Christopher Price: Patriots leaning Jayden Daniels over Drake Maye in NFL Draft
During this morning’s Toucher & Hardy radio program, Fred asks Christopher Price about the Patriots’ quarterback prospects in the upcoming draft. Price discusses the potential of Jayden Daniels over Maye, highlighting mobility and escapability and addressing past concerns about Mack’s performance under pressure. He acknowledges the challenges of projecting college quarterbacks to the professional level.
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TRANSCRIPT:
Fred Toucher: The other big story is the quarterbacks. And by all accounts, they’ve met with just about everyone that you might take in the first two rounds. But what is your feeling on which quarterback is in the lead here? Which quarterback do they prefer over any of the others?
Christopher Price: I think if Jayden Daniels falls to three, we can debate Daniels versus Maye, and I think that’s going to be the question. If both of them are available, I believe they’re going quarterback, and if they had their druthers, they would pick Jayden Daniels . Mayo talked a little bit about this yesterday: the escapability, mobility, and the ability to succeed when things start to break down. That was always a concern for me with Mac; he needed everything around him to be perfect, surrounded by All-Americans and everything to be just so. When things started to break down, he wasn’t able to execute at a level commensurate with a first-round pick. I don’t know if Daniels is going to be that guy, but he has the wheels, mobility, and escapability to make something happen with his feet when things start to break down. So I think that’s the big differentiator between those two guys. But yeah, look, I don’t want to say it’s a crapshoot, but this is the question that everyone has here at the con, not just the Patriots but the Bears with Justin Fields, projecting a guy from college to the pros and the difficulties that come along with it.
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Nick Gemelli is a Producer on Toucher & Hardy and contributor for 985thesportshub.com. Follow Nick at @NickGemelli on Twitter.
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Mike Lockhart's NFL combine report: Under the radar quarterbacks
With the NFL Combine coming up this week in Indianapolis, the New England Patriots are sitting with the third overall pick in the NFL draft. After a 4-13 season that featured a talentless, anemic offense, it is apparent the offense can’t move with Mac Jones or Bailey Zappe as the team’s signal caller. Whether it be in free agency, the draft, or both, the position needs new blood. If New England decides to trade the third pick or draft another position, they will need to find a quarterback at some point.
ARLINGTON, TEXAS – DECEMBER 19: Spencer Rattler #7 of the Oklahoma Sooners celebrates after scoring a touchdown against the Iowa State Cyclones in the second quarter of the 2020 Dr Pepper Big 12 Championship football game at AT&T Stadium on December 19, 2020 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images)
Caleb Williams, Jayden Daniels, and Drake Maye should come off the boards early, if not top three. JJ McCarthey could go in the first or early second round. Patriots fans know you can get a pretty good player late in the draft. They once hit on a certain guy at pick 199. Matt Cassel made a lot of money in this league as a former seventh-round pick. The San Francisco 49ers struck gold with Brock Purdy as the last selection in the 2022 draft; he just went to the Super Bowl. Dak Prescott went off the boards in the fourth round. There are a few names here that could make waves on Sundays.
So let’s take a look at who could surprise in the 2024 draft.
Spencer Rattler, University of South Carolina
ARLINGTON, TEXAS – DECEMBER 30: Quarterback Spencer Rattler #7 of the Oklahoma Sooners scrambles against the Florida Gators during the second quarter at AT&T Stadium on December 30, 2020 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images)
Spencer Rattler was a highly regarded quarterback coming into his freshman year at Oklahoma. He redshirted that season as Jalen Hurts was the starter. The following year, Rattler took over and was proving to be worth the hype. Rattler had an impressive season with 28 touchdowns for 3,031 yards and only 7 interceptions. Things went the other way for Rattler the following year in Norman, and he transferred to South Carolina. That season, things got even worse. Rattler bounced back this season. He threw the same number of passes, and his interceptions went down. Spencer had an excellent week in Mobile at the Senior Bowl. He was about the only quarterback that made a name for himself that week. Others like Pennix, Nix, Milton, and Sam Hartman hurt their stock. If Rattler can come in and sit a year, he has the potential to be a starter. He will need to work on issues like holding the ball too long and being a more consistent performer at the position.
Michael Pratt, Tulane University
TAMPA, FLORIDA – OCTOBER 15: Michael Pratt #7 of the Tulane Green Wave passes during a game against the South Florida Bulls at Raymond James Stadium on October 15, 2022 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)
Michael Pratt has led Tulane to a lot of success in the last few seasons. He started for 4 years for the Green Wave. In 2022, Tulane went 12-2 and won the Cotton Bowl over a Caleb Williams-led USC squad. This past season, they went 11-3, with 22 touchdowns and only 5 interceptions. He can also run and extend plays. Pratt rushed for 5 scores this year. One of my favorite things about Pratt is he doesn’t turn over the ball much. It’s been a few years since he had a multi-interception game. He has the size needed in the NFL at 6’3” 220 lbs. What he lacks in arm strength, he makes up with accuracy, toughness, and the ability to move his feet. He has the velocity on his throws to be successful at the next level. His deep ball is where he lacks strength.
Jordan Travis, Florida State University
CLEMSON, SOUTH CAROLINA – SEPTEMBER 23: Jordan Travis #13 of the Florida State Seminoles looks to pass the ball against the Clemson Tigers during the second quarter at Memorial Stadium on September 23, 2023 in Clemson, South Carolina. (Photo by Isaiah Vazquez/Getty Images)
Jordan Travis’s career at FSU ended earlier than he wanted. Travis injured his ankle and had it surgically repaired. He leaves the Seminoles with 66 touchdowns and 20 interceptions in his career. The most interceptions he had in a season was six. This past year, he had only two. Travis is a very good athlete and can extend plays with his legs. He has good velocity on his throws. His deep ball needs work. Jordan would be best suited with a year on the bench in the NFL. You wish he was a little bigger at 6’1” 212 lbs. Jordan Travis could be a steal for a team in the third round if he checks out medically.
