The New England Patriots opted out of entertaining any trade offers during the 2024 NFL Draft, choosing instead to secure North Carolina quarterback Drake Maye as their third overall pick. This decision positions Maye as the potential franchise savior and the successor to lead the team beyond the era of Tom Brady and Bill Belichick.
Despite pre-draft speculations, Maye’s selection at number three was not guaranteed. However, analyst John Middlekauff shed light on the Patriots’ choice to pick Maye over accepting various trade offers. According to Middlekauff, the interest from the New York Giants and Minnesota Vikings in Maye played a significant role. The Patriots considered the credibility of Giants’ head coach Brian Daboll and Vikings’ head coach Kevin O’Connell, both of whom expressed interest in acquiring Maye. Considering their reputation and past decisions, the Patriots deemed it prudent to secure Maye rather than risk losing him to one of these respected coaches.
Drawing parallels to Josh Allen, Maye is praised for his athleticism and strong throwing arm, boasting qualities that surpass those of Mac Jones. Consequently, the Patriots traded Jones to the Jacksonville Jaguars in the offseason and acquired Jacoby Brissett, a highly regarded veteran quarterback, in free agency.
