Sunday Patriots Notes: Commanders talk about their own quarterback decision at No. 2 overall

Notes and thoughts on the Patriots and the NFL on April 21.

The 2024 NFL Draft is within reach, as the New England Patriots get set to make a potential franchise altering decision with the No. 3 overall pick Thursday night.

For anything we did not touch on — draft or otherwise — here is our weekly notebook clean-out. Welcome to our Sunday Patriots Notes.

1. Commanders check-in: The Patriots will be on the clock quicker than usual in the 2024 NFL Draft. But, the wait will be just as suspenseful. Despite Caleb Williams all but locked into the No. 1 overall pick, what the Washington Commanders do with the second overall selection is anyone’s guess.

When speaking at the Commanders pre-draft press conference on Thursday, general manager Adam Peters said the team will likely come to the decision for the No. 2 overall pick early next week. Part of the remaining process between now and then is a conversation with head coach Dan Quinn.

With Washington seemingly locked in on a quarterback with the selection, Quinn offers a unique point of view — and similar to that of Jerod Mayo — as a defensive minded head coach.

“What does it look like if you can take somebody all the way in disguise, how quickly can they process? As a defensive coach, it’s looking like zone but it’s really man-to-man, it’s not two-high it’s one-high. All the triggers that you want to get too, can you do it after [the quarterback] gets the ball in his hands,” Quinn told ESPN’s John Keim at the NFL Annual Meetings.

“That to me is always one of the triggers to say, ‘Can we hold a disguise to make him really figure it out after the snap.’ The best of the best [at the position], yes I can process as I’m taking the ball, as I’m going through the play. So that’s what I look for into these guys.”

Among the group Washington will decide amongst with the No. 2 overall pick — likely between LSU’s Jayden Daniels or UNC’s Drake Maye — the reigning Heisman Trophy winner’s processing ability stood out to Quinn.

“[LSU] had concepts, and looks, and different things that Jayden has been able to really process things quickly,” he said. “He may not run as much as Drake does… but he has real decision making process, like fast.”

As for Maye, Quinn said: “I think what you see is the ability to create and get outside on the run. When the protection break down — boom, he create and can go. That’s one of his super powers, for sure.”

Another important trait the head coach looks for in his evaluation: experience. And entering the draft, Daniels has totaled 3,418 snaps compared to Maye’s 1,998.

“You know what else helps, just playing experience. For anyone who plays quarterback, just having snaps – like thousands of snaps, that’s a big deal, man,” Quinn added. “You don’t want to take somebody who doesn’t have a lot of snaps. You want to have been in the fight, see the game.”

Since Quinn’s comments, Washington has hosted both QBs — along with Michigan’s J.J. McCarthy and Washington’s Michael Penix Jr. — on official visits. Peters and his staff will now debrief on the visits as they come to terms on a decision by Thursday; one that will ultimately impact the Patriots and their search for their own quarterback at No. 3 overall.

2. Cutting the crew: Since the changing of the guards at One Patriot Place in January, one word has continued to describe the new setup: collaboration.

The group collaborating is led by director of scouting Eliot Wolf, who has made it known he’ll have final say on the Patriots draft plans. Throughout the process, Wolf has leaned on a staff led by director of player personnel Matt Groh, senior personnel executive Alonzo Highsmith, senior personnel adviser Patrick Stewart, director of pro scouting Steve Cargile, director of college scouting Camren Williams, and others.

But when the team is up on the clock, Wolf may trim the group down.

“If I’m the only person that wants a player, and everybody else in the building doesn’t want that player then I’m not crazy. We’re going to try to do what’s right,” Wolf said. “At the end of the day, somebody has to make the decision. But there’s a group of people that we’re relying on to help make these decisions. Obviously, Coach Mayo’s heavily involved, coaching staff and whatever coordinator on whatever side of the ball we pick, for each pick, and the scouting department.”

3. Ridley remarks: The Patriots attempted to upgrade their wide receiver position this offseason by offering Calvin Ridley a contract in free agency. They missed out as Ridley ultimately signed a four-year, $92 million deal with the Tennessee Titans. When speaking about the failed pursuit at the NFL Annual Meetings last month, owner Robert Kraft explained “it was not because of finance.”

He then added: “[Ridley] made clearly his girlfriend wanted to be in the South. And we had a situation where the taxes were like almost 10 percent higher. We offered, or were willing to keep going at that premium, but he didn’t want to be in the Northeast. And part of it might be the quarterback situation as well.”

When asked about the swing-and-miss on Thursday, Wolf had a rather simple answer: “Another team offered more money would be the main thing.”

4. Call for Corley: Despite Wolf praising the receivers currently on New England’s roster, adding at the position early will most likely be in the cards in the upcoming draft. But with needs still at quarterback and offensive tackle, perhaps that hole gets filled with pick No. 68 in the third-round.

That’s the route draft analyst Dane Brugler of The Athletic saw unfolding in his post recent seven-round mock draft, as Western Kentucky’s Malachi Corley, who posted over 2,000 total receiving yards and 22 touchdowns over the past two seasons, was the pick for New England at No. 68. It’s a player that NFL Network’s Daniel Jeremiah has in that range as well.

“When you look at wideouts, pick 68, I think wideouts get pushed down a little just because of the sheer number of them,” he said on a conference call Wednesday. “Where I have these guys ranked, you might be looking at someone like a Malachi Corley, who’s a big-time run after catch [threat] out of Western Kentucky.”

Both Brugler and Jeremiah eyed offensive tackle for the Patriots in round two with BYU’s Kingsley Suamataia and Arizona’s Jordan Morgan, respectively.

5. Trade watch: Another avenue that remains open for the Patriots to upgrade their wide receiver talent — or roster in general — is through the trade market. According to Wolf, those conversations have remained opened.

“We’ve had conversations with teams about different scenarios, not just the receiver, but at other positions. So that’s definitely something that we’d be open to,” he explained.

6. 30 counts: Official pre-draft 30 visits concluded last week as team’s can no longer host prospects to their facility. Among the 24 reported visits the Patriots held, the focus trended towards quarterbacks — including UNC’s Drake Maye, LSU’s Jayden Daniels, Michigan’s J.J. McCarthy, and Washington’s Michael Penix Jr. — and offensive tackles.

The entire positional breakdown concluded as follows:

QB: 4; WR: 3; TE: 1; OT: 8; iOL: 1; DL: 1; Edge: 3; LB: 1; CB: 2

7. Jacoby’s role: “We signed Jacoby [Brissett] because he’s a good player,” Wolf said. “He’s a big, strong, relentless preparer, in terms of his ability to take the game plan and apply it through the week to Sunday. He’s got a good arm. He’s big and strong. And we feel like if we end up drafting a quarterback high, he is someone that can support that player and would be a positive influence on them, while competing with them.”

8. Belichick on draft night: While the former Patriots head coach won’t be in a draft room for the first time in over 40 years for the NFL Draft, he’ll still be involved. Belichick is set to co-host Pat McAfee’s Draft Spectacular next Thursday night on ESPN, where he’ll share his insight on players and from his past experiences.

“We’ll have our own draft room set up as if we’re a 33rd team and talk about other team’s needs, trade conversations,” Belichick teased. “I can give a little insight what those conversations are like. I’ve made a few.”

9. Belichick’s insight: With Belichick set to still be involved in the Draft, the former head coach has followed a similar pre-draft routine to familiarize himself with the prospects. Through his work, two positions — that fall on the Patriots list of needs — stand out.

“I definitely think there’s a lot of depth at [offensive tackle and wide receiver],” he said. “They should go white deep into the first-round nod carry over into the second. I imagine there are teams near the tip of the draft that are looking at filling one position in the first-round then either coming back and getting a wide receiver or tackle in the second-round.”

As for quarterbacks — which he shared have a 50/50 hit rate with wide receivers in round one — Belichick is saving his video of what they do well, what they have trouble with and what they need to work on for Thursday night.

10. Setting up the week ahead: With the 2024 NFL Draft opening Thursday night, New England’s brass and coaching staff will spend the next few days finalizing their draft board as they get set to make their most important decision yet at No. 3 overall.

The work won’t stop there, as Day Two of the draft picks back up on Friday with rounds 2-3, while Day Three on Saturday finishes the draft with rounds 4-7. New England will then turn their attention to adding potential undrafted free agents.