The New England Patriots are in the market for a new quarterback ahead of the 2024 campaign, and it appears the franchise could start over at the position by selecting a signal-caller with the No. 3 overall pick in the 2024 draft this spring.

One high-ranking executive within the Patriots organization told ESPN's Mike Reiss that the franchise believes it needs to pair the right coach with the right quarterback to earn back "respectability."

"One high-ranking Patriots executive recently shared the organization's belief that without the right coach and quarterback, it will be a long road back to respectability," Reiss wrote.

"[Robert] Kraft says he believes he has checked the first box with [Jerod] Mayo, and if the No. 3 pick checks the second, it might be the perfect scenario -- much like the 2008 Atlanta Falcons, who had their hopes pinned on drafting Boston College quarterback Matt Ryan."

The Patriots struggled mightily in 2023 with a combination of Mac Jones and Bailey Zappe under center, and it resulted in the franchise finishing with its worst record since it went 5-11 in 2000 at 4-13.

Jones is under contract through 2024 with a fifth-year option for 2025, though the Patriots don't intend to exercise his fifth-year option, MassLive's Mark Daniels reported in January.

"According to a source, the Patriots don't plan on picking up Jones' fifth-year option," Daniels wrote. "The quarterback has a clean slate with [head coach Jerod] Mayo and could remain on the roster, but the team won't hesitate to move him if the right deal comes across their desk."

Zappe is also under contract through 2024, though he will become a restricted free agent in 2025.

The Patriots have the rare opportunity to draft a quarterback with one of the top picks in the 2024 draft, and the likes of USC's Caleb Williams, UNC's Drake Maye and LSU's Jayden Daniels could be available when the team is on the clock at No. 3.

Seeing as how the franchise is looking to marry Mayo with the right quarterback, it could come down to who the first-year head coach views as a good fit for both him and the offense.

That said, new offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt told reporters on Wednesday that "everything is on the table" at quarterback in 2024 when asked if he could envision Jones returning as the starter.

"As we go through this process, we really this last couple weeks, 10 days, have just been diving into who we are, trying to evaluate our guys. A lot of people in this situation, on staffs that have been here, they're doing free agency. Well, we're doing our guys as they are free agents. We're trying to understand who we have here, as well as looking at other players out there," Van Pelt said.

"But right now, everything is on the table and we're just still working through that process. When then time comes, I'm sure it'll be a collaborative effort and we'll make the right decisions."

If Jones returns as the starter next season, Patriots fans will lament the missed opportunity for the franchise to land a legitimate franchise quarterback and the successor to Tom Brady's throne.