Patriots

“It’s hard for me today — today — to see Jayden Daniels sliding much past pick No. 2. So, let’s pencil him in there.”

Unless they trade up, the Patriots will have to wait to see what the Bears and Commanders do with their picks before they can make their selection at No. 3 overall.

The Bears reportedly prefer Caleb Williams at No. 1. ESPN polled a combination of general managers, coaches, scouts, player personnel staff and other front office executives last month. More than 80 percent of the poll’s participants predicted that Williams will land with the Bears.

So, what will Washington do at No. 2? ESPN’s Adam Schefter said the Commanders are likely to take LSU’s Jayden Daniels.

“I know we’re not supposed to spoil picks, and we’ll see how the Commanders decide to move forward with the No. 2 overall selection,” Schefter said during an episode of The Adam Schefter Podcast, as transcribed by NESN. “But a little over a few weeks out, to me, I think the signs continue to point to Jayden Daniels being the second overall pick. Seems like he’s popular in the scouting community, seems like he’d bring a lot of the attributes that the Commanders would like.”

Schefter even said that Daniels could practically be penciled in as the No. 2 pick.

“I think Jayden Daniels is going to be someone who really appeals to them,” Schefter said. “It’s hard for me today — today — to see Jayden Daniels sliding much past pick No. 2. So, let’s pencil him in there. I know we’re not supposed to reveal the picks in advance. We don’t know what the picks will be. We’ll see how this shakes out.”

“I think that’s how it’s stacking up a few weeks out,” Schefter continued. “Caleb Williams one, Jayden Daniels two and then the New England Patriots would be on the clock at No. 3 with the possibility of taking Drake Maye.”

If Williams and Daniels are off the board at No. 3, the Patriots could end up with Maye whom coach Jerod Mayo said doesn’t have a ceiling on his potential.

But, the Patriots have also indicated that they would be willing to trade back if they don’t feel strongly enough about the players available to them at No. 3.

Mayo said last month that taking a quarterback is a priority. Team owner Robert Kraft also said recently that he’d like to see the team take a quarterback.

Things could change over the next couple of weeks, but it appears there’s a solid chance that Williams and Daniels will be off the board by time New England makes its pick.