The New England Patriots must reply a elementary query as they embark on rebuilding their offense: Do they begin with the quarterback, or do they first tackle the opposite spots round an important place on the sphere earlier than investing in a single?
There are arguments in each instructions, nevertheless it seems the staff has zeroed in on its method. Step one will seemingly be to handle the QB emptiness, after which the opposite items will fall into place at a later level.
How do we all know? The Patriots have seemingly not proven any want to commerce out of their present draft slot at No. 3 total — prime actual property in the event that they need to add one of many high quarterback prospects accessible on this yr’s class. Based on a report by Sports activities Illustrated’s Albert Breer, the group has proven “no urge for food” to commerce its choose:
[A]ssuming the Bears, Commanders and Patriots keep put and draft quarterbacks—zero of the three have proven an urge for food for buying and selling a type of picks—McCarthy isn’t just worthy of being, at worst, the fourth QB off the board, however perhaps somebody price shifting up for.
The Patriots have been the topic of commerce hypothesis all through the offseason. Not solely have they got a number of holes throughout their offense, in addition they may need a keen commerce associate within the equally quarterback-needy Minnesota Vikings.
Nevertheless, it seems more and more possible that New England won’t entertain any commerce gives and as an alternative keep put. Doing so would permit the membership to pick one of many high quarterback prospects on this yr’s draft.
Whereas USC’s Caleb Williams is probably going headed to the Chicago Bears at No. 1 total, considered one of North Carolina’s Drake Maye and LSU’s Jayden Daniels would then be accessible within the third spot, with Michigan QB J.J. McCarthy additionally a dark-horse candidate. A kind of three ending up in New England looks like a comparatively protected guess at this cut-off date.
The Patriots are in want to handle their quarterback spot after ending the Mac Jones period with a 4-13 file and him getting benched in favor of backup Bailey Zappe. The previous first-round draft choose Jones has since been traded to Jacksonville, with Zappe additionally not displaying a lot that may recommend he could be a long-term answer.
The staff did signal veteran Jacoby Brissett in free company, however he too seems to be little greater than a bridge choice. All issues level towards the Patriots including their subsequent QB within the draft, and with the third total choose.