Bill Belichick reportedly had one player set atop Patriots’ 2024 draft board
"He was going to do everything in his power to try to get that guy.”
Bill Belichick may no longer be calling the shots in Foxborough.
But before the legendary head coach left New England in January, he reportedly had already had a plan in place for the Patriots’ coveted No. 3 pick in the 2024 NFL Draft.
And in a far-from-shocking development, Belichick had his sights set on one of the most gifted quarterbacks in this draft class.
During Wednesday’s episode of “The Insiders,” NFL Media’s Bridget Condon said that Belichick had already honed in on LSU quarterback and reigning Heisman Trophy winner Jayden Daniels as New England’s top target in the draft.
“I can tell you based on conversations that I’ve had with people around the organization, Bill Belichick loved Jayden Daniels,” Condon said. “He was a guy on the top of their draft board. [Belichick] was going to do everything in his power to try to get that guy.”
It should come as little surprise that Belichick valued a prospect like Daniels, especially given the lackluster returns put forth by both Mac Jones and Bailey Zappe during a disastrous 2023 season.
Even though Daniels might have a bit more of a boom-or-bust risk to his overall game when compared to his QB peers like Caleb Williams or Drake Maye, he also might boast the highest ceiling in this draft class due to his dual-threat capabilities.
Daniels stuffed the stat sheet during his second season with the Tigers in 2023. Along with throwing for 40 touchdowns, 3,812 yards, and just four interceptions, he also rushed for 1,134 yards and 10 touchdowns.
Of course, Daniels’s dynamic skillset could see him get taken off the board just before the Patriots land on the clock in the draft. ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr.’s latest mock draft had Daniels going No. 2 overall to the Washington Commanders, with New England selecting UNC QB Drake Maye with the No. 3 pick.
Speaking on Monday, Patriots director of scouting Eliot Wolf stressed that New England needed to “weaponize” its offense after tying for last in the NFL in scoring average (13.9 points) in 2023.
Daniels developed a reputation for generating big plays both through the air and on the ground during his time at LSU. Still, it remains to be seen if Wolf and Jerod Mayo view Daniels in the same light as Belichick.
And, of course, it’s to be determined if Daniels will even be available when it’s time for New England to pick.
“Does Jerod Mayo stick with that and say, ‘OK, we’re going to figure out how we get this quarterback in here,’” Condon said. “Or is he going to say, ‘You know what, I’m now the man in charge, I’m going to do things my way.’ … “Is he going to follow the footsteps of Bill Belichick or completely do his own thing?”
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