Morning Sports Update

Why Mel Kiper is less certain the Patriots will draft a quarterback after early free agent moves

"Are we sure they're not thinking beyond 2024 already?"

Eliot Wolf Patriots draft trade
Eliot Wolf speaking to reporters at the NFL Scouting Combine earlier in 2024. AP Photo/Michael Conroy

By Hayden Bird

3 minutes to read

Mel Kiper’s latest on the Patriots’ draft: There’s still more than a month to go before the 2024 NFL Draft, where the Patriots are set to pick third overall. Exactly who (and where) New England will draft is apparently still a murky picture.

While reports have emerged that Patriots executive Eliot Wolf (working in tandem with new head coach Jerod Mayo) is not interested in trading the pick, not everyone is so sure.

Mel Kiper Jr., ESPN’s longtime draft expert, explained in a recent column why he still thinks New England could trade down and add additional draft capital.

“New England wouldn’t pass up a quarterback here, right? I’m not as confident as I was before free agency began,” wrote Kiper.

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As he noted, the Patriots’ measured approach to free agency could indicate a longer-term rebuilding plan.

“Are we sure they’re not thinking beyond 2024 already?” questioned Kiper.

He envisioned a scenario where other NFL teams see New England’s pick as a way to jump into high enough territory to select one of the top three quarterbacks. In return, New England could add more picks in a bottom-up roster rebuild.

“If a team that fell in love with the third quarterback in this class offered a bevy of draft capital, wouldn’t New England have to consider moving down?” noted Kiper. “That would give the organization multiple first-round picks to improve the entire roster, both this year and in 2025. This is not a team likely to compete this season.”

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The likeliest trade partners? Per Kiper, it could be the Broncos, Chargers, or Vikings. Minnesota is one of the more intriguing options after completing a recent trade to add a second pick in this year’s first round. The Vikings own both the 11th and 23rd picks.

Trivia: Though Bill Belichick gained a reputation for drafting players from Rutgers, he actually only did so in two drafts. One was in 2010, when he selected Devin McCourty in the first round. The other came in 2013, when Belichick picked three Rutgers players (including two in the same round). How many of that trio can you name?

(Answer at the bottom.)

Hint: Two defensive backs, one linebacker.

Scores and schedules:

The Celtics smashed the Pistons 119-94 at TD Garden on Monday night. Boston will be back in action on Wednesday night at home against the Bucks at 7:30 p.m.

The Bruins host the Senators tonight at 7 p.m.

On Wednesday, PWHL Boston will be on the road to play Toronto at 7 p.m.

More from Boston.com:

From the weekend: Periodic Southie resident Jessie Diggins capped the greatest season by an American cross-country skier by winning the final race of the year, clinching her second overall World Cup title.

On this day: In 1981, Danny Ainge ran the length of the floor, past three Notre Dame defenders, and scored the game-winner to send BYU to the Elite Eight of the NCAA Tournament. The sixth-seed Cougars upset the second-seed Irish, 51-50.

Daily highlight: A truly outrageous dunk from Anthony Edwards in the Timberwolves’ win over the Jazz on Monday.

Trivia answer: Logan Ryan, Duron Harmon, Steve Beauharnais

Hayden Bird

Sports Staff

Hayden Bird is a sports staff writer for Boston.com, where he has worked since 2016. He covers all things sports in New England.

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