Patriots 'Best Fit' For Oregon QB Bo Nix?
Are the New England Patriots in the mix for Bo Nix?
Justin Melo of Draft Network believes they should be: Melo labeled the Patriots one of the Oregon quarterback's "best NFL Draft fits" with most of the first round board set up. Nix, fresh off five years between Auburn and Oregon, will go down as the Pac-12's final Offensive Player of the Year after a stellar year with the Ducks, one that saw him throw 45 touchdown passes compared to only three interceptions.
Craig Strobeck, USA TODAY SPORTS
"The Patriots are entering a new era following the departure of Bill Belichick," Melo writes. "Jerod Mayo has been appointed as Belichick's successor and the Patriots plan to hire a general manager to handle personnel. Priority No. 1 for the new regime is finding a franchise quarterback."
But like seemingly any other silver lining presented to the Patriots this year, there's a catch: while Nix figures to fall behind some of the talents of this class' other elite throwers (i.e. Caleb Williams, Drake Maye, and Heisman Trophy winner Jayden Daniels), the Patriots might have to hope that Nix goes beyond the first 33 selections and into their grasp at 34th overall. The Patriots could realistically take a quarterback with the third choice but, as this season painfully proved, there are far too many holes in the current group to believe that taking a quarterback is a surefire bet.
Top choosers Chicago and Washington, each of whom is likely quarterback shopping, will have their pick of the passing litter. But things get very interesting if/when Nix makes it to the draft's Friday stages.
The Patriots possess the third overall pick in April. That means they aren't guaranteed an opportunity to select Caleb Williams or Drake Maye.
"The Patriots could instead take Marvin Harrison Jr., who is the best overall player in the draft," Melo suggests. "New England also possesses the 34th overall selection in the second round. If Nix slips past the first 32 selections and the Patriots are unable to land a premium quarterback prospect, Foxborough instantly becomes a prime landing spot for Nix at the beginning of day two."
While Nix undoubtedly rewrote the narrative of his collegiate career in Eugene, concerns linger about his athleticism and passing velocity. Free agency will likely remove some of the passing buyers from the market, but if the Patriots do pin their hopes on Nix (they did, after all, send scouts to view some of his final games as a Duck), they might have to say a prayer or two as the opening round hits its latter stages.
The 2024 NFL Draft will be held on April 25-27 in Detroit.
