Mayo: Drafting QB at No. 3 a 'priority,' Pats weighing options

New England Patriots head coach Jerod Mayo isn't ready to commit to drafting a quarterback with the No. 3 pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, but he knows that finding a new signal-caller is important.

"It's the priority right now," Mayo said at the Annual League Meeting, according to Coral Smith of NFL.com. "But with that being said, you have to really be in love with the guy to take him at No. 3. So really, all the options are still open for us."

USC quarterback Caleb Williams, North Carolina signal-caller Drake Maye, and LSU dual-threat Jayden Daniels are widely regarded as the draft's top quarterbacks. Williams is the odds-on favorite to be selected by the Chicago Bears with the first overall selection. The Washington Commanders are expected to draft a quarterback with the No. 2 pick.

The Patriots traded former first-rounder Mac Jones to the Jacksonville Jaguars for a sixth-round pick earlier this offseason. Jones started the team's first 11 contests in 2023 but was benched after New England dropped to 2-9 following a Week 12 loss.

Bailey Zappe, a 2022 fourth-rounder, threw for 1,114 yards, six touchdowns, and seven interceptions while starting the team's six remaining games. The team went 2-4 in his starts.

New England reunited with veteran quarterback Jacoby Brissett in the opening days of free agency. Brissett played for the Patriots as a rookie in 2016, going 1-1. Mayo believes Brissett gives the team some flexibility with the No. 3 pick.

"He's a great leader. … He could absolutely be our starter this year," Mayo said. "We'll have to see. Like I said, we're not dead set at taking a quarterback at number three, but we do feel good having a guy like Jacoby ready to go."