NFL Trade Rumors: New England Patriots Zeroing in on Quarterback With 3rd Overall Pick

The New England Patriots are trying to figure out their future at quarterback. According to Sports Illustrated's Albert Breer and NFL Network's Ian Rapoport, the Patriots are set to meet with LSU quarterback Jayden Daniels and North Carolina quarterback Drake Maye.

#LSU QB and Heisman Trophy winner Jayden Daniels is set to meet with two of the top 3 teams in the NFL Draft. First up: He’ll head to New England on Monday to meet with the #Patriots, per his agent @agentbutler1.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) April 4, 2024

The Patriots are hosting North Carolina QB Drake Maye on a 30 visit tomorrow at Gillette Stadium, per sources. New England holds the third overall pick, and met with Maye at the combine, and again before his pro day in Chapel Hill.
— Albert Breer (@AlbertBreer) April 4, 2024

Daniels won the Heisman Trophy with the Tigers last year, dominating as both a passer (3812 passing yards, 40 touchdowns, and four interceptions) and runner (1134 rushing yards, 10 touchdowns) as a 23-year-old, fifth-year senior.

Maye is a sturdy passer with ideal size (6'4") and girth (223lbs). He played 30 games with the Tar Heels, totalling 8018 passing yards, 63 passing touchdowns, and 13 interceptions. Though not as elusive or explosive as Daniels, he has an overpowering rushing style reminiscent of Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen: his 1209 rushing yards and 16 touchdowns over the past two seasons actually dwarf Allen's college totals with Wyoming (767 rushing yards, 12 touchdowns).

The Patriots have already cleared the deck at quarterback, trading 2021-2023 starter Mac Jones to the Jacksonville Jaguars earlier this offseason. After a promising Pro Bowl rookie season, Jones was part of a disastrous 2023 Patriots offense that tied a league-low with 13.9 points per game. The Patriots signed Jacoby Brissett in March, but he's mostly a backup.

Whoever the Patriots draft will have a tough road ahead of them. First-year head coach Jerod Mayo will have the unenviable task of replacing Bill Belichick, and the offense lacks the pieces in place for a quick climb back to relevance. Whatever passer ends up under center will likely have to take their lumps for at least a season.