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Who else can’t wait for Thursday night when the 2024 NFL Draft kicks off from Detroit? It’s always one of the most speculated nights of the year and predicting what front offices are going to do is nearly impossible, but we sure as hell are going to try. Below, we analyze FanDuel Sportsbook’s NFL Draft odds for NFL prospects and tab the best bets for who will be the No. 3 overall pick — just one of many SportsbookWire’s expert NFL picks and predictions.
The New England Patriots, who have the No. 3 pick, are beginning a new era, one without Bill Belichick running the show for the first time since he was hired as coach before the 2000 season. Longtime Patriots player and assistant coach Jerod Mayo has huge shoes to fill, and it officially starts with the No. 3 pick in Thursday’s NFL Draft.
One of the first big moves in the Mayo regime was to ship out QB Mac Jones to Jacksonville which means they have a hole to fill at the QB position. The prevailing thought is, whomever the Washington Commanders don’t take at No. 2 between LSU QB Jayden Daniels and UNC QB Drake Maye, New England will select at No. 3.
Maye seems like a great choice to be the heir apparent to Tom Brady since Jones obviously was not up to the task. Maye checks all the boxes from his measurables to his arm strength to his mobility. The former Tar Heel gunslinger threw for 3,608 yards with 24 touchdowns against 9 interceptions, but he has had a tendency to make bad plays worse.
If Daniels were to fall to New England at No. 3, the Pats would be hard pressed to pass on his absurd skill set. He is the 2023 Heisman Trophy winner after throwing 40 touchdowns and rushing for another 10 for LSU last season.
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2024 NFL Draft third overall pick odds
Provided by FanDuel Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated Tuesday at 4:45 a.m. ET.
- QB Drake Maye: -250 (bet $250 to win $100)
- QB Jayden Daniels: +430 (bet $100 to win $430)
- QB J.J. McCarthy: +430 (bet $100 to win $430)
- WR Marvin Harrison Jr.: +3100 (bet $100 to win $3,100)
- OL Joe Alt: +12000 (bet $100 to win $12,000)
- WR Malik Nabers: +12000 (bet $100 to win $12,000)
- QB Caleb Williams: +12000 (bet $100 to win $12,000)
- TE Brock Bowers: +15000 (bet $100 to win $15,000)
- OL Olu Fashanu: +15000 (bet $100 to win $15,000)
- OL Taliese Fuaga: +15000 (bet $100 to win $15,000
- OL JC Latham: +15000 (bet $100 to win $15,000)
- EDGE Laiatu Latu: +15000 (bet $100 to win $15,000)
- QB Bo Nix: +15000 (bet $100 to win $15,000)
- WR Rome Odunze: +15000 (bet $100 to win $15,000)
- QB Michael Pennix Jr.: +15000 (bet $100 to win $15,000)
- EDGE Dallas Turner: +15000 (bet $100 to win $15,000)
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The pick – DRAKE MAYE (-250)
Maye falling into the Patriots’ laps at No. 3 would frankly be a godsend to them. They need someone that the city can get behind after the failure of Mac Jones. The UNC product is everything you want in a quarterback, standing at 6-foot-4 and weighing in at 223 pounds, according to NFL.com. Those are basically the exact same measurables as “The GOAT” Tom Brady. Draft scouts are comparing him to a more mobile Justin Herbert of the Los Angeles Chargers.
Maye has been picked apart during this draft process and it’s frankly been too harsh at times. Maye has a pedigree of a Greek god, his father Mark was a quarterback at UNC, his brother Luke helped UNC’s basketball team win a National Championship, and his other brother Cole helped the Florida Gators’ baseball team win a National title.
Maye will be a good pro quarterback, but whoever selects him needs to know there will be growing pains in his development. There will also be a lot of excitement because he can put a team on his back and carry them to victory, which he had to do a lot in Chapel Hill.
Contender – JAYDEN DANIELS (+430)
It almost feels automatic for the Patriots to pull the trigger on the LSU quarterback if the Commanders decide that Maye is their guy. Daniels would immediately bring an excitement to New England and bring this team a dynamic offensive force to compete in a division with the likes of Josh Allen (Bills), Aaron Rodgers (Jets) and Tua Tagovailoa (Dolphins).
Daniels could start day one because of his lengthy collegiate experience, having played 5 seasons at the highest level, especially the last 2 in the SEC. He faced the best of the best week in and week out.
Long shot – MARVIN HARRISON JR. (+3100)
When was the last time the Patriots had a legit playmaking wide out? Randy Moss? It just never seemed to be a priority for Belichick and Co., but there’s a new sheriff in town. Mayo may look to infuse talent anyway he can by taking the best overall player available, which is Harrison Jr.
The Patriots definitely need a quarterback, and this draft class is loaded with quality gunslingers. New England has the luxury of a high 2nd- and 3rd-round pick which it could use on a QB if it chooses to go wide receiver at No. 3 overall. You have to think that Mayo wants to make a splash in his first draft as the man in charge.
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