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(PHOTO: Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports) Heading into Thursday night’s draft, one thing continues to be abundantly clear.
The Patriots want a quarterback, and it feels like it’s going to take something extraordinary for them not to take one with the #3 overall selection.
That means that if another team wants to move them off their spot, they’re going to have to go all out if they plan on changing New England’s plans.
The most likely partner for the Patriots continues to be the Minnesota Vikings, who have the #11 and #23 overall selections ahead of Thursday night. Even better, they appear to be coveting Drake Maye, a player who the Patriots seem to potentially be targeting at #3 overall.
So if the Vikings plan on changing New England’s mind, they’re going to have to put up a significant offer if they hope to come out of this draft with the North Carolina quarterback.
Going back to last week, Wolf made statements to let other teams know they’re opening to fielding offers. He also admitted they’ve already been approached by other clubs.
“There have been conversations that have taken place,” said Wolf, who also admitted that teams are exploring various scenarios ahead of Thursday night’s draft.
What’s interesting is while the Patriots admitted they are willing to listen to offers, it’s evident they’re digging in their heels. Any team inquiring knows that New England is heading into a pivotal draft that will ultimately decide its future. The team needs a quarterback, and that position isn’t just a luxury, it’s an absolute necessity.
In other words, as much as they’re willing to entertain trade possibilities, other teams absolutely have to know it’s going to take something truly special for them to move out of #3 and give up a top-rated player at that position.
Wolf has remained measured and patient and has made it clear that if the Vikings are thinking of making a deal, meaning they truly want to see Drake Maye land in their building, they’re going to have to pry him away from the Patriots with an offer that’s too good to pass up.
It could also mean Minnesota is finally warming up to the reality that Wolf isn’t joking around. So unless they really sweeten the pot Thursday night with something incredible, in addition to their two first-round picks, they’ll walk away without the guy they really want and possibly be forced to settle for whoever is left.
Maybe, as Mike Reiss mentioned two weeks ago, that might include starting left tackle Christian Darrisaw. Wolf said last week that if the season started tomorrow, free-agent signing Chukwuma Okorafor would be that player. That’s not ideal, and landing an upgrade would certainly change things.
Adding Darrisaw, who was taken at 23 overall in the 2021 NFL Draft, would also eliminate the need for the Patriots to take a tackle, freeing up a pick to jump back up to potentially do something crazy.
That could see them even do something like grab J.J. McCarthy at #4 overall while also landing a left tackle in the process. Adam Schefter hinted as much, speculating that the Patriots may, perhaps, make a move, trading out of the #3 spot, only to pull off a potential trade back up to ultimately take a quarterback. If not McCarthy, maybe it’s Michael Penix Jr. at some point in round one.
But, for the Vikings, something has to give. The idea of not getting Maye has to be frightening everyone in their building, especially since the possibility of being a non-factor in the NFC again is now looming. While Justin Jefferson hinted that the club might finally be close to extending him, that will be a moot point if they don’t get someone who can get him the football.
Needless to say, the thought of Sam Darnold starting 17 games for them in 2024 should be all the motivation the Vikings need to potentially make a deal happen with New England Thursday night.
Otherwise, the Patriots will proceed with their own plans. So for now, it’s just a matter of who blinks first. But given what we’ve seen to this point, Wolf won’t be the one backing down given what’s at stake.
(Editor’s Note: Portions of the above appeared in this morning’s Patriots News and Notes Column.)
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