NFL analyst says ‘don’t sleep on’ the Patriots to land Baker Mayfield
"If the New England Patriots are in the Baker business then the No. 3 pick is up for sale."
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NFL Network analyst Daniel Jeremiah just added fuel to the speculation about the Patriots landing QB Baker Mayfield in free agency.
Earlier this week, it was reported that people within the organization are supporters of Mayfield. On Saturday during the NFL combine, Jeremiah said he heard from people that Mayfield returning to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers is not a guarantee by any means.
“We’ve all assumed that Baker just goes right back to Tampa,” Jeremiah said. “Some would say, ‘don’t sleep on the New England Patriots.’ And if the New England Patriots are in the Baker business, then the No. 3 pick is up for sale.”
Rich Eisen noted the Patriots aren’t an attractive landing spot for any free agent QB at the moment, since their offense is depleted. However, with New England holding the most cap space in the NFL, the “bare cupboard” Eisen referenced may not be bare much longer.
In Jeremiah’s scenario, the Patriots would trade down from No. 3 in exchange for a handful of picks to fill other holes in their lineup.
Jeremiah prefaced the conversation as a “fun rumor,” so certainly there’s a chance New England goes in a different direction. The team has done its due diligence interviewing some of the top QBs in the 2024 NFL draft class, and those conversations — as well as who the Patriots project will be available to them at No. 3 — will likely shape their plan at the position.
Still, Jeremiah’s comments are in line with recent reports about New England’s internal support for the former No. 1 overall pick.
Mayfield had the best year of his career with Tampa Bay in 2023, reaching career highs in passing yards (4,044), passing touchdowns (28), and completion percentage (64.3). He has a lot of upside heading into his free agency window, and will likely command a hefty sum of cash for his next team.
One thing is certain: the Patriots need to find their next franchise quarterback. And until they do, the rumors will keep swirling — particularly surrounding the third overall pick.
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