Drake Maye, Jayden Daniels discuss following Tom Brady with Patriots

Assuming the New England Patriots spend the No. 3 pick of the 2024 NFL Draft on either North Carolina Tar Heels quarterback Drake Maye or LSU Tigers signal-caller Jayden Daniels, that rookie will be tasked with becoming the club's long-term replacement for Tom Brady.

Maye already has a connection with Brady. The to-be rookie worked with assistant coach Clyde Christensen in North Carolina after Christensen became Brady’s quarterback coach for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. 

"Shoot, that’s a lot to live up to now with Tom," Maye acknowledged while speaking with reporters at the NFL scouting combine on Friday, per Mark Daniels of MassLive. "One of the best...Coach Christensen was my [coach]; he helped with the quarterbacks in North Carolina. He coached Tom back in Tampa. I got to watch some old film, some quarterback drills — how consistent he was and how he handled himself and took care of his body." 

Brady guided the Patriots to six Super Bowl championships from 2000 until he left the club as a free agent in March 2020. While 2021 first-round draft choice Mac Jones earned a Pro Bowl nod as a rookie and seemed on track to follow in Brady's footsteps, Jones badly regressed over the past two seasons. New England reportedly will try to trade Jones before, during or after the draft. 

Fair or not, fans and analysts will compare Maye or Daniels to the winningest player in NFL history. Daniels sounds ready to embrace that challenge.

"It would be dope," Daniels said about holding what was once Brady's job. "Obviously growing up and seeing what Tom Brady did there — six Super Bowls — that’s tough to live up to, but it would be dope to come in there and see the success they had and help them get back on that track." 

In mock drafts updated this week, individuals from ESPN, CBS Sports and Walter Football predicted that the Washington Commanders will grab Daniels with the second overall pick. Most have New England taking Maye at No. 3, but CBS' Chris Trapasso thinks the North Carolina product will fall to the New York Giants at selection No. 6.