INDIANAPOLIS — The Patriots are still most likely to find their next quarterback with the No. 3 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, but there are other ways to find their future starter, and the top impending free agents are two intriguing candidates in Baker Mayfield and Kirk Cousins.

Mayfield has supporters from within the Patriots’ organization, per sources, but there are some impediments to signing him. It’s not a surprise that Mayfield is liked by members of the staff. He was drafted by a front office that included current Patriots de facto general manager Eliot Wolf and coached by offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt and quarterbacks coach T.C. McCartney with the Browns. Patriots senior personnel advisor Pat Stewart and senior offensive assistant Ben McAdoo spent time with Mayfield with the Panthers, as well.

The Patriots have not yet shown interest in Cousins, per sources. The Vikings free agent is coming off of a torn Achilles and is likely to sign for even more money than Mayfield.

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Mayfield had a breakout campaign with the Buccaneers last season and still seems most likely to return to Tampa. Cost could also be a factor for Mayfield with a rising salary cap that’s netting veteran quarterbacks salaries in the $40 million range.

The Patriots held formal interviews with all three top QB prospects, USC’s Caleb Williams, UNC’s Drake Maye and LSU’s Jayden Daniels, as well as Michigan’s J.J. McCarthy and Oregon’s Bo Nix, this week at the NFL Scouting Combine.

Mayfield earned a Pro Bowl nod, completing 64.3% of his passes for 4,044 yards with 28 touchdowns and 10 interceptions while bringing the Buccaneers to the playoffs in 2023. Mayfield and the Bucs beat the Eagles in the wild-card round of the postseason before losing to the Lions in the divisional round. Mayfield found success with wide receiver Mike Evans, another free agent that would interest members of the Patriots’ staff.

Mayfield was coming off a trying season with the Panthers and Rams. His best NFL season came in 2020 under Van Pelt with McCartney and current Patriots offensive line coach Scott Peters also serving on that staff.

Cousins was 4-4 as a starter last season while coming off of a playoff campaign in 2022 before injuring his Achilles. He completed 69.5% of his passes for 2,331 yards with 18 touchdowns and five interceptions.