INDIANAPOLIS – After five days at the NFL Scouting Combine, during which I picked the minds of league sources at every level, here are some of the most notable takeaways related to the Patriots:
Maye gets the first impression
During combine week, a mess of quantifiable information is collected that can impact a player's standing in the eyes of teams. Forty times. Vertical jumps. Medical degrees. But one of the most important events for the aspiring pros in Indy was their interviews with the teams.
Of course, there are no publicly available results for these, nor for the sports tests that are broadcast on NFL Network. But it's worth noting that the Patriots felt it was North Carolina's Drake Maye who led the most impressive quarterback meeting of the week, thanks to the energy and intelligence he displayed in his 20 minutes of back-and-forth with the top players of New England.
Maye has prototypical size (he measured 6-foot-10 and weighed 223 pounds this week) coupled with a big arm and good athleticism. He has shown a penchant for making rash throws, and on tape alone he would likely rank third in this year's class behind USC's Caleb Williams and LSU's Jayden Daniels. Scouts fault Maye for poor decision-making, inconsistent mechanics and apparent confusion when it comes to protection schemes.
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But Mayes' supporters believe a change in UNC's offense last year did the young passer no favors and that the best indicator of what he will be as a pro is his 2022 record, when he completed 66 percent of his passes and threw 38 touchdowns. If Maye can clean up some of his recurring mistakes, the 21-year-old is widely believed to have the skills to be a top-notch starter at the next level.
Although his combine interview was just a first impression, the Patriots won't dismiss his personality as an unimportant attribute. At the quarterback position, if you want your teammates to play for you, you better bring some enthusiasm.
It's still early days of getting to know each other, but with a strong interview last week, Maye showed New England he has a chance to check that box as a pro.
Daniels attracts major competitions
Jayden Daniels is considered to be a much more relaxed personality compared to Maye. How does the kid from San Bernardino, California get players to play for him? Through plays.
He had a whopping 90 plays of 20 yards or more for the Tigers last season, and his reserved but determined demeanor won over players and coaches alike in his second season in Baton Rouge.
For a team in transition, a special talent could be the catalyst for a quicker rebuild, and Daniels is considered that quarterback. Multiple evaluators told NBC Sports Boston this week that Daniels was a more polished passer than Lamar Jackson when Jackson was drafted out of Louisville in 2018.
There are questions among NFL coaches about how Daniels — a California native who played at Arizona State and LSU — would adapt to playing conditions in New England. I understand there are some in his camp who would prefer Daniels not end up in the Northeast.
But the choice isn't his, and whether he'll be available with the third overall pick? He could be driving down Route 1 in full heat in about eight months.
LSU quarterback Jayden Daniels talks about what he would think about being drafted by a team that is rebuilding and what it would mean to be drafted by the New England Patriots.
PThe Atriots are still working on the QB process
It's not rocket science: If the Patriots are confident in the quarterback they get at No. 3 overall — likely Maye or Daniels — then that's their choice. But they're still figuring out where their persuasion lies for the top passers in the draft after meeting them for the first time in Indy last week.
What if the Patriots don't have the confidence in Maye or Daniels to take one of them at No. 3? Then you could see them make a trade, move back, and continue to build by acquiring additional draft capital. Michigan quarterback JJ McCarthy has fans in the building – he appears to be the fourth quarterback in the class from everyone I've spoken to – and could be in play in a trade-down situation if he's not already off the board is.
It's worth noting that if Eliot Wolf brings the “Packer Way” to Foxboro, that could mean choosing a lineman over a wide receiver in a trade back scenario. Some of the best wideouts in Packers history — Davante Adams, Randall Cobb, Jordy Nelson, Greg Jennings — were selected in the second round. The Packers haven't taken a receiver in the first round since Javon Walker in 2002.
Wolf assumed he would stay
Although Wolf still holds the title of director of scouting, it is believed by sources within the team and executives at other clubs that Wolf will remain the leader of a collaborative front office – including contributions from Mayo and his staff, Matt Groh, Pat Stewart, Alonzo Highsmith, Steve Cargile, Cam Williams and others – even after the draft.
Sources say the Patriots plan to conduct post-draft interviews and there will be highly qualified general manager candidates interested in the managerial position in Foxboro. But the 41-year-old Wolf himself is generally considered qualified.
Robert Kraft gave him final say on the 53-man roster in case there were disagreements over front office decisions, and he was allowed to retain Highsmith (who worked with Wolf in Green Bay and Cleveland) as senior personnel manager to engage.
Wolf will also be making key roster decisions — the team has about $100 million in cap space and three picks inside the top 70 — which is why those on the outside looking in assume something drastic would have to happen for that to happen Wolf does not He will lead the Patriots' personnel department in the fall.
The decisions he will oversee over the next few months will set the franchise's course for the next few years.
Tags are still in play
The Patriots have a decision to make. Will they use the franchise or transition tags on either Kyle Dugger or Mike Onwenu? Those are the two players worth considering, and to my knowledge the tag hasn't been ruled out as a possibility to keep either player.
The safety franchise price is expected to be $17.1 million this year. The transition price – which would give the Patriots the right of first refusal to match an offer for their tagged player – is around $13.8 million.
The franchise price for linemen this year is just under $21 million. The transition price, meanwhile, will be $19 million.
Onwenu is representing himself after recently parting ways with his representatives. If he isn't acquired, the Patriots would likely be looking for answers at three starting positions on the offensive line. David Andrews at center and Sidy Sow at defense are considered the only healthy starting players under contract. Otherwise, they still have a lot to do to strengthen this unity.
There is optimism in Foxboro that some of the team's lesser-known free agents can be acquired. Tight end Pharaoh Brown could commit to a return in the near future. Linebacker Mack Wilson is another player who still has fans in the building.
Patriots scouting director Eliot Wolf discusses the team's desire to re-sign impending free agents Mike Onwenu and Kyle Dugger.
McAdoo's role in focus
Ben McAdoo will handle various duties for the Patriots as a senior offensive assistant. He will be involved in personnel. Due to his diverse background, he is able to assist in coaching various positions. It also looks like he's coordinating the team's running game.
Offensive coach Scott Peters is considered one of the best in the league when it comes to teaching technique. But in today's NFL, it's common to employ both an offensive line coach and a run game coordinator. The Patriots considered tapping longtime NFL offensive line coach James Campen for the role, but there are signs that McAdoo will take on that responsibility and help new Patriots offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt.
McAdoo has served as assistant offensive line coach (49ers, 2005), tight ends coach (Packers, 2006-11), quarterbacks coach (Packers, 2012-13; Jaguars, 2020) and offensive coordinator (Giants, 2014-15; Panthers, 2022 ) and head coach (Giants 2016-17) during his time in the NFL.