The New England Patriots have seemingly been ‘open for business’ when it comes to trading down from the No. 3 overall pick, but at least one former general manger believes the franchise’s best course of action is staying put and making an easy selection.
New England is beginning a new era, with head coach Jerod Mayo taking the reigns from future Hall of Famer Bill Belichick, and while the Patriots could benefit from a massive trade haul that a top-three pick would command, Rick Spielman suggests Mayo and Co. take a different tact.
Why Drake Maye is Ideal New England Patriots NFL Draft Pick
In CBS Sports’ latest mock draft projection, Spielman suggests the New England Patriots stand pat at No. 3 and put North Carolina quarterback Drake Maye’s name on the team’s draft card.
“This kid is big, he is athletic,” Spielman writes for CBS Sports. “He can make all the necessary throws, he has tremendous arm talent. I think he’s a great leader. … This year, he probably did too much, forcing too many throws into coverage, which resulted in interceptions, but I think this kid is a perfect fit for (new Patriots OC) Alex Van Pelt’s offense.”
Drafting Maye would give Mayo and the New England Patriots a potentially elite quarterback to build around for the next decade.
Last season, Maye passed for 3,608 yards with 24 touchdowns to nine interceptions last season, and is considered by many inside the league and out as one of the top-three quarterback prospects in this year’s class.
Drake Maye NFL Draft Scouting Report
Landing a franchise quarterback is a major first step towards the Patriots closing what has become a sizable gap between the Buffalo Bills, Miami Dolphins, and New York Jets within the AFC East.
“Maye’s size and arm talent jump off the tape immediately,” NFL Media’s Lance Zierlein writes of Maye. “He can make every throw, but he will try to make throws that he shouldn’t have attempted.
“The gunslinger mentality creates a fearlessness that can turn into interceptions, but it will also allow him to win in tight windows and make splash throws that get crowds (and evaluators) on their feet. He leaves too many throws on the back shoulder or hip and needs to learn when to take some sauce off the throw to make it more catchable.”
Meanwhile, Pro Football Focus points out that Maye produced the second-most deep-yards of any quarterback in the nation in 2023, with 1,452 while garnering a nearly perfect 97.1 deep-ball grade and 89.8 overall mark.
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