Should the Patriots trade the No. 3 pick? ESPN analyst explains why they ‘have to consider’ it.
"I'm not saying [trading down] is necessarily the right way to go, but with so many holes, it's at least something they have to consider."
In 2023, the Patriots had their worst season since 1992 and are now sitting on the No. 3 pick in the draft as a result.
Given the shaky play of Mac Jones and Bailey Zappe, taking a quarterback with the No. 3 pick would seem to be a logical choice.
Head coach Jerod Mayo said quarterback is among his top priorities in terms of positional upgrades, and drafting at No. 3 presents a rare opportunity to take a chance on one so early in the draft. The last player the Patriots picked in the top-10 was Mayo more than a decade-and-a-half ago.
But, as New England fans will remember from the Bill Belichick era, trading down is always an option. So is taking a player other than a quarterback.
In a recent piece posted on ESPN.com, Mike Reiss mentioned two playoff teams as examples of what could happen if the Patriots decide to go in a direction other than quarterback.
Reiss pointed to the Miami Dolphins as a team that benefitted from trading down.
In 2021, Miami traded the No. 3 overall pick to San Francisco in exchange for the No. 12 pick, a third-rounder, and first round picks in 2022 and 2023.
The quarterback that San Francisco took with the No. 3 pick was Trey Lance, who has played in eight NFL games since 2021 with five touchdowns against three interceptions and 797 career passing yards. Lance was eventually traded to the Cowboys in a deal that involved much less draft capital.
The Dolphins traded the No. 12 pick, a 2022 first-round pick, and a 2021 fourth-rounder to Philadelphia to take Jaylen Waddle. Miami also acquired two-time Pro Bowl linebacker Bradley Chubb in a deal with the Broncos centered around a 2023 first-round pick.
The Patriots need a lot of help on offense, and it’s unlikely that all the needs will be addressed in one offseason, ESPN draft analyst Jordan Reid said in the piece.
“I don’t think Mac Jones or Bailey Zappe is the guy [at quarterback] moving forward,” Reid said. “They need offensive tackles. They have no weapons. I’m not saying [trading down] is necessarily the right way to go, but with so many holes, it’s at least something they have to consider.”
If the Patriots keep the No. 3 pick, there’s a chance they could go with a non-quarterback option. Reiss noted that picking the “best player available” has worked out for the Lions, who made the NFC Championship this year.
The Lions traded for Jared Goff in 2021 and used their last three first-round selections on complementary pieces within the offense such as offensive tackle Penei Sewell, receiver Jameson Williams, and running back Jahmyr Gibbs. They also drafted tight end Sam LaPorta and receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown in later rounds.
“The key was to bring in the right pieces so Jared could take off and go to the next level, like he did. It really showed this year,” Lions radio analyst Lomas Brown said. “There was only so much he could do before that.”
Could the Patriots do the same for Mac Jones? That was among the questions Reiss asked in the piece.
Of course, the Patriots could end up taking a quarterback with the No. 3 pick. It’s a “quarterback-driven” league, former Falcons coach Mike Smith said.
It just depends if the Patriots think who ever is left at three has what it takes to become a franchise quarterback.
“New England getting a guy in the building like that would change the outlook for every player, every staff member, and give them something to get excited about,” said former Patriots defensive back Devin McCourty.
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