Insider expands on what Patriots would reject for third pick of 2024 NFL Draft

There's more information about why the New England Patriots still possessed the third overall pick of the 2024 NFL Draft as of Wednesday morning. 

In an ESPN mock draft posted on Tuesday, Patriots insider Mike Reiss predicted that New England will select North Carolina quarterback Drake Maye at No. 3. Reiss also mentioned that he believes the club would reject an offer from the Minnesota Vikings of picks No. 11 and No. 23 this year along with a 2025 first-round selection for the third choice "after consulting with Patriots sources on what it would have taken to move up to this pick." 

Hours before ESPN shared that mock draft, it was reported that the Patriots viewed offers they'd received for pick No. 3 as "laughable." In a piece published on Wednesday, ESPN's Jeremy Fowler revealed that "the Patriots have fielded trade calls but haven't been wowed by a potential deal yet" regarding the third selection. 

Fowler also said that his "sense after asking around to several sources is that the Patriots have" LSU quarterback Jayden Daniels rated ahead of Maye. Many expect the Washington Commanders will select Daniels via the second choice, and DraftKings Sportsbook listed Daniels on Wednesday as the betting favorite at -475 odds to go to Washington at No. 2. 

Fowler concluded that "signs point to" New England staying put and taking either Maye or Michigan star J.J. McCarthy at No. 3. However, NFL insider Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk has routinely suggested that the Vikings could package star wide receiver Justin Jefferson in a trade to move up to either No. 2 or No. 3 in the draft order with a quarterback in mind. 

Jefferson is in the final year of his rookie contract and likely will eventually sign a deal that makes him the NFL's highest-paid non-quarterback for a period of time. New England theoretically could ask Minnesota for Jefferson and the 11th pick to move off of No. 3. The Patriots could then take a flier on either Washington quarterback Michael Penix Jr. or Bo Nix of the Oregon at No. 11. 

It's unclear if the Patriots and Jefferson could come to terms on a contract before the draft's third pick is spent on Thursday night. While things often change quickly in the NFL, it appeared roughly 33 hours before the start of the player-selection process that New England would only consider a historic "Godfather offer" for the club's coveted draft asset.