This NFL Draft could create a path back to the Patriot Way. Who will Pats take?

The Patriot Way is in the midst of a makeover.

After six Super Bowl titles under Bill Belichick, significant changes were made to this historic franchise in January. Jerod Mayo, who played for the Patriots from 2008 to 2015 and then served as a linebackers coach for the team beginning in 2019, replaced Belichick in January. Mayo, 37, is the youngest coach in the National Football League.

He has an opportunity to spit-shine the Patriot Way and rebuild the team’s culture both on and off the field. While the new coaching staff has been busy behind closed doors this offseason, the team has an exciting opportunity to possibly find its next franchise quarterback at this week’s NFL Draft in Detroit.

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For the first time since 1999, Belichick no longer has a seat at the table. Patriots director of scouting Eliot Wolf is serving as the de facto general manager in New England and apparently he will have the final say during the draft. He and Mayo already have a tight bond and that chemistry is essential to the team’s success. Mayo described Wolf as an “ego-free guy” who “just wants to win football games.” Kraft and Belichick’s larger-than-life egos collided in the end and led to the near-demise of the original Patriot Way.

Belichick wanted to win and his resumé speaks for itself, but his chokehold on the decision-making process strangled the team’s ability to win football games during the last few seasons. So, Robert Kraft decided it was time for a change. Wolf & Co. now have an opportunity to build this franchise’s future and that begins Thursday.

It’s impossible to replace a quarterback such as Tom Brady, and Mac Jones certainly wasn’t that guy. This is a crucial time for the Patriots to focus on the future of the franchise and it starts Thursday night with the NFL Draft. Thanks to a dismal 4-13 record last season, the Patriots own the No. 3 overall pick. The Chicago Bears have the No. 1 overall selection, while the Washington Commanders pick second.

The quarterback pool is impressive at this year’s draft in Detroit. It’s likely the Bears will land USC quarterback Caleb Williams at No. 1, while the Commanders could select Heisman Trophy winner Jayden Daniels out of LSU. Anything is possible on draft day, and the Patriots are planning for any situation, but it would be epic if Wolf could pull off a blockbuster deal to acquire the No. 1 pick and selected Williams. That scenario is unlikely but that conversation no doubt has been discussed behind closed doors.

So, with those top two QBs likely off the board, on which direction will Wolf take the Patriots? Maybe it’s a good omen that Michigan quarterback J.J. McCarthy could be New England’s choice. A Michigan-Brady-McCarthy connection could start the next, great chapter in Foxboro. Yes, it would be difficult to lean on a rookie quarterback, especially after all the misfortune the Patriots have endured at that position since Brady left. If New England does select McCarthy, however, he might be mature enough to take the reins and lead the Patriots into the future.

It helps that he guided the Wolverines to a national championship in 2023 and understands what it takes to win. North Carolina quarterback Drake Maye also could be a target for the Patriots. The ACC Player of the Year in 2022, Maye has the size and athleticism to develop into a solid NFL quarterback.

Wolf said during his pre-draft press conference last week that he believes the team’s roster is constituted to support a rookie quarterback. If there are concerns about starting a rookie quarterback next season, the Patriots also could focus on adding to their offensive line. Protecting a rookie quarterback is key to his success. Maybe bringing in another top rookie on the offensive line could build confidence and chemistry between the two players that could create long-term success. If New England’s first pick is a quarterback, then acquiring a player who has high-end ability to protect the passer and prevent a sack should be on Wolf’s to-do list.

Those elite players in this year’s offensive line class, including Notre Dame’s Joe Alt, will be gone after the first round, so Wolf and the Patriots could get creative with their second pick (34th overall).

Let’s stick with the Michigan connection. Even though offensive tackle Ladarius Henderson is projected as a late-round pick, he could be a solid fit in New England if the Patriots go with McCarthy. The two played together in Ann Arbor and Henderson could develop into a solid NFL player. Another option on the O-line could be Georgia’s Amarius Mims. He’s considered athletic and mobile with his impressive 6-foot-7-inch, 340-pound frame, and he helped the Bulldogs to a national championship in 2022.

The draft is not an exact science. GMs have opportunities to alter their respective franchise’s future. Wolf is among them.

“I have nothing but the ultimate faith in Eliot and his staff, as well as our coaches that are evaluating the players, both in free agency and the draft,” Mayo said in February.

The Patriot Way could be reignited this week. It’s a critical moment for Wolf and he’s confident in his ability to lead this team into its new era with possibly its next franchise quarterback.

So, with the No. 3 overall pick, the New England Patriots select ...

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This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: The 2024 NFL Draft might lead to a path back to Patriot Way