Packers fans rejoiced when Patriots drafted Drake Maye

Imagine desperately needing a quarterback, acquiring an additional first-round pick to package in a trade-up, and then watching another team select your top target.

Couldn't be the Green Bay Packers.

We've heard all about how the Minnesota Vikings were going to trade up for one of the top quarterbacks in the class, most likely North Carolina's Drake Maye, but the New England Patriots had other ideas.

And the Packers have former executive Eliot Wolf to thank for it. New England's decision to stick at No. 3 and select Maye has a significant knock-on effect for the remainder of Round 1.

But Packers fans can relax. We've gotten used to the idea of the Chicago Bears drafting Caleb Williams, but we no longer have to worry about the Vikings landing Maye, who could've been their next franchise quarterback.

Packers fans breathe a sigh of relief after Vikings miss out on top quarterback target

Packers fans have been reacting to the pick with great relief.

Minnesota will undoubtedly add a quarterback at some stage. Surely the plan isn't to enter 2024 with Sam Darnold as the starter, right? While Maye is a boom-or-bust prospect, there's a chance he will become a superstar. That's the last thing the Packers—or the rest of the NFC North—needed.

No matter what happens for the rest of the evening, the Packers can consider this victory number one of the 2024 NFL Draft.

The Vikings held the Nos. 11 and 23 picks with the hopes of trading up, but the door was slammed shut at the last moment. It means they miss out on Maye, who has sky-high potential.

"Maye has some things to clean up, but he has every ingredient to be a top-tier starter at the game's most important position," writes NFL Network's Daniel Jeremiah.

Minnesota trading up for Maye was a potential nightmare scenario for Green Bay. Thankfully, New England put an end to that.