The Patriots have a new franchise quarterback – and they want it.
New England remained No. 3 overall and selected Drake Maye in Thursday night’s 2024 NFL Draft, naming the North Carolina product as the team’s future signal-caller.
There’s some attitude on the part of the Patriots ahead of the draft, with scouting director and de facto general manager Elliot Wolf telling reporters last week that the team is “open for business” with the No. 3 overall pick. However, they decided to remain silent.
It didn’t go well the last time the Patriots took a quarterback in the first round. That’s because Mac Jones, who was drafted 15th overall in 2021 and became a Pro Bowler as a rookie, stalled and was traded to the Jaguars. Last month, they only acquired a sixth-round pick.
Jones threw for 3,801 yards, 22 touchdowns, and 13 interceptions as a rookie, and the Patriots went 10-7 and made the playoffs, but lost to the Bills in the wild-card round.
Although doubts about Jones increased during his second season, he threw for 2,997 yards, 14 touchdowns, and 11 interceptions in 14 games, and was benched several times in 2023. He had a disastrous performance and was eventually sidelined permanently. Courtesy of Bailey Zappe.
The Patriots finished 4-13 last season, the worst year in manager Bill Belichick’s 24 seasons in Foxboro, and Belichick and owner Robert Kraft parted ways after years of tension. Ta.
It’s been a tough four seasons for the Patriots since Tom Brady left in 2020 and immediately won a Super Bowl with the Buccaneers.
New England hasn’t won in the playoffs since beating the Rams in Super Bowl III five years ago, missing the playoffs for the second straight year, but missing the postseason in back-to-back seasons for the first time since 1999. . And in 2000.
Now, with Jerod Mayo as their new head coach, the Patriots are embarking on a new era with a clean slate.
