Insider updates if Patriots could trade down in NFL Draft

Much has been made throughout this offseason about the New England Patriots possibly trading the third pick of the 2024 NFL Draft for additional assets needed for the club's ongoing rebuild. 

ESPN NFL insider Adam Schefter suggested on the latest edition of his podcast that New England will ultimately spend choice No. 3 on a quarterback. 

"I think for New England to trade out of that spot two weeks out, that’s unlikely to happen because they’re gonna have to move out of a spot where they would lose out on a quarterback that they want," Schefter explained, as shared by Jason Ounpraseuth of NESN. "And there’s going to be a team that’s going to have to give up a lot to get up to three because we all assume it’s going to be the Minnesota Vikings with their double ones." 

It was previously reported that a club would have to give New England at least a high 2024 first-round pick (such as the New York Giants' No. 6 selection) and three second-round choices to move up to No. 3. In a mock draft updated on Wednesday, Mel Kiper Jr. of ESPN predicted that the Vikings will send picks No. 11 and No. 23 this year along with a 2025 first-round selection to the Los Angeles Chargers to acquire the fifth choice that could be used to land Michigan quarterback J.J. McCarthy. 

The Patriots consistently have been linked with McCarthy, North Carolina quarterback Drake Maye and LSU signal-caller Jayden Daniels in pre-draft rumors. The Washington Commanders hold pick No. 2 and are expected to take one of those quarterbacks assuming the Chicago Bears make Caleb Williams of the USC Trojans the draft's first selection. 

Schefter added that, at this stage of the process, he thinks "the first three teams stay where they are in all probability" as it pertains to the draft order. 

"A lot of people talking about New England moving out of that spot," Schefter said during the podcast. "I don’t know about that. I’m not gonna tell you they won’t. Of course, they would for the right offer, but I think it’s going to be challenging." 

Ounpraseuth noted that well-known Patriots insider Tom E. Curran of NBC Sports Boston revealed last week that people within the organization told him that "it's going to take a lot more than (three first-round picks)" for New England to sell selection No. 3. Schefter's comments indicate no club is willing to match such an asking price as of the second Wednesday of April.