The New England Patriots makes a big move in the NFL and have three potential trade ideas on the table.
The New England Patriots began their offseason by appointing Jerod Mayo as the replacement for head coach and general manager Bill Belichick. Now, as Mayo settles into his role in his first year as coach and owner Robert Kraft implements a new front-office structure, the team’s strategies for the 2024 NFL Draft are becoming clearer.
New England forfeited a top-two draft pick in the NFL Draft due to a game-winning field goal against the Denver Broncos in Week 16. This last-minute victory resulted in the Patriots dropping to the No. 3 position in the 2024 NFL Draft order, and it appears likely that this development will significantly impact their plans for draft night.
The Patriots are extremely open to trading down to a team that needs a quarterback, according to ESPN’s Dan Graziano, and passing on either quarterback Jayden Daniels or Drake Maye with the third overall choice.
Executive Eliot Wolf seemed to support the team selecting the best quarterback available, despite the opinions of many fans. prioritise strengthening your roster first. Despite quarterback Mac Jones’ struggles, the Patriots have had one of the worst NFL offenses for the past two seasons, and the team acknowledges that Jones lacks a strong supporting cast.
Because of the lack of offensive skill on the Patriots roster at several areas and where New England is picking in 2024, trading down on draft night is quite possible. As for whether or not it’s a good idea, a few conceivable trade scenarios can answer that.
Analyzing three possible draft-day trade situations
It is still anticipated that quarterback Caleb Williams of the Chicago Bears will be selected first overall, and quarterback Drake Maye of the Washington Commanders will be selected second overall. Even though Daniels would still be available for New England, their system isn’t set up to handle a quarterback who still has a long way to go before becoming a proficient passer.
It makes the Patriots’ chances of dealing the third overall pick higher as a result. Several clubs have already indicated that they would be willing to move down for a quarterback, so New England may consider a few trade-down options.
The New England Patriots could potentially strike a trade with either the Atlanta Falcons or the Minnesota Vikings. In a swap with the Falcons, the Patriots might secure the 8th overall and 43rd overall picks in the 2024 draft, along with second and fourth-round picks in 2025. This move could enable them to select Joe Alt from Notre Dame or Olu Fashanu from Penn State, addressing their left tackle need.
Alternatively, a trade with the Vikings, while keeping New England within the top 10 picks, is preferred. However, dealing with the Vikings could yield a more enticing return. In this scenario, the Patriots could acquire the 11th and 42nd overall picks in the current draft, along with Minnesota’s first-round pick in 2025. This would allow New England to target the best wide receiver or offensive tackle prospect available in the 2024 NFL Draft with the 11th overall selection.
Should the Patriots be open to sliding a bit lower in the draft hierarchy, a trade with the Las Vegas Raiders appears to be the most logical option. A potential exchange could involve sending the No. 3 pick to Las Vegas in return for the 11th and 44th overall picks in the current draft, along with a 2025 first-round pick. Additionally, New England would swap its 2025 fifth-round pick for the Raiders’ 2025 third-round selection.
