to get a pick somewhere between 4 and 10, but that seems like a lot to ask.
If New England truly believes McCarthy is the guy (and I believe he's a serious contender), then we could see something that was unfathomable just a couple of months ago: McCarthy holding up a Patriots jersey on stage as the No. 3 overall pick in the NFL Draft.