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The New England Patriots hope to have found their franchise quarterback when selecting Drake Maye with the No. 3 pick. They rejected two suitors trying to trade up on Thursday night.
Before the draft, rumors persisted of the New York Giants and Minnesota Vikings eyeing the third overall selection. According to ESPN’s Mike Reiss, each NFC team made a pass at the pick.
The Giants reportedly offered pick No. 6 and their 2025 first-rounder. Meanwhile, the Vikings offered picks No. 11, No. 23, and a 2025 first for No. 3 and two of New England’s later picks.
The Patriots, who also needed a quarterback after ending the tumultuous Mac Jones era, stayed put to draft Maye.
“There were different points throughout the process where there were [offers],” Patriots director of scouting Eliot Wolf told Reiss. “All along, we knew we were in a unique opportunity to get a quarterback that we liked.”
Patriots head coach Jerod Mayo said they would have felt “comfortable” drafting any of Caleb Williams, Jayden Daniels, or Maye.
“We had time to think through the process. We went through various scenarios with the coaches and scouts,” Mayo said. “The organization was happy with Drake at 3.”
After missing out on Maye, the Giants pivoted to LSU wide receiver Malik Nabers with the No. 6 pick. They’ll presumably stick with Daniel Jones under center for at least one more year.
On the other hand, Minnesota moved up one spot to No. 10 to snag J.J. McCarthy. The former Michigan quarterback will compete with free-agent signing Sam Darnold for the starting spot on a Vikings offense featuring Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison, T.J. Hockenson, and Aaron Jones.