NFL Mock Draft: Patriots Bypass Heisman Quarterback For 'Can't Miss' Receiver?
With the NFL Scouting Combine starting next week and the draft in Detroit still two months away, there's plenty of time for evaluation, second opinions and - yep - flip-flopping.
Let the "games" begin.
Just a month after its initial mock draft had the New England Patriots taking a quarterback at No. 3 overall, NFL.com's 2.0 version released this week has now changed to new head coach Jerod Mayo instead drafting a receiver.
Jan. 21: LSU quarterback Jayden Daniels.
Feb. 21: Ohio State receiver Marvin Harrison Jr.
March 21: ???
The draft is April 25.
A month ago NFL.com draft guru Daniel Jeremiah was sold on the Patriots selecting Daniels, with Harrison falling to the Arizona Cardinals at No. 4. But now?
While the site projects USC quarterback Caleb Williams going No. 1 to the Chicago Bears and North Carolina quarterback Drake Maye No. 2 to the Washington Commanders, it predicts the Pats will move off quarterback and onto a player who is widely considered one of the best receiver prospects in a decade.
Writes Jeremiah:
"In this scenario, the Patriots go the veteran route to fill the need at quarterback, which frees them up to trade the No. 3 overall pick or take the uber-talented Harrison."
Daniels, meanwhile, slides to the New York Giants at No. 6 and Michigan's J.J. McCarthy goes to the Atlanta Falcons at No. 8. That would mean four quarterbacks drafted in the first eight picks, but none to a Patriots team that last season went 4-13 and split with legendary coach Bill Belichick mostly because of a historically horrible offense dragged down by a combination of Mac Jones and Bailey Zappe.
NFL.com doesn't suggest which quarterback the Patriots will pursue in free agency, but some of the veteran free agents available will include Kirk Cousins, Baker Mayfield, Ryan Tannehill and likely Russell Wilson.
