The NFL Draft is a key event around the league. It gives organizations the chance to vastly improve the roster for both the present and the future.
Going into this year's draft, the Patriots own eight total selections, including the No. 3 overall pick. There are many different holes on the roster and the Pats could use the extra picks.
Below we'll discuss three trade down partners for the Patriots in the draft.
1. Minnesota Vikings
The Minnesota Vikings have one of the best rosters in the NFL but they now have a massive hole at quarterback. Kirk Cousins decided to sign with the Atlanta Falcons on a four-year, $180 million deal.
They then pivoted and signed Sam Darnold to a one-year, $10 million contract but they are certainly in the market for a quarterback.
Nonetheless, Minnesota is looking to snag their next franchise signal-caller and the Pats are a great trade-up option for them. The Vikings own the No. 11 and No. 23 overall picks in this draft which could entice New England.
The Pats need a QB themselves but they could still take a player like Michael Penix Jr. at that 11th spot while also having another pick in the first round that they could use on potentially a WR or OT.
In this trade-down scenario, they would likely receive a 2025 first-round pick as well.
Potentially acquiring three first-round picks while also being in the range to pick a QB is an interesting decision for Eliot Wolf and Jerod Mayo.
2. Denver Broncos
The Denver Broncos are another team that is looking to upgrade the quarterback position. Sean Payton and company decided to release Russell Wilson at the start of the new league year and absorbed a record-breaking $85 million dead cap hit.
Currently, Jarrett Stidham is the starting quarterback for the Broncos but that won't last long. Payton made it clear that Wilson wasn't his guy and he'll be looking to find his own quarterback for the future.
The Patriots should be keeping a close eye on Denver because they are certainly a trade-up candidate. Denver could be willing to take a big swing and move up to the No. 3 spot for a signal caller.
They have the No. 12 overall pick with one more selection coming in the Top 100. The Broncos would have to pony up their first-rounder this year along with multiple draft assets in future drafts to move up but you could see them doing that.
The Broncos took a massive swing in trading for Wilson so I can see them doing something similar to move up to No. 3 to snag a QB.
3. New York Giants
It's been reported that Eliot Wolf is a big fan of Michigan's J.J. McCarthy. McCarthy wowed teams at his Pro Day and the NFL Scouting Combine. That helped raise his stock and he seems like a lock to be a top 5 selection.
Who knows if Wolf is actually raving about McCarthy or is he driving up the price for the third pick. One certain thing is McCarthy has impressed teams around the league and the Giants are one of them.
Since the combine, there have been leaks that the Giants are interested in McCarthy and could look to move up to select him.
The Giants gave Daniel Jones a four-year, $160 million deal in 2023 but they are already regretting that deal. Jones suffered a torn ACL last season and has dealt with two different neck injuries that are starting to worry management.
This could make the Giants even more aggressive to move up that third spot to pick McCarthy or even another QB like Drake Maye or Jayden Daniels.
If New England did trade with the Giants, they would receive the No. 6 overall pick while receiving multiple other first-rounders to improve this roster.
Regardless of whether it is the Patriots making the selection or another team, the current favorite to be the third overall pick in the draft is Drake Maye of North Carolina. (+100) Head over to FanDuel Sportsbook now, sign up, claim your $200 in bonus bets after your first winning wager, and get in on the action.
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