The 2024 NFL Combine has officially ended. So with that, some players' draft stock has risen while other players have fallen. 

So with that, how did this affect the New England Patriots and the No. 3 overall pick? 

Based on recent reports following the Combine, it seems fairly clear that the New England Patriots are going to pick a quarterback with that top pick. And while Caleb Williams remain the No. 1 overall pick it is still Drake Maye and Jayden Daniels that are expected to go after. 

Patriots should draft LSU QB Jayden Daniels with the third overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft 

Daniels has a skillet set that New England is not used to. Going from Tom Brady to Mac Jones, the team has relied on strong pocket passers. But Daniels has the arm strength while also being able to get out of the pocket and scramble for yards. 

During his final season at LSU, Daniels finished with 236 completions for 3,812 passing yards and 40 passing touchdowns. On the rushing side, he had 135 carries for 1,134 rushing yards and 10 rushing touchdowns. 

Alex Van Pelt has experience working with a mobile quarterback, having been with the Cleveland Browns and Deshaun Watson prior to coming to New England. 

So having Van Pelt and Daniels working together could be the recipe for success that the Patriots need. 

What if Daniels is off the board? 

If Daniels is taken by the Commanders, another great option for the Patriots would be Drake Maye. While it would make sense for him to land with the Commanders, having played under Washington quarterback Sam Howell, the team could go in another direction. 

So that would leave Maye available for the Patriots. 

His first year as a starter in 2022, Maye threw for 4,321 yards and 38 touchdowns, leading UNC to a 9-5 record overall. He was the named the ACC Player of the Year, ACC Offensive Player of the Year, and ACC Rookie of the year that season.

And he followed it up with an impressive performance during the 2023 season, recording 3,608 yards and 24 touchdowns. UNC finished the season with an 8-4 record. 

However, this recent comparison could scare some teams away. 

"I spoke to an NFL offensive coordinator this morning," NBC Sports Boston's Phil Perry said. "The comp I was given for Drake Maye was Mitch Trubisky."

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Final Word

While there are some people that want the Patriots to go in another direction, selecting Ohio State wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr., the quarterback position is far more important. 

Maye and Daniels are very strong candidates and would be a great option for the Patriots, but Daniels should be the clear frontrunner. 

And with Maye's connections to the Commanders, considering he played with Sam Howell at UNC.  

So let's see what happens. 

Patriots: Analyzing the Marvin Harrison Jr. vs. Jayden Daniels debate

This one should be easy.