The Patriots Interest In JJ McCarthy

By Steve Atkinson 

The Patriots are sitting at number three in the NFL Draft and will not be trading the pick and will draft a quarterback. Which quarterback will they draft? It’s really down to two either Drake Maye or JJ McCarthy. Jayden Daniels is probably going to the Commanders with the second overall pick which leaves Maye or McCarthy. Whichever one Eliot Wolf and company decide they want to make sure they get it right so three years from now they can throw shots at Belichick and say “we got it right this time.”

The Patriots look to get the quarterback decision right this time

The hype around Drake Maye is also towards JJ McCarthy who Eliot Wolf loves according to a report this week from NFL Draft analyst Tony Pauline who was a guest on Tom E Curran from NBC Sports Boston Patriots Podcast.

What I heard from other general managers—not from the Patriots but other general managers—is that Eliot Wolf, the de facto general manager for the Patriots, is in love with J.J. McCarthy,” Pauline told Curran. And right now, the feeling is that J.J. McCarthy—or at least Eliot Wolf, is pushing for J.J. McCarthy, and that seems like it’s going to be the pick,” Pauline continued. “I could understand the love for J.J. McCarthy. I don’t agree with it, but I understand it because whether it’s J.J. McCarthy or any of these Michigan kids, they have acquitted themselves well during the interview process.

I can see why Eliot Wolf would like JJ McCarthy. He just won the National Championship and there’s a lot of hype around him. Just like Mac Jones did coming out of Alabama. The only difference is this time Wolf wants to prove they will develop the quarterback the correct way instead of the wrong way like Belichick did with Mac Jones.

The same can be said for Drake Maye if they draft him. Look at what Nick Casserio just did to C.J. Stroud got him Stefon Diggs, like the Buffalo Bills did for Josh Allen. Nick Casserio is building around his young quarterback of the Texans.

That is why good things could be ahead for the Patriots without the hard-ass vibe of Belichick in the building. Jerod Mayo even said last week the coaching is there this time to help a quarterback.

 I feel very good about the staff we have. We have guys – T.C. [McCartney], AVP, even McAdoo; all guys that bring a certain skill-set to the quarterback position. Now the balance is he needs to hear that one voice. And what happens sometimes with younger quarterbacks, they have their quarterback guru, they have their quarterback coach, most offensive coordinators are quarterback coaches. So, look, those guys have worked together in the past and they’re on the same page to support any quarterback we bring in.”

The Patriots will go to the draft to find a legit receiver that can be a number one. Who will that be? I have no idea and really nobody does. But I trust that Eliot Wolf and his staff will have their voices heard finally and they’ll find a legitimate wide receiver for either Drake Maye or JJ McCarthy.