Patriots beat writer refutes huge NFL Draft rumor

A report from earlier this week claimed that New England Patriots de facto general manager Eliot Wolf is "pushing hard" for the team to make Michigan Wolverines quarterback J.J. McCarthy the third pick of the 2024 NFL Draft. 

In a mailbag published on Friday, though, Patriots beat writer Chris Mason of MassLive wrote that he does not believe New England "taking McCarthy at No. 3 overall is terribly realistic." 

Mason mentioned that Sportskeeda consulting editor and NFL Draft analyst Tony Pauline, who was responsible for the original Wolf story, later revealed to NBC Sports Boston that he had "heard from other general managers – not from the Patriots but other general managers" that Wolf is "in love with" McCarthy. The Patriots have been linked in recent draft stories with McCarthy, LSU Tigers quarterback Jayden Daniels and Drake Maye of the North Carolina Tar Heels. 

Assuming the Chicago Bears select USC Trojans quarterback Caleb Williams first overall, the Washington Commanders will have their pick out of McCarthy, Daniels and Maye. Mason repeated a previous take when he noted on Friday that the Patriots "would like to take a quarterback at No. 3." He thinks that quarterback will be either Maye or Daniels, depending on what Washington does at No. 2 overall. 

"I can’t imagine why the Patriots would telegraph what they were doing at No. 3," Mason added. "If they loved McCarthy, wouldn’t it make more sense to say absolutely nothing about it and try to trade down rather than flaunting their love of the Michigan quarterback to 'other general managers?' So yes, I’d take this report with more than a few grains of salt."

Interestingly, well-known NFL insider Jason La Canfora of the Washington Post reported in a mock draft updated on Thursday that he had heard from general managers and agents that the Patriots "are open to trading" out of the third pick. La Canfora also predicted that Washington would select McCarthy with the second overall selection and allow the Patriots to choose between Daniels and Maye. 

Perhaps somebody within the Patriots is leaking supposed admiration for McCarthy because those running the franchise think the national champion will be off the board before the third pick is spent on April 25.