The stopover was “a great visit’’ and there was a moment when Bill Belichick might have envisioned Daniel Jones as being Next In Line to wear the crown after king Tom Brady steps down off his throne. This was before the 2019 NFL Draft and few were projecting Jones to be a high pick in the first round.

Jones, well-schooled at Duke and, in some ways, certainly in the mold of a Brady-style quarterback, was going through the requisite meetings and introductions at the Patriots facility. He spent a great deal of time with offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels and the other offensive assistants. He had what Belichick recalled as “a great conversation’’ with the legendary head coach. There was a slight glitch in the proceedings, though, that warned the always-on-alert Belichick that something might be brewing between Jones and the Giants.

“Actually, I think it was kind of a change of plans, but at the end of his visit, I think he said he had to go somewhere, but then he ended up going to the Giants from here,’’ Belichick said Monday. “So even I could figure out there was something going on there.’’

There was plenty going on there. The Giants were in the nascent stages of falling in love with Jones and the bromance culminated in Jones as the pick at No. 6 overall, so high in the first round that Giants fans mostly were aghast with the selection. Those skeptical fans, by and large, are now firmly in the Daniel Jones camp, based on the way he has embarked on his NFL career since taking over for benched franchise-icon Eli Manning two games into this season.

Up next: A matchup with Belichick’s Patriots, a tangle with a defense that routinely chews up and spits out rookie quarterbacks. Belichick over the course of his Hall of Fame career is 17-5 going against rookie quarterbacks and he is 11-0 in such games at Gillette Stadium, where the Giants play Thursday night.

“I think they’ve been a good defense for a long time, rookies and all other quarterbacks, they’ve been a good defense and they play well against anyone,’’ Jones said.

Jones will try to do what only five rookie quarterbacks have ever accomplished: beat Belichick’s Patriots. Ben Roethlisberger did it in 2004, Mark Sanchez did it in 2009, Colt McCoy did it in 2010, Russell Wilson did it in 2012 and, believe it or not, Geno Smith did it in 2013. So, Jones will try to do what two former Jets rookies did to Belichick.

Belichick, ever mindful of securing Brady’s possible successor — Brady is 42, after all — took a quarterback in this year’s draft, going for Jarrett Stidham of Auburn in the fourth round. It sure sounds as if the Patriots were intrigued with Jones.

“He’s very mature, certainly a good understanding of the Duke offense and coach [David] Cutcliffe and the things that they were doing there,’’ Belichick said. “Again, a good grasp of the offensive system — protections, routes, route concepts and why they’re used in different combinations and in certain situations.

“He’s an impressive player and a very impressive person. Playing quarterback in New York is not the easiest thing in the world, but he’s got a lot of maturity and a good head on his shoulders and has good perspective on football and the overall leadership position that comes with that role on and off the field. So, I’m sure he’s done well and will continue to do well.’’