The third overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft is for sale. The New England Patriots, according to ESPN, are fielding trade offers from quarterback-hungry teams, including, of course, the Minnesota Vikings.
This report means New England could have a strong preference between North Carolina quarterback Drake Maye and LSU quarterback Jayden Daniels, because if they liked both, they probably wouldn’t field calls from other teams. ESPN reports that the Vikings, who have two 2024 first-round picks (No. 11 and No. 23), have a preference for Maye. This makes sense given that new Minnesota quarterbacks coach Josh McCown, a 16-year NFL veteran, coached Maye as a high school quarterbacks coach at Myers Park in Charlotte, North Carolina.
If the Patriots end up trying to trade down, perhaps they could pull off a trade down and then go back up – like what the Arizona Cardinals did in the first round a year ago . The Cardinals fell nine spots, going from three to 12 in the first round of the 2023 NFL Draft after acquiring a 2023 second-round pick and a 2024 first-round pick from the Houston Texans. They then traded the 12th overall pick, a 2023 second-round pick and a 2023 fifth-round pick to the Detroit Lions to move up six spots to the sixth overall pick to select the team’s offensive lineman. Ohio State, Paris Johnson Jr. Arizona also acquired a 2023 pick. Detroit’s third-round draft pick as well.
If New England subsequently tried to move up, it would definitely be for the No. 4 quarterback in the 2024 draft, Michigan’s JJ McCarthy.
The 2024 NFL Draft will take place April 25-27 in Detroit. More coverage of the draft can be found at CBSSports.com, including the weekly updated draft ordinancemock drafts and one available regularly look at eligible prospects.