Could Patriots make last-minute NFL Draft trade?

NFL insider Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated revealed in his latest mailbag that the club has thus far declined offers from other teams for the No. 3 overall pick of the 2024 NFL Draft. 

Breer hinted that Patriots de facto general manager Eliot Wolf could change his mind once the draft gets underway on the night of April 25. 

"They could be willing to move the pick while they’re on the clock," Breer said about the Patriots. He then expanded on why the club could move down in the draft order and also explained what New England could be looking for in exchange for the third overall selection.

"One would be if they were uneasy with the quarterback that falls to them—and remember that they have no control over which one winds up getting to No. 3," Breer continued. "And two, I think it’d have to be a real haul, with enough current-year assets so that New England could fill more than one of its pressing needs in 2024 with top-100 picks. If it happens, my guess is it’d be an on-the-clock trade." 

Most continue to assume the Chicago Bears will make USC Trojans quarterback Caleb Williams the first pick of this year's draft. From there, numerous analysts seem split about whether the Washington Commanders will take LSU Tigers signal-caller Jayden Daniels or North Carolina Tar Heels star Drake Maye at No. 2. 

As for the Patriots' offseason activities, they shipped 2021 first-round draft pick Mac Jones out of town and signed veteran Jacoby Brissett, presumably to have Brissett start ahead of a rookie in September. While it's thought by some that Wolf "wants to stockpile draft picks" by trading out of No. 3, others believe that New England is "set" on spending the third selection on a rookie quarterback. 

In a mock draft posted by The Athletic on Thursday, Chad Graff wrote that "the Patriots plan to hold firm and take a quarterback with the No. 3 pick." That mock draft also suggested that the Minnesota Vikings could give the Patriots overall picks No. 11 and No. 23 this year, a first-rounder in 2025 and a second-rounder in 2026 to move up from No. 11 to No. 3. 

It's unclear if New England would accept that deal or want a certain All-Pro wide receiver included in a draft-night trade.