Adam Schefter breaks down likelihood Patriots, Commanders trade back in NFL Draft

The expectation for some time now has been that both the Washington Commanders and New England Patriots would stay put and select second and third overall in the 2024 NFL Draft. However, ESPN’s Adam Schefter isn’t sure that that’s an absolute certainty, especially when it comes to No. 3.

Schefter shared his thoughts in an appearance on ‘The Pat McAfee Show’ on Monday ahead of the draft. In his words, both franchises remain more likely to not trade. It’s just that New England is the more probable of the pair to move down in a deal.

“Well, they’re less likely to stay. They’re going to listen,” Schefter said. “Well, how about this. They’re more likely to move the pick than the Commanders but I still think the odds favor them staying where they are. How about that?”

“It’s a 75% that they stay where they are. I hate to put percentages on this,” said Schefter.

One of the draft’s more significant conversations is how Washington and New England go about their top picks. Chicago is all but certain to take QB Caleb Williams at No. 1. That leaves two other quarterbacks, North Carolina’s Drake Maye and LSU’s Jayden Daniels, for the taking. The Commanders would get to pick first between them while the Patriots would get the third of the three.

Still, it sounds like New England could be considering other options, at least in Schefter’s opinion. Whether they don’t necessarily want the remaining quarterback or if they’re interested in other assets from teams that wish to move up, it appears a trade might be up for debate and discussion.

There’s plenty of pressure on these teams up top to make the right move early on in the draft. Even so, the assumption, at least for now, is that both teams split between Maye and Daniels at No. 2 and No. 3, even though Schefter maintains that the Patriots still have a little more to think out.

“I think the Commanders are likely to stay at two and pick their quarterback,” Schefter said. “I think the Patriots are a little less likely than the Commanders to stay at three but still more likely than not to make that pick at three. It’s up to a team this week to change the Patriots’ mind, which could happen.”

J.J. McCarthy’s odds to be selected at No. 2 overall undergo massive swing

In one of the bigger surprises leading up to the 2024 NFL Draft, the odds for former Michigan QB J.J. McCarthy to be the No. 2 overall pick have moved drastically since Sunday.

McCarthy has gone from 20/1 to 17/1 and all the way down to 9/1 on FanDuel Sportsbook. It would certainly be, without a doubt, the biggest shock of the 2024 NFL Draft if the Washington Commanders decided to put the whole fate of their franchise on McCarthy’s shoulders, especially with that high of a selection and much attention on either Drake Maye or Jayden Daniels.

It’s unfathomable but apparently not to some people. McCarthy hadn’t even been mentioned as an option to be selected No. 2 overall until Sunday evening’s surprising odds shift.