New England Patriots fans are on tenterhooks waiting for a quarterback fix, but the team's scouting director Eliot Wolf has dropped a bombshell that could leave them reeling just days before the NFL Draft.
With the Pats poised to pick at No. 3 in Detroit come April 25, they're in the hot seat to snag a top QB prospect, with the likes of Jayden Daniels, Drake Maye, and J.J. McCarthy potentially up for grabs. It's seen by many as a golden chance to pick the man to steer the franchise back to its winning ways post-Tom Brady, who departed in 2020.
After a lacklustre stint with Cam Newton at the helm followed by Mac Jones' fleeting promise, which fizzled out leading to his trade to the Jacksonville Jaguars, the Patriots faithful are clamouring for a fresh face to lead. Yet, despite the urgency, Wolf has hinted that the Pats might shuffle down the draft order instead of securing their next signal-caller.
Speaking on Thursday, Wolf threw a curveball saying, "We're open to anything, [both] moving up, moving down," adding fuel to the speculation fire. "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, and we're a draft-and-develop team.
"The more picks we have, the better. But if there's an opportunity to move up and strike if the board kind of recommends it, then we won't be afraid to pull the trigger on that either."
The Patriots are still tipped to snag a quarterback in the upcoming draft, with most mock drafts leaning that way, but they might be tempted by top-tier wide receivers like Marvin Harrison Jr or Malik Nabers at No. 3.
Alternatively, they could play the long game and trade back to pick them later, especially if they're impressed with quarterbacks Bo Nix and Michael Penix Jr, who are projected to go late in the first round or early in the second.
Wolf has rubbished claims that the Patriots' squad isn't robust enough to handle a rookie quarterback's teething problems. The team has bolstered their ranks with seasoned pro Jacoby Brissett, whose nine years in the NFL bring a wealth of experience to the quarterback department.
"I read a lot of that storyline," Wolf remarked. "I'm not really sure what that means. We have a solid offensive line; we re-signed Mike Onwenu, we have David Andrews coming back, we have three rookies that we drafted last year that are developing, we signed [Chukwuma] Okorafor from the Steelers, [re-signed] Hunter Henry."
"[We have] a good running game, a solid foundation and a solid system in place with coach (Andy) Van Pelt on the offense. So, I definitely feel like we can support [a young quarterback]."