Patriots coach Jerod Mayo is set to speak with reporters early Monday morning at the NFL’s annual meetings in Orlando, Florida.
It looks like he wanted to say something important first.
During a Sunday interview with the NFL Network, Mayo mentioned that the Patriots’ “priority” is to pick a quarterback with the third overall pick, but they are still evaluating their options a month before the NFL Draft.
“Right now, that's the most important thing,” Mayo explained. “But, you really need to be really interested in the person to choose him at No. 3. So, we are still considering all the options.”
Mayo has previously stated that the Patriots will choose the best player available, potentially a quarterback, receiver, or offensive lineman. He labeled these three positions as major needs after his introductory press conference in mid-January. The Patriots have signed external free agents for each position, but none are considered impact starters.
When they're on the clock, the Pats will be able to pick one of the top quarterbacks: USC’s Caleb Williams, LSU’s Jayden Daniels, or North Carolina’s Drake Maye. Williams is expected to be the Bears’ choice at No. 1 overall, and Washington is likely to add a quarterback with the second pick.
Mayo and Patriots de facto GM Eliot Wolf are reportedly planning to watch Daniels and Maye throw in-person at their respective Pro Days next week. Wolf led a group of Patriots evaluators to watch Williams, among others, at USC’s Pro Day last Wednesday. The team also met with all three quarterbacks at the NFL Scouting Combine, and attended Michigan’s Pro Day last Friday, when Mayo and Wolf watched quarterback J.J. McCarthy work out, among other prospects.
It's uncertain if the Patriots choose a quarterback whether they would start right away. The front office signed veteran journeyman Jacoby Brissett, a 2016 Patriots draft pick, to a 1-year, $8 million contract in free agency. In his Sunday interview, Mayo suggested Brissett might start next season.
“A guy like Jacoby, he’s a great leader. Everyone loves him. Having him back in the building is definitely helpful for us. And honestly, look, he could absolutely be our starter this year,” Mayo said. “We’ll have to see. As I said, we’re not committed to picking a quarterback at No. 3, but we feel good having a guy like Jacoby ready to go.”
Brissett’s last season as a starter was in 2022. Under former Cleveland assistant and new Patriots offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt, he had a great year with the Browns, completing 64% of his passes for 2,608 yards, with 12 touchdowns and six interceptions. Among starting quarterbacks, Brissett finished eighth by QBR that year, and in the top half of most other passing metrics.
Despite his performance, Brissett got his next contract with Washington, where he served as the backup last season. The 31-year-old is a fringe starter, with three starting seasons under his belt, including two with the Colts. He has a career passer rating of 85.3.
Brissett went back to New England shortly after the Patriots traded former starting quarterback Mac Jones to Jacksonville for a 2024 sixth-round pick. Jones left backup Bailey Zappe and ex-CFL product turned NFL journeyman Nathan Rourke in the team’s quarterbacks room. Whether the Patriots draft a quarterback at No. 3 overall or not, the team is expected to add another quarterback in the draft.
The Patriots’ No. 3 overall pick is their highest since the franchise selected Drew Bledsoe first overall in the 1993 NFL Draft. Owner Robert Kraft said last month he hopes the team’s next draft class “positions us for the next few years beautifully.”
At the combine, Wolf spoke highly of this year’s quarterback crop and specifically noted the toughness of the top prospects.
“I think it’s a really good year for quarterbacks,” Wolf said. “It’s a really good year at a lot of positions. … One thing about the quarterbacks in this draft specifically that I’m excited about is that they all look like they’re really tough guys, which is obviously great at any position, but the quarterback position especially.”
As for what he’s seeking in the team’s next quarterback, Wolf added: “First of all, being someone that can elevate his teammates, someone that your teammates want to play for. I think that’s an extremely underrated thing that people don’t really talk about that much. Leadership is important and obviously, you know, physical talent — we wouldn’t be talking about these guys if they weren’t physically talented.”
The NFL Draft will open Thursday, April 25, at 8 p.m.
