Patriots' Mayo: Bill Belichick Probably Would've Traded Back over Drafting Drake Maye
May 3, 2024
The New England Patriots just ran a draft without Bill Belichick running the show for the first time since 1999. The Pats' 2024 draft was highlighted by their choice of UNC quarterback Drake Maye with the No. 3 overall pick.
However, if Belichick was still at the controls, Pats head coach Jerod Mayo believes that the team would have traded back for more picks.
"With Bill, we probably would have traded back to get more picks," Mayo told NFL Network's Cameron Wolfe.
"Our path for so long has been accumulating more picks because it was our process. And we still believe in that," Mayo told me. "But we also believe when you're at a position at No. 3, you have to get it right and get a cornerstone player."
There's a few reasons why that may be true. Notably, Belichick appeared on Pat McAfee's draft special during Round 1 and seemed to have mixed thoughts about Maye right now.
But Belichick is not at the controls anymore. Mayo, who played and coached under Belichick, also expressed the importance of taking an "impact player" at a premium draft slot.
"Like Bill, I believe in draft-and-develop long-term. It's always good to have a quarterback on a rookie deal," Mayo told Wolfe.
"At the same time, I don't want to get into the game of, 'I really like this guy, let me trade back 3 picks to pick something up.' No, just take him. If we feel like he's an impact player, then take him."
The Patriots did have opportunities to move down, per ESPN's Mike Reiss.
"A source said the New York Giants had offered the No. 6 overall pick and their 2025 first-round pick, while the Vikings were ultimately willing to part with No. 11 and No. 23, along with a 2025 first-rounder, in exchange for the third pick and two mid-round selections from New England."
Perhaps Belichick would have made either move. Alas, there are new leaders in town with Mayo now the head coach and Eliot Wolf now serving as the Pats' general manager and director of scouting. And they planted their flag on Maye being the team's long-term answer at quarterback.