Jayden Daniels. Drake Maye. J.J. McCarthy. What do these three players have in common? They’re quarterbacks–and have all been tied to the Patriots in one way or another. Every year we have the same conversations. Generational quarterbacks are ripe for the picking! But we know that’s not always the case.
The New England Patriots hold the #3 draft pick in this year’s draft order and all the eyes in the NFL world are focused on the same position. Quarterback.
Many people think the Patriots have no option and NEED to use that high draft pick on the quarterback of the future and they would be fair to think so. Every since the departure of the GOAT Tom Brady from Foxborough, the quarterback room has been a little shaky. A quick stint from ex-Panthers quarterback Cam Newton during the COVID season didn’t produce too many memorable moments and this led the Patriots to select Mac Jones with the #15 pick in the 2021 draft.
Patriots Post-Brady Plan
At the time, it seemed like a great pick. Jones, who was projected to go in the top 5 at certain points, somehow slipped all the way down to Bill Belichick and the Patriots at #15. Jones was coming off a National Championship season with the Alabama Crimson Tide and was ready to make his mark in the professional league. The Patriots got their quarterback and didn’t have to trade up to do so.
After a promising first year which led to a playoff berth, things have been disappointing. The past couple years have included playing musical chairs with staff positions, a very underwhelming supporting cast on offense, and standards and expectations that may have been a little too high for a franchise with six Super Bowl Championships. While the blame can’t be put entirely on one aspect, Jones has taken a lot of the heat. It got so bad to the point where Mike Fisher from SI.com reported that Mac Jones lost “80% of the locker room”.
So why am I suggesting the Patriots should not draft a quarterback?
Planning for the Future
Drafting successful players is hard. Drafting successful franchise quarterbacks is even harder. Every year it seems the analysts and talking heads on TV are talking about a “once in a lifetime talent” that could be a franchise’s savior. Think back to the last couple drafts. When has that actually panned out to be true? Trevor Lawrence? He’s shown some promise but is entering his 4th year in the league and only has one playoff win to show. We could go down the line: Sam Darnold, Josh Rosen, Mitch Trubisky, Kyler Murray…you get my point.
It is very rare to see multiple successful franchise quarterbacks in the same class and I would go as far as to say it is hard to find successful franchise quarterbacks at all. When you have a top 3 or 5 pick in the draft, it is something you need to be very careful with as you (hopefully) don’t get that chance often.
Caleb Williams is the consensus #1 pick and while his draft stock has had more ups and downs than a roller coaster, he is still favored to go to the Chicago Bears. That leaves the rest of the league with a stockpile of options: McCarthy, Daniels, Maye, Penix, and even Bo Nix out of Oregon.
So how do the Patriots feel about these young players? Do they feel good enough to put all their eggs into the rookie quarterback basket? It would not be a good start to the Mayo era by whiffing on the third pick. If Mayo and his staff feel great about one of these guys, then great. Otherwise, I think the choice is clear.
Marvin Harrison Jr.
Buckeyes to Boston.
MHJ is one of the most electric wide receivers to come out of college in a very long time. The spotlight has been on him ever since his junior year at Ohio State and he has not disappointed. Going for over 1,200 yards in back to back seasons and catching 14 touchdowns each year has earned Harrison Jr. the title of best receiver prospect in recent memory. He’s a dynamic playmaker that makes an immediate impact on whatever field he steps on to.
This is who the Patriots need. Take Marvin Harrison Jr. with that 3rd pick or, if possible, trade down a spot or so to a quarterback needy team, and take MHJ. Harrison would immediately be one of the top receivers on the Patriots roster and would force DCs to tweak gameplans to prepare for him. This may be premature as the young receiver hasn’t played a snap in the NFL but he is as sure of a player prospect that you will find.
The options for quarterback then become a little more limited. Bring back Mac Jones for a year under the new staff and OC. Try to lure a veteran leader from free agency to come be a bridge. Worst case scenario, you bring back Jones and he struggles and gives you another solid draft pick in the 2025 draft. But drafting a quarterback that you have to be talked into with the #3 pick in this years draft and seeing him fail is not going to help with morale within the franchise or its fanbase.
Don’t fall into the recency bias bait. That #3 pick is valuable. Very valuable. Take a generational player that most teams would sell half their team to have a chance at. We’ll see what happens come April and how that decision ultimately sets the tone for the future of the Patriots.
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