Patriots impressed by ‘unique’ class of quarterbacks, but remain ‘open for business’

Eliot Wolf held the team’s annual pre-draft press conference on Thursday.

With one week until the 2024 NFL Draft, the New England Patriots are leaving all options on the table.

Meeting with the media on Thursday, Patriots director of scouring Eliot Wolf said the team remains “open for business” regarding a trade involving the No. 3 overall pick, while they also have been impressed by a “unique” class of quarterback prospects.

“Ongoing. We’re open to anything,” Wolf said on trade talks. “Moving up, moving down. We’re open for business in the first round and in every round. We have some holes we feel like we need to fill in the draft. We’re a draft-and-develop team; the more picks we have the better.”

Speaking at the NFL Annual Meetings last month, head coach Jerod Mayo said the team would consider moving off the pick for “a bag” — or multiple first-round selections. Wolf shared Thursday that the team has not received such an offer at this point in time that they would think about dealing the No. 3 pick in exchange for.

As for the class of quarterbacks, Wolf, Mayo and the rest of New England’s brass has spent plenty of time with the top prospects at the position throughout the pre-draft process. That included hosting LSU’s Jayden Daniels, UNC’s Drake Maye, Michigan’s J.J. McCarthy, and Washington’s Michael Penix Jr. to Gillette Stadium on visits.

Beyond getting to spend time with and learn about the top projects, which also includes USC’s Caleb Williams and Oregon’s Bo Nix, Wolf has valued gaining the opinions of their former college teammates as well.

“Hearing how impressive they are as teammates, as people, as leaders, I think it’s a unique year,” he said. “I’d say that’s been impressive with all six of these quarterbacks that are kind of the top guys.”

While quarterback remains the team’s biggest need moving forward, Wolf shared the team’s first pick does not have to be used at the position. But if they do, New England is “comfortable” with the options that will be available to them, as well as with the infrastructure that will be around a potential rookie QB.

“We feel good about where we are,” Wolf said. “We feel through free agency, on the offensive side in particular, that we’ve been able to supplement our roster properly so we’re not having to draft for need as much.”