New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft appears to have dropped a major hint about his team’s plan for their third overall pick in next month’s NFL Draft.

The Pats are in a transitional period after the departure of Bill Belichick following last season’s 4-13 finish. Last year’s Week 1 starter Mac Jones has been traded to the Jacksonville Jaguars and while new head coach Jerod Mayo has seen his team land Jacoby Brissett in free agency, another QB addition is likely.

“As a fan, I put my fan hat on and I definitely would,” Kraft said at the annual league meeting when asked about drafting a quarterback with their number three pick. “In the end, you can’t win in this league consistently unless you have a first-rate quarterback and a first-rate coach.

“We’re gonna be open to whatever can come our way,” Kraft continued. “In the end, I’ll let the team make the decision what they think is best. One way or another, I’d like to see us get a top-rate, young quarterback.”

Kraft also admitted that the team’s quarterback situation played a part in their failure to land free-agent wide receiver Calvin Ridley earlier this month.

“There was one outstanding receiver that unfortunately we couldn’t close,” Kraft said when asked about missing out on Ridley to the Tennessee Titans.

“It was not because of finance. He made clear his girlfriend wanted to be in the South, and we had a situation where the taxes were, like, almost 10 per cent higher and we offered and were willing to keep going at that premium, but he didn’t want to be in the Northeast.

“Part of it might be the quarterback situation as well.”

Quarterback Caleb Williams is expected to be the first player drafted when the Chicago Bears make the draft’s opening selection on Thursday, April 25, with Drake Maye and Jayden Daniels expected to quickly follow when the Washington Commanders (pick number two) and Patriots make their selections.