NFL insider addresses if Patriots could draft J.J. McCarthy

NFL insider Peter Schrager of NFL Media and Fox Sports is not among those who think that the New England Patriots are seriously considering making Michigan quarterback J.J. McCarthy the third pick of the 2024 NFL Draft. 

For his first mock draft of the offseason that was published on Tuesday, Schrager said that he believes "this new Patriots regime will be comfortable" taking either LSU quarterback Jayden Daniels or North Carolina signal-caller Drake Maye at selection No. 3. Schrager mocked Maye to the Patriots and Daniels to the Washington Commanders via the second overall pick. 

Schrager insisted the Chicago Bears are "all in" on taking USC star Caleb Williams first overall. 

"Pats brass took Maye out for steaks the night before his Foxborough visit earlier this month, and those guys loved the Charlotte native," Schrager explained. "That said, they also loved their top-30 visit with Daniels. I think they're fine with whichever one falls to them." 

ESPN NFL Draft guru Mel Kiper Jr. made it known he thinks the Patriots getting Maye at pick No. 3 could go down as a "home run" for the organization even though the North Carolina product likely needs to spend some time developing as a backup before he's ready to face live NFL defenses. It was previously reported that McCarthy "may be QB1 for both" Washington and New England, but such chatter has quieted down.

"New England also wined and dined QB J.J. McCarthy on Monday night, but I still see this selection being Daniels or Maye," Schrager added. 

Kiper and others think Maye should not serve as a full-time QB1 this September regardless of where he lands. As Sean T. McGuire of NESN noted, such concerns may mean little to first-year New England head coach Jerod Mayo considering Mayo is willing to "take it slow" with a rookie quarterback and start veteran Jacoby Brissett throughout the upcoming season. 

As of Tuesday afternoon, DraftKings Sportsbook listed Daniels as the betting favorite to be the draft's second pick at -275 odds. DraftKings had Maye as the favorite at -130 odds to be the third choice of the player-selection process. 

One thing that's unknown is if the Patriots would have any interest in moving down from No. 3 to No. 11 via a trade that would include New England acquiring and also paying Minnesota Vikings star wide receiver Justin Jefferson. In such a scenario, the Patriots could make Washington quarterback Michael Penix Jr. the draft's 11th overall pick.