Patriots HC Jerod Mayo: Drafting QB at No. 3 is 'priority right now,' but 'all the options are still open for us'

As a result of their struggles in the 2023 season, the New England Patriots have earned the No. 3 pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, a selection which brings both power and significant buzz with it.

Many predict the Patriots will use their highest pick since 1993 to draft a potential franchise quarterback, especially considering the talent at the position in this year's class.

But, it appears it wouldn't be wise to make bold predictions this early, as Patriots head coach Jerod Mayo told NFL Network's Steve Wyche on Sunday at the Annual League Meeting that while quarterback is obviously a focus for the team going into the draft, it's not a bygone conclusion that it's is the only direction they could go with their first pick.

"It's the priority right now," Mayo said. "But with that being said, you have to really be in love with the guy to take him at No. 3. So really all the options are still open for us."

The Patriots are in need of stabilization at quarterback, which has overall remained a question since Tom Brady's departure in 2020. But according to Mayo using the No. 3 pick on a QB is not the only avenue available to them to find success at the position.

Of course, drafting a quarterback in the first round is not a guarantee of long-term success, as evidenced by Mac Jones' up-and-down tenure in New England, which started with him being chosen 15th overall in 2021 and leading the team to a playoff appearance that year, but has ended with eight wins in the last two years and Jones traded to Jacksonville earlier this month.

So it's not unreasonable for Mayo to keep his options open at this point in the process, doing his due diligence to ensure that any potential pick is a true fit for his team, regardless of the perceived need to