Bill Belichick wanted Patriots to draft a different QB over Mac Jones in 2021

The New England Patriots will likely draft their quarterback of the future with the No. 3 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft in April.

But it was just three years ago that the Patriots were in the exact same situation when they drafted Mac Jones 15th overall out of Alabama. However, he wasn’t the QB that Belichick actually wanted according to The Athletic’s Jeff Howe.

“Belichick liked Jones, but he also liked quarterback Davis Mills,” Howe wrote. “Belichick also was dead set on taking a quarterback at that spot. But Jones was the Patriots’ highest-rated player, and they desperately needed a quarterback after going 7-9 with Cam Newton in their first season without Tom Brady. Belichick appeared content to wait for Mills … but relinquished to the staff’s strong push for Jones, according to league sources.”

As the Patriots general manager, the final call on which player to draft was Belichick’s to make. However, Howe noted that Belichick wanted to be more of a team player when it came to making personnel decisions after going 7-9 in his first season after Tom Brady left.

“After previously vowing to be more collaborative, Belichick recognized he couldn’t go back on his word with his first selection under the new approach,” Howe said. “Before calling Jones, Belichick repeatedly asked his staff members if they were fully on board with the selection. He received no pushback.”