In a recent interview on NFL Network's Good Morning Football, New England Patriots star pass rusher Matt Judon voiced his support for the team to trade down from the No. 3 pick in the upcoming 2024 NFL Draft. Judon believes that stockpiling additional assets through a trade would be a wise move for the franchise.

While Judon acknowledged that he is not privy to the Patriots' draft plans, he emphasized the team's needs across multiple positions, particularly on the offensive side of the ball. The pending free agency status of tight ends Hunter Henry and Mike Gesicki has left a potential void at the position, leading Judon to advocate for the selection of Georgia tight end Brock Bowers.

"We might lose both our tight ends. Let's get the tight end from Georgia. And then maybe we get two picks in the first round. Get some offensive linemen, protect our quarterback. Have guys, move guys around," expressed Judon. The pass rusher stressed the importance of shoring up the offensive line and adding offensive weapons to support the team's signal-caller.

Trading down from the No. 3 pick presents various enticing scenarios for the Patriots. One such hypothetical scenario, presented by Phil Perry in his recent mock draft, would see the Patriots acquiring the Atlanta Falcons' second-round pick (No. 43) and their 2025 first-rounder by simply moving down to the No. 8 spot. This move would allow the Patriots to secure Bowers and acquire additional draft assets.

While passing on the opportunity to select an elite quarterback prospect like USC's Caleb Williams, UNC's Drake Maye, or LSU's Jayden Daniels may raise eyebrows, Judon believes that building a solid foundation across multiple positions is more important. He argues that dropping a rookie quarterback onto an incomplete roster may not yield the desired results.

"Sometimes quarterbacks that everyone salivates over just don't pan out," pointed out Judon. "You can get somebody later in the draft, you can get more picks to accumulate more talent and just shore up a team. You need pieces around a good quarterback."

While the counter-argument contends that having an elite quarterback is crucial to winning in the NFL, Judon draws from his observations of a first-round quarterback, Mac Jones, struggling in his rookie season. The pass rusher expresses reluctance in taking such a gamble again.

As the Patriots consider their options for the No. 3 pick, they must weigh the potential of acquiring additional assets against the allure of securing a potential game-changing quarterback. With the draft approaching, it remains to be seen how the Patriots will approach their selection, taking into account the suggestions put forth by players like Matt Judon.