NFL Draft 2024 Rumors: Patriots, Commanders Could Trade Down Instead of Taking QB

The major question surrounding the 2024 NFL draft is whether the Chicago Bears will keep the top overall selection and draft a quarterback such as Caleb Williams, or trade the pick for a massive haul and continue building around Justin Fields.

But the teams drafting right behind them, the Washington Commanders and New England Patriots, also find themselves in a rebuild and may have to make a similar decision to that of the Bears, as Ian Rapoport of NFL Network speculated on Tuesday:

"Both are potential trade spots," he said of the Commanders and Patriots at the Nos. 2 and 3 picks, respectively. "Could they take a franchise quarterback? Absolutely. ... The question is, do the Commanders and Patriots—kind of in a similar boat—feel they are a quarterback away? Do they feel this is a franchise guy they absolutely have to take and build around for the next 10 years? Or would they rather have the draft capital?"

Now, if we're rating rumors on spiciness levels, this one is coming in at the very bottom of the Scoville scale. It's not quite a bell pepper, but it's in the Anaheim chili range. Literally every pick before the draft has the potential to be traded if the offer is right, and it's hard to imagine the Commanders or Patriots being the exception to that.

Both teams probably aren't going to turn off their phones ahead of the draft, in other words, even if they do identify a quarterback they covet. With Williams expected to be the first player off the board—regardless of whether the Bears keep the pick or trade it—the Commanders likely would be choosing between Drake Maye and Jayden Daniels, while the Patriots would have to decide if they want the quarterback option who remains.

There is a third possibility for both teams beyond staying put and drafting a quarterback or trading back to stockpile draft assets, and that's trading up to No. 1 if the Bears decide to move the pick. But it would be a costly maneuver—just ask the Carolina Panthers.

There's no doubt that both teams will probably need to address the quarterback position at some point. In Washington, second-year signal-caller Sam Howell had his moments during the 2023 campaign, but his final numbers—3,946 yards, 21 touchdowns, a 63.4 completion percentage and NFL-worst marks in interceptions (21) and sacks taken (65)—left plenty to be desired and resulted in a 4-13 record as the starter.

And in New England, Mac Jones has steadily regressed in his three seasons. Granted, he wasn't exactly surrounded with a wealth of playmaking talent, but a change of scenery and fresh start somewhere new would probably be best for both sides.

That's where the Commanders and Patriots differ from the Bears. If Chicago trades its pick, part of the calculus will be that Justin Fields has shown legitimate promise and electric playmaking ability in his three seasons, making it easier to justify a focus on the rest of the roster.

In Washington and New England, the quarterback position is an obvious, pressing need. That doesn't mean both teams are required to address the position with a top-three pick this offseason, but it does mean that there are far bigger questions about whether there's a potential solution in house, and in turn, it will require heavy prioritization at some point.

Maybe Washington will give Howell one more season to prove himself after he was asked to attempt an NFL-high 612 passes behind one of the worst offensive lines in football. Perhaps he'll click with new offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury in a way that he didn't with former play-caller Eric Bieniemy.

And maybe the Patriots won't end up being in love with whatever quarterback falls to No. 3 in the draft and will push the decision down the line, stockpiling draft assets instead.

But it's rare to end up with a top-three pick in a year that appears to have a trio of very promising quarterback prospects. And that makes it a fascinating decision for all three teams at the top of this year's draft.