In his latest mock draft, NFL Network analyst and ex-scout Daniel Jeremiah projected the Patriots will draft Ohio State wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. at No. 3 overall.

But does that mean Jeremiah believes the Pats should pass on a quarterback?

Not so fast.

In a conference call with reporters Thursday, Jeremiah explained the thought process behind his projection, while admitting the team has a difficult choice ahead no matter how the top two picks play out.

“I think obviously they’ll do their homework on all of the different options there. To me, it would be tough to pass on a quarterback,” Jeremiah said. “You’re not guaranteed to be up here again. There’s no guarantee of what future years, what it looks like at the position. I think you’ve got three guys that are worthy of consideration there.”

One of those quarterbacks — USC’s Caleb Williams, North Carolina’s Drake Maye and LSU senior Jayden Daniels — will be available when the Patriots are scheduled to pick at third overall. Williams has long been regarded as the top prospect — let alone quarterback — in this class. Experts are split on whether Maye or Daniels is the second-best passer in the draft, though both are universally viewed as top-10 picks.

Jeremiah ranks Maye slightly ahead of Daniels, who won the Heisman Trophy last year after producing one of the most impressive statistical seasons in college football history. Maye ranks fourth overall on his big board, followed by Daniels at No. 5.

“The ability, the size, the arm strength, the athleticism, the play-making stuff, it’s all there (for Maye),” Jeremiah said.

Meanwhile, Harrison Jr. is his second-ranked player. At 6-foot-4 and 205 pounds, Harrison is a polished, well-rounded prospect regarded as the best receiver to come out of college football in years. All three players are also elite athletes, who Jeremiah believes could help rejuvenate the Patriots franchise.

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“Just being in that stadium last year, it was kind of — I didn’t recognize it,” said Jeremiah, who also works as the Chargers’ radio color commentator. “Obviously the team wasn’t good, but there has been so much energy and juice in that building every other time I’ve been in there, and it was just so flat, and it wasn’t just a bad team. It was a boring team.

“There’s just no juice, no excitement whatsoever. I look at whether — whichever one is there, if it’s any of those top three quarterbacks, those guys that bring so much energy and life to your franchise. It just feels right.”

Before becoming the preeminent draft analyst in NFL media, Jeremiah worked as a scout for the Ravens, Eagles and Browns.