NFL Rumors: 'Patriots Really Want to Draft' QB; Focused on Drake Maye, Jayden Daniels

It's looking like quarterbacks will be taken with the top three picks of the NFL draft for the second time in four years.

The New England Patriots reportedly "really want" to draft their quarterback of the future next month, according to Chad Graff of The Athletic. The Chicago Bears and Washington Commanders are also considered strong bets to draft a quarterback with the top two picks.

USC's Caleb Williams has long been viewed as the mortal lock to go No. 1, with LSU's Jayden Daniels and North Carolina's Drake Maye coming in as the next best quarterbacks.

B/R's Scouting Department has Maye as the best quarterback in this class and third overall player. Williams comes in as the second-best quarterback and No. 4 ranked player, while Daniels is all the way back at No. 24 overall.

Quarterbacks were taken in three of the top four selections last year, with Bryce Young, C.J. Stroud and Anthony Richardson all going off the board. Young suffered through a miserable rookie season and Richardson spent most of the year hurt, but Stroud emerged as one of the best young quarterbacks in recent memory.

Quarterbacks have been selected with the top three picks just three times in the Super Bowl era (1971, 1999 and 2021). Ironically, the Patriots' last first-round quarterback came in that class as well, with New England taking Mac Jones, who was the fifth signal-caller taken in Round 1.

The Patriots are expected to move on from Jones this offseason after three disappointing seasons. This will mark the team's first draft this century for which Bill Belichick was not the final decision maker.