The New England Patriots have seemingly been ‘open for business’ when it comes to buying and selling down from the No. 3 common pick, but at least one former regularly occurring manger believes the franchise’s fantastic course of action is staying put and making an effortless selection.
New England is establishing a new era, with head train Jerod Mayo taking the reigns from future Hall of Famer Bill Belichick, and whilst the Patriots should advantage from a large alternate haul that a top-three pick out would command, Rick Spielman suggests Mayo and Co. take a distinctive tact.
Why Drake Maye is Ideal New England Patriots NFL Draft Pick
In CBS Sports’ brand new mock draft projection, Spielman suggests the New England Patriots stand pat at No. three and put North Carolina quarterback Drake Maye’s identify on the team’s draft card.
“This youngster is big, he is athletic,” Spielman writes for CBS Sports. “He can make all the crucial throws, he has exceptional arm talent. I suppose he’s a first-rate leader. … This year, he in all likelihood did too much, forcing too many throws into coverage, which resulted in interceptions, however I assume this youngster is a best healthy for (new Patriots OC) Alex Van Pelt’s offense.”
Drafting Maye would give Mayo and the New England Patriots a potentially elite quarterback to construct round for the subsequent decade.
Last season, Maye passed for 3,608 yards with 24 touchdowns to 9 interceptions final season, and is regarded by means of many inside the league and out as one of the top-three quarterback prospects in this year’s classDrake Maye NFL Draft Scouting Report
Landing a franchise quarterback is a major first step in the direction of the Patriots closing what has become a large gap between the Buffalo Bills, Miami Dolphins, and New York Jets within the AFC East.
“Maye’s dimension and arm brain bounce off the tape immediately,” NFL Media’s Lance Zierlein writes of Maye. “He can make each and every throw, but he will attempt to make throws that he shouldn’t have attempted.
“The gunslinger mentality creates a fearlessness that can turn into interceptions, however it will also allow him to win in tight windows and make splash throws that get crowds (and evaluators) on their feet. He leaves too many throws on the lower back shoulder or hip and wishes to learn when to take some sauce off the throw to make it extra catchable.”
Meanwhile, Pro Football Focus points out that Maye produced the second-most deep-yards of any quarterback in the country in 2023, with 1,452 while garnering a almost ideal 97.1 deep-ball grade and 89.8 typical mark