The New England Patriots have been very open about getting better on offense. That starts with a franchise quarterback. For months, Caleb Willams, Jayden Daniels, and Drake Maye have been the top prospects at the position, but recently, Michigan quarterback J.J. McCarthy has been rising up draft boards. McCarthy has potential, and some of the throws he makes are quite impressive. His ability to throw on the run and off-platform is something that catches the eye of scouts around the NFL. He is also a proven winner, although he did have one of the best supporting groups in the nation. With a solid offensive line, and playmakers such as Roman Wilson and Blake Corum, McCarthy had plenty of help in 2023. This has led to questions about his ability to carry a team.
At only 21 years old, McCarthy still has plenty of developing to do. If the Patriots want to bet on McCarthy’s potential, they need to do everything they can to build around him. That might start with having him sit on the bench in his rookie year, while New England fills out the roster. Giving McCarthy time to sit will allow him to learn behind current Patriots quarterback, Jacoby Brissett. The Patriots will also need to fill some huge holes on the roster to help McCarthy. Addressing offensive tackle and wide receiver needs to be the top priority for New England if they decide to take a chance on the Michigan quarterback.
If the Patriots decide McCarthy is their guy, should they take him at third overall, or trade down and risk him being taken by another team? There are many people who believe that McCarthy will be selected fourth overall if the Patriots pass on him. This will come as a result of a team like the Vikings trading up to fourth overall to get their quarterback of the future. So, if New England believes that McCarthy can be the future of the franchise they will most likely stay at three and take him there. Although, with the number of holes on the roster, it may be smarter to trade down and pass on a developmental player such as McCarthy.
With the amount of talent at the quarterback position in this year’s draft, it would be difficult for New England to justify taking McCarthy at third overall. The Patriots should look to get a more proven talent for their future, such as Jayden Daniels from LSU, or Drake Maye from North Carolina. Daniels had the best season in 2023 of any quarterback in the class, and Drake Maye’s upside is absolutely incredible. If McCarthy is selected at pick three over Maye or Daniels, there will most likely be quite a few angry fans. Taking a huge risk on a player like McCarthy during a rebuild could be what ends the careers of many Patriots front office members.
How could the Patriots best support McCarthy in the NFL Draft?
There are a few different directions the Patriots could go when it comes to helping their future quarterback. They could do whatever it takes to solidify the offensive line, and that starts with the NFL Draft. Assuming New England selects McCarthy in the first round, they will need to address the tackle position in the second. A player like Kingsley Suamataia from BYU is somebody who should be on the Patriot’s radar. Suamataia is a great athlete who could turn into the next great left tackle in the NFL. By adding an elite prospect to protect McCarthy, New England will be doing exactly what needs to be done for the future.