NFL Draft 2024 Rumors: J.J. McCarthy to Visit Patriots Amid Jayden Daniels, Maye Buzz

Michigan quarterback J.J. McCarthy is scheduled to visit the New England Patriots next week, according to Sports Illustrated's Albert Breer.

The Patriots, who hold the No. 3 pick in the upcoming draft, hosted UNC quarterback Drake Maye Friday and will host LSU quarterback Jayden Daniels Monday.

McCarthy, Maye and Daniels are currently the "only" quarterbacks the Patriots have planned meetings with, Breer reported.

This trio ranks among the top four quarterbacks available in the draft, according to the B/R NFL Scouting Department.

The Chicago Bears are expected to draft USC's Caleb Williams, ranked No. 2 by B/R scouts, with the No. 1 pick.

Even if the Patriots don't plan to draft McCarthy with the No. 3 overall pick, the front office has plenty of reason to make other teams think they might.

If they were to trade down from the selection, the Patriots would reportedly seek a return worth more than three first-round picks, according NBC Sports Boston's Tom Curran.

The Patriots' public consideration of every quarterback option likely to be available at No. 3 could help drive up that price.

Teams picking lower in the first round may have hoped to snag McCarthy, ranked No. 54 on the B/R NFL Draft Big Board, with a slightly lower pick. Many mock drafts published immediately after McCarthy declared his entry into the draft ranked him going somewhere between No. 10 and No. 20.

Now those teams might be uncertain whether McCarthy will remain available by the time they get on the clock, potentially leading to more draft trade options for the Patriots.

McCarthy recently helped lead the Wolverines to the program's first CFP championship since 1997, but there is still a possibility he end up going later in the draft. One only has to look back to Tennessee Titans quarterback Will Levis in the 2023 NFL Draft to know not all April favorites end up as a top-ten pick.