New England addresses its biggest need in the first round of the 2024 NFL Draft.
The New England Patriots have made a splash to open their 2024 NFL Draft. With the third overall pick in the first round, they have selected North Carolina quarterback Drake Maye.
Maye, 21, entered this year’s draft as one of the top QBs available.
A two-year starter for the Tar Heels, he completed a combined 611 of 942 pass attempts (64.9%) for 7,929 yards with 62 touchdowns and 16 interceptions during his sophomore and junior seasons. In addition, he gained 1,147 rushing yards and scored 16 more TDs on the ground during that time.
Maye’s college production is not primary the reason he has become a top three selection in this year’s draft, though. The 6-foot-4, 223-pound passer also is an intriguing prospect due to his franchise-caliber combination of size, arm talent, athleticism, and developmental upside. While there are questions about his comparatively lackluster 2023 season, the Patriots are banking on his potential.
“The exciting part about a guy like Drake Maye, there is really no ceiling with a guy like that,” Patriots head coach Jerod Mayo said earlier this offseason.
“In saying that, when we’re trying to put together this roster, I know a lot of people look at the ceiling. But you also have to look at how low is the floor. I would say a guy like Drake Maye — he has a lot of room to grow. He’s a young guy. Honestly, he hasn’t played football nearly as much as these other guys. So that’s definitely something we’ve looked at, but he’s definitely going to develop.”
Maye and the Patriots had several meeting points during the pre-draft process. He interviewed with the team at the Scouting Combine and his pro day, and later also was one of four quarterbacks reportedly brought into Gillette Stadium for a pre-draft visit.
Now, he will be able to call New England his permanent home.
With Maye selected by the Patriots, quarterbacks have now gone 1-2-3 for the first time since 2021. USC’s Caleb Williams went to the Chicago Bears as the first overall pick, followed by the Washington Commanders taking LSU’s Jayden Daniels.
The Patriots are next on the clock at No. 34 overall in the second round.
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