Patriots

“The way Mayo and Wolf were reacting, they’re not trading out of that pick.”

Nine New England staffers lined the sideline at the University of North Carolina Pro Day Thursday to evaluate their next potential franchise quarterback, Drake Maye. 

Patriots head coach Jerod Mayo and de facto GM Eliot Wolf were both in attendance, watching as the Tar Heel threw 60-plus yards with ease. The two arrived in North Carolina immediately following LSU’s Pro Day where they evaluated Jayden Daniels, another top-tier prospect they could select with the No. 3 overall pick in April. 

According to 98.5’s The Sports Hub’s Cerrone Battle, however, the Patriots appeared impressed by Maye’s 70-throw performance. 

“Eliot Wolf of all people crept up behind him and was standing right behind the UNC coaches and all those guys. He was the only one that got a little closer. He definitely looked like he was a little interested,” he said on Felger & Mazz. 

The 21-year-old quarterback started 26 games for North Carolina, going a combined 611-of-942 for 7,929 yards with 62 touchdowns and 16 interceptions. After a few questionable targets early Thursday, he hit his stride.

Battle added that Wolf wasn’t the only one that showed interest in the Carolina signal-caller. He recalled moments that Maye’s throwing elicited “oohs” and “ahhs” from other NFL teams in attendance. 

“I can clearly tell by the reactions by all the coaches and scouts that were there, they were shaking their head and grinning,” Battle said.

Earlier in the week, Mayo said that the Patriots remain “open to any type of deal” ahead of the Draft. While they’ve been transparent about their pursuit of a quarterback, the 38-year-old head coach didn’t rule out the possibility of trading down from the No. 3 pick. 

“I think if you sit back on any of these quarterbacks, if these guys are all that good and they look at them on the same level, other people will leapfrog you and take these quarterbacks and you’ll be sitting there with Sam Howell at 11, and I wouldn’t risk that at all,” Battle said about the idea of the Patriots trading back to accrue more draft capital. 

“My honest opinion, the way Mayo and Wolf were reacting, they’re not trading out of that pick.”