Report: Jonathan Kraft is ‘heavily involved’ in Patriots’ decision-making on No. 3 pick
"While GM Eliot Wolf is running point," Dianna Russini wrote, "I’m told Patriots’ President Jonathan Kraft is heavily involved in the decision making."
A key question for the Patriots heading into the draft is whether or not they’ll keep the No. 3 pick.
Eliot Wolf, the team’s de facto general manager, has said the team is open to a variety of scenarios including keeping the pick, trading down for more assets, or moving up to snag a player that they like.
The Athletic’s Dianna Russini reported that team president Jonathan Kraft is playing a substantial role in the team’s decision-making.
“While GM Eliot Wolf is running point,” Russini wrote, “I’m told Patriots’ President Jonathan Kraft is heavily involved in the decision making.”
Could the Patriots end up making more than one trade in the first round? ESPN’s Adam Schefter said it could depend on how New England sees Drake Maye and J.J. McCarthy.
“The Patriots, slated to pick No. 3, also have been fielding calls from teams,” Schefter wrote. “It would take a big offer for New England to move off that spot knowing it needs to come out of Round 1 with a quarterback, but the team has listened. And the Vikings, among others, have attempted to move up.”
“Some around the league believe if the Vikings can get as high as No. 3, their preference would be quarterback Drake Maye (North Carolina), who was coached in high school by Minnesota’s new quarterbacks coach Josh McCown,” Schefter continued. “But many are waiting to see how the Patriots value Maye vs. J.J. McCarthy (Michigan) and whether New England could make a play like the Cardinals, who made two trades in Round 1 a year ago.”
The Cardinals had the No. 3 pick in last year’s draft. They traded it to the Texans for No. 12 overall, No. 33 overall, as well an additional first and third round pick in 2024. Then Arizona sent No. 12, No. 34, and No. 168 to Detroit in order to move back up to No. 6 and take offensive tackle Paris Johnson Jr. Arizona also received No. 81 from Detroit in the deal.
A similar path could be in play for the Patriots depending on what is offered and how they feel about the players available to them.
Schefter noted that team owner Robert Kraft said he’d like to see New England get a “top-rate, young quarterback” one way or the other.
The Patriots are reportedly keeping their options open as far as how they’ll acquire that quarterback, but the clock is ticking as the draft is set to begin Thursday.
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