NFL mock draft: Patriots decide against picking a quarterback at No. 3

The New England Patriots need to address several shortcomings on the offensive side of the ball this offseason, and finding a new quarterback should be No. 1 on that list. However, with the the team entering the 2024 NFL Draft picking third overall, the top two options might be off the board by the time the club is on the clock.

If so, there are three options: trade out, draft the third QB available, or draft somebody else. In the newest two-round mock draft by Dane Brugler of The Athletic, the Patriots opt to go that third route.

3. New England Patriots: Marvin Harrison Jr., WR, Ohio State

The Patriots were cruising to the No. 2 pick until two wins in their final five games dropped them to No. 3. While that likely takes them out of contention for Williams or Maye, the Patriots still have several favorable options.

With Bill Belichick no longer with the organization, there is a level of unknown here, especially considering New England needs help in so many areas. Despite questions about who will throw him the ball, though, drafting a legitimate No. 1 target is the wise move.

With quarterbacks Caleb Williams and Drake Maye off the board, the Patriots decide to pick arguably the best overall prospect this year — a solid consolidation prize. Harrison Jr., the son of Hall of Famer Marvin Harrison, has everything you want in a future No. 1 wide receiver and would instantly upgrade New England’s supporting cast.

How about the quarterback position, though? Brugler has the Patriots address it in Round 2:

34. New England Patriots: Bo Nix, QB, Oregon

The NFL feedback on Nix is interesting. Some believe he can sneak his way into the top 25, while others see him as a third-rounder. The reality probably will fall somewhere in the middle.

Nix, who was born two months after the Patriots hired Belichick, understands where to go with the football, and his scrambling can give defenses fits.

Nix is a polarizing prospect, but he does have some positive traits to develop. He also is coming off a highly productive two-year stint at Oregon, including a 2023 season that saw him complete an NCAA record 77.4 percent of his passes for 4,508 yards with 45 touchdowns and only 3 interceptions.