Devin McCourty believes Patriots could be in perfect position in upcoming draft
With the way the New England Patriots are headed, all eyes are on the 2024 NFL Draft. Heading into Week 9, the Patriots sit at 2-6, with their current draft pick projected to be No. 5 (according to Tankathon). But if the struggles continue, they could continue to move up in the order and potentially […]
With the way the New England Patriots are headed, all eyes are on the 2024 NFL Draft.
Heading into Week 9, the Patriots sit at 2-6, with their current draft pick projected to be No. 5 (according to Tankathon). But if the struggles continue, they could continue to move up in the order and potentially get a top three pick.
So with that, former Patriots captain Devin McCourty was asked about who he thinks New England should draft if they end up with one of those top picks in the draft.
"If I had to say right now, if Caleb Williams is what I've read about him, then to me, you have to take Caleb Williams," McCourty said during his weekly appearance on WEEI. "If he's the guy who is the next great quarterback to ever play in the game… I feel like people are naming this guy, like, in the Mahomes and like all of these guys that when you watch them, you're like, man, he could be Patrick Mahomes. I just think it's too hard to walk away and say hey, we had a chance to draft this guy, but we didn't."
"How many teams are mad that they didn't draft Patrick Mahomes when they had the chance, and now they have to play against him," McCourty added. "So I think if there's a chance Caleb Williams is really supposed to be the guy that everybody thinks, then I think you definitely take him if you can get him."
Williams has received a lot of hype this season, with many teams who may be in need of a quarterback keeping a close eye on the top prospect. Having won the Heisman trophy, along with the Walter Camp Award and Maxwell Award in 2022, Williams has proven himself to be a top quarterback.
And with that, he is getting compared to Patrick Mahomes, who is undeniably the best quarterback in the league right now.
"If we name every other team with a quarterback non-Patrick Mahomes, Josh Allen, like if Seattle ends up with that pick, Seattle should draft Caleb Williams. There's probably 15-20 teams that if they end up with that pick, you better take a guy that they say is a generational talent. Like you better take him."
Seattle is a solid example, with the Geno Smith currently serving as the Seahawks quarterback. Smith, who is in his fourth year with the Seahawks, is coming off a solid 2022 season and already has 152 completions for 1,645 yards and nine touchdowns heading into Week 9. With that, Seattle is 5-2 this season, sitting in first place in the NFC West.
So McCourty's point is that despite Smith having a solid season, even the Seahawks wouldn't be able to pass up the chance to get Williams.
And if the Patriots end up with a top three pick, Williams could certainly be in Foxborough next season.
"So I think if you have a chance to get a top-five quarterback, you go and get the top-five quarterback unless you have a top-five quarterback on your team."
