Reporter thinks Patriots could trade down, draft first-round QB

New England Patriots de facto general manager Eliot Wolf told reporters Thursday the club is "open for business" regarding a possible trade of the third pick of the 2024 NFL Draft. 

For a mock draft published Friday, Patriots reporter Mark Daniels of MassLive suggested that the Patriots could acquire overall picks No. 11 and No. 23 this year along with first-round selections in 2025 and 2026 from the Minnesota Vikings for choice No. 3. 

New England then could take Washington Huskies quarterback Michael Penix Jr. via the 11th pick next Thursday night. 

"Penix is a very good athlete and the type historically coveted by the Green Bay Packers when it comes to hand size (10.5 inches) and testing numbers," Daniels explained. "A lefty, he’s drawn comparisons to (Miami Dolphins starter) Tua Tagovailoa. Penix threw for 4,903 yards with 36 touchdowns and 11 interceptions last season. He had a pre-draft visit with the Patriots and met with them at the Senior Bowl."

Wolf was in his second season working in the Packers' personnel department when they drafted future Hall of Famer Aaron Rodgers.

Daniels acknowledged that drafting Penix this high "comes with a big risk" considering the signal-caller tore his right anterior cruciate ligament twice and suffered injuries to both shoulders in college. 

Despite that injury history, it's thought that the Denver Broncos could take Penix at pick No. 12. If not, the Las Vegas Raiders potentially could grab him via the 13th selection. 

Daniels hinted as recently as Thursday that individuals within the Patriots view drafting who is, in their eyes, the best available quarterback at No. 3 as "a no-brainer" of a decision. 

However, it was previously reported that the Patriots want "a lot more than" three first-round picks for this year's third overall selection. The Vikings could match such an asking price by embracing Daniels' idea or by attaching star wide receiver Justin Jefferson in a trade. 

Jefferson is in the final year of his rookie contract and likely would have to agree to an extension with New England to get the Patriots to accept him in a deal involving the draft's third pick. It's unclear if the two sides have any interest in doing business with each other this spring. 

The Patriots finished the 2023 campaign at 4-13, hit a franchise reset button by parting ways with legendary head coach Bill Belichick and have holes all over their roster. 

"They must find a quarterback, left tackle, and outside receiver," Daniels added about the Patriots. "There’s no debating that." 

Completing a blockbuster trade with Minnesota could help New England achieve such goals by the end of the month.