Analyst questions if Patriots will draft QB at pick No. 3

ESPN NFL Draft analyst Jordan Reid mentioned for a piece published Friday that new New England Patriots head coach Jerod Mayo could be on board with the club possibly trading down in the draft order from pick No. 3 rather than using that asset to acquire a quarterback prospect such as Caleb Williams, Drake Maye or Jayden Daniels. 

Reid mentioned that the Patriots "entertaining a trade-back scenario" is possible because clubs such as the New York Giants (pick No. 6), Atlanta Falcons (No. 8), Minnesota Vikings (No. 11) and Las Vegas Raiders (No. 13) could all be interested in moving up to No. 3. 

"I could see a scenario where the Patriots trade back and pivot to adding a veteran quarterback via free agency -- or drafting Michael Penix Jr. or Bo Nix," Reid added. 

In a mock draft updated this past Monday, Ryan Wilson of CBS Sports predicted that Penix will be a top-10 pick. On Thursday, CBS' Chris Trapasso put Nix at selection No. 12 in an updated mock draft. 

Logic suggests Mayo and a newly hired general manager won't pass on a quarterback at No. 3 after it was reported earlier this week that the decline of 2021 first-round draft pick Mac Jones was one reason Patriots owner Robert Kraft decided the time was right for the club to move on from legendary head coach Bill Belichick. Ahead of Week 18, temporary New England starting quarterback Bailey Zappe essentially acknowledged a new regime could draft his replacement this spring. 

"New England also lacks talent at the skill positions and could take advantage of a deep (wide receiver) class," Reid continued. "Both starting tackles (Trent Brown and Mike Onwenu) are set to become free agents, which also makes offensive tackle an early-round possibility." 

A new Patriots GM may decide that acquiring multiple assets but staying in the top-10 picks of the draft makes more sense than going all-in on a quarterback at No. 3, especially if Williams and Maye become the draft's first two selections as many believe will be the case. Such a development could attract the attention of Giants general manager Joe Schoen if Schoen wants to move on from Week 1 starter Daniel Jones after the 2024 season.