The Patriots have their quarterback of the future, selecting Drake Maye with the third overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft.
Speculation about what the Patriots would do continued right up through draft day, with rumors that they might trade down. But in the end, New England did what many expected: Select the best quarterback still on the board.
Maye, who played three seasons at the University of North Carolina, was the third quarterback selected, with Caleb Williams going first overall to the Chicago Bears and Jayden Daniels second to the Washington Commanders.
Rich Keefe’s All-Night Draft Party – featuring Rich Keefe, Andy Hart and Chris Scheim – reacted to the pick live on WEEI. All three hosts were thrilled with the selection.
“Thank you, God,” Scheim said.
“After three months of breaking down what was going to happen, they did what I think most people wanted and kind of how we thought the draft was gonna go 1-2-3,” Keefe said.
Hart noted Boston’s recent streak of good fortune with No. 3 picks.
“So the Boston Celtics are perennial contenders because they took Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum with third overall picks,” he said. “And the New England Patriots will return to glory because they just took Drake Maye with the third overall pick.”
“I love it. I’m into it,” Keefe said.
Hart called this the Patriots’ “most important pick since Drew Bledsoe, and it’s not even close.”
“Whether it was by design or he let his football people make decisions, Robert Kraft got his wish,” Hart said. “He has a talented, good young quarterback that he can sell jerseys to people like Scheim tonight. And the excitement level, the anticipation for a team that is picking third in the draft, hope has returned to New England.
“…In my opinion, you got the second-best player in the draft, potentially, at the number three pick,” Hart continued. “And he fills your massive hole.”
Adam Jones, co-host of Jones & Mego, is on board with picking Maye, too.