Drake Maye or Jayden Daniels? AFC personnel evaluate Patriots' QB prospects (2024)

Patriots

It's crunch time ahead of the 2024 NFL Draft. Here's who league personnel think the Patriots should take at No. 3.

Drake Maye or Jayden Daniels? AFC personnel evaluate Patriots' QB prospects (1)

By Faith Pinnow

The 2024 NFL draft class boasts a loaded group of quarterback talent. As many as six quarterbacks stand poised to go in the first round, with New England likely to select their next franchise signal caller at the No. 3 overall pick.

While USC’s Caleb Williams is widely projected to be the first off the board next Thursday, LSU’s Jayden Daniels and UNC’s Drake Maye come in close succession.

And despite the fast-approaching draft, Patriots de facto GM Eliot Wolf isn’t giving any hints as to how the war room will operate on April 25.

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During Thursday’s pre-draft press conference in Foxborough, Wolf said that while he doesn’t feel obligated to select a QB in the first round, he’s confident that there will be a quarterback on the board who is worthy of the No. 3 pick.

The Patriots welcomed both Maye and Daniels (along with Williams and Michigan QB J.J. McCarthy) to Gillette Stadium for an official 30 visit last week, however, league executives remain split on which top quarterbacks should slot into the second and third picks.

“If I had to put a guy on the field right now, I would side with the LSU kid (over North Carolina’s Drake Maye),” an AFC coordinator said, per NFL Media’s Tom Pelissero.

The Heisman Trophy winner possesses the athleticism and football acumen to make any scout salivate. The FBS leader in passer rating threw 40 touchdowns last season with just four interceptions (72.2 percent on passing).

“He looks like he’s more ready to digest an NFL game plan, go through progressions, make decisions on time, distribute the ball, and then he also has elite run skills,” the coordinator added.

As for Maye, the 21-year-old quarterback is the NFL quarterback prototype. However, his somewhat tumultuous record at North Carolina (UNC ushered in new offensive coordinator Chip Lindsey just before the 2023 season) has led some scouts to doubt his pro readiness.

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“The best thing that could happen to him is to sit for a year, and then I think if he goes to a good spot and he learns — and it seems like he’s a good kid and he’ll do all the right stuff — he’ll ultimately have success,” a different AFC coordinator said.

There’s a handful of stories — particularly in recent years — of quarterbacks finding success after sitting their rookie year behind a veteran. Just as often too, a rookie quarterback is thrown in as a starter alongside an already-struggling roster, damaging his confidence and stunting his development (see: Mac Jones).

“If he had to go play early for a bad team, I think it might set him back and I’d be concerned about that. He’s more tools than complete player, to me, right now. He misses stuff that he shouldn’t, just in terms of accuracy. There’s stuff that he leaves out there that he needs to clean up.”

Still, before the Lindsey switch-up, Maye was one of the most productive quarterbacks in college football during his 2022 sophomore season. He tallied 4,321 passing yards and 38 touchdown passes, even adding seven more touchdowns on the run. His numbers earned him a spot in the top 5 in FBS, before they dipped slightly in 2023.

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Wolf, touting a “draft and develop” system, could be ready to make a bid on the 2022 ACC Rookie of the Year and Player of the Year.

“To me, he’s perfect for New England (which holds the No. 3 pick) because they’ve got Jacoby (Brissett). I think he’d be perfect there to sit for a year. He is the biggest high-ceiling, low-floor guy. Because he’s immature. Not bad immature — he’s just like a kid,” an AFC assistant coach said.

Still, one longtime NFL personnel believes each of the projected first-round quarterbacks have the skill to start the 2024 season.

“They’re all different. They’re all good dudes. They’re all smart enough,” he told Pelissero.

Round one of the 2024 NFL Draft kicks off on April 25 at 8 p.m.

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Drake Maye or Jayden Daniels? AFC personnel evaluate Patriots' QB prospects (2)

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Drake Maye or Jayden Daniels? AFC personnel evaluate Patriots' QB prospects (2024)

FAQs

Who is the number 1 quarterback prospect? ›

1. QB CALEB WILLIAMS, USC.

Which QB will Patriots draft? ›

The Patriots did the predictable thing on the first night of the 2024 NFL Draft, staying put at third overall and selecting quarterback Drake Maye from the University of North Carolina.

Will Jayden Daniels be the first pick? ›

The Washington Commanders have selected LSU quarterback Jayden Daniels with the No. 2 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft. Daniels, who started his college career at Arizona State before transferring to LSU, completed 65% of his passes for 12,749 yards with 89 touchdowns and 20 interceptions.

What are the Patriots draft picks for 2024? ›

An optimistic look at the Patriots' 2024 draft class
  • QB Drake Maye (North Carolina) ...
  • WR Ja'Lynn Polk (Washington) ...
  • OT Caedan Wallace (Penn State) ...
  • G Layden Robinson (Texas A&M) ...
  • WR Javon Baker (Central Florida) ...
  • CB Marcellas Dial (South Carolina) ...
  • QB Joe Milton III (Tennessee) ...
  • TE Jaheim Bell (Florida State)
May 2, 2024

Who is the underrated quarterback in the 2024 draft? ›

PICK: Michael Penix Jr., QB, Washington

Penix has proven to be one of the best downfield passers in this class. He's a natural thrower with great vision and processing skills, and he showed last season he can elevate an offense around him. Penix can do the same at the next level.

Who will be the best QB in the 2024 draft? ›

Share Video
RankQuarterbackFornelli Rating
1.Caleb Williams8.98%
2.J.J. McCarthy7.64%
3.Jayden Daniels2.93%
4.Spencer Rattler2.71%
10 more rows
Apr 25, 2024

Will the Patriots draft a quarterback in 2024? ›

Move over Drake Maye, you're not the only quarterback drafted by the New England Patriots in the 2024 NFL Draft. The Patriots used their late sixth-round pick to select Joe Milton III, a quarterback from the University of Tennessee, a developmental quarterback with a high ceiling.

Is Maye a good quarterback? ›

Maye is the prototypical size for an NFL-caliber quarterback, coming in at 6-foot-4, 230 pounds. The 21-year-old also put together some strong tape throughout his collegiate career for the Tar Heels. In 2022, Maye won ACC Player of the Year honors after throwing for 4,321 yards and 38 touchdowns.

Who will the Patriots most likely draft? ›

The most likely scenario, per sources, remains that the Patriots will stay put at No. 3 and select LSU's Jayden Daniels, North Carolina's Drake Maye or Michigan's J.J. McCarthy.

Will Jayden Daniels declare for draft? ›

LSU quarterback Jayden Daniels enters the 2024 NFL Draft as the reigning Heisman Trophy winner.

What number will Jayden Daniels be drafted? ›

2 pick in 2024 draft.

What round will Jayden Daniels be drafted? ›

A new era in D.C. brings a new franchise signal-caller. The Washington Commanders selected LSU product Jayden Daniels at No. 2 overall in the 2024 NFL Draft -- the inaugural draft pick of the Josh Harris era and the first big move of the Adam Peters-Dan Quinn partnership -- on Thursday in Detroit.

Who was Mr. Irrelevant in 2024? ›

Irrelevant, a title annually bestowed upon the last pick in the NFL draft. The New York Jets selected Alabama safety Jaylen Key with the 257th and final pick of the 2024 NFL Draft on Saturday in Detroit.

How many Patriots draft picks are there in 2024? ›

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. -- The New England Patriots made eight draft selections at the 2024 NFL draft -- starting with quarterback Drake Maye at No. 3 overall. The Patriots also addressed a need at wide receiver, drafting two through four rounds.

Where is the NFL draft 2025? ›

In 2025 this extraordinary event travels to the most historical site in all professional sports. Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wisconsin. A place that honors history, revels in stories of excellence and appreciates the grit and tenacity of the players that walk this stage. Be a part of history – a new chapter.

Who is the #1 prospect in the NFL? ›

Top prospect Caleb Williams was responsible for 11,042 yards and an FBS-high 120 touchdowns during his three-year college career (2021-23). He is one of 87 players in FBS history with 10,000 yards of offense and 100 TDs -- but the only one to commit fewer than 20 turnovers (19).

Who is the #1 QB in high school in 2024? ›

Dylan Raiola

Who will be the best QB this year? ›

2023 Top NFL Quarterbacks
  • Lamar Jackson, Baltimore Ravens. ...
  • Jalen Hurts, Philadelphia Eagles. ...
  • Josh Allen, Buffalo Bills. ...
  • Dak Prescott, Dallas Cowboys. ...
  • Justin Herbert, Los Angeles Chargers. ...
  • Tua Tagovailoa, Miami Dolphins. ...
  • C.J. Stroud, Houston Texans. ...
  • Brock Purdy, San Francisco 49ers. Preseason ranking: unranked.
Dec 6, 2023

Who is #1 QB in 2025? ›

Julian Lewis

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