We’re a little under a month away from the 2024 NFL Draft, which marks one of the Patriots’ most important drafts throughout Robert Kraft’s tenure as the organization’s owner.
The organization needs a young quarterback filled with potential who can threaten the AFC Conference in the next couple of years. While the team builds around the quarterback, taking advantage of his rookie deal should be the top priority. Some fans and media members argue that there’s no question: you need to draft a quarterback in the first round. Conversely, others recommend trading down in the first round to accumulate more young assets, then trading up in the 2025 draft to select the team’s future quarterback.
New England is currently scheduling Top-30 visits with their desired candidates, whom they could target come draft night. While the Patriots finalize their draft board for April 25th, we writers are finalizing our draft boards through mock drafts. This mock draft was completed with a realistic attitude and meant to provide readers with an idea of who could be in a Patriot uniform in 2024.
Round 1, Pick No. 3: UNC QB Drake Maye
The Patriots sent a similar brass of staff to both Drake Maye’s and LSU QB Jayden Daniel’s pro days last week, primarily consisting of de facto general manager Eliot Wolf, head coach Jerod Mayo, and offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt. New England also met with both quarterbacks during the process, and as of April 4th, the only quarterbacks scheduled to visit New England are Jayden Daniels and Drake Maye.
The public and the media widely consider both Maye and Daniels the main options for New England to draft at No. 3 overall, sparking many conversations regarding which quarterback would be the better fit for New England.
Over the past month, Daniels, the Washington Commanders’ main target at No. 2 overall, has gained much traction. Fortunately, in this mock draft, the Commanders selected Jayden Daniels at No. 2 overall, making the decision at No. 3 much easier for me as I won’t have to pick between the two premier quarterbacks.
Drake Maye possesses the athletic ability to scramble out of the pocket when needed, and when paired with his impressive arm strength, he can throw the ball with much velocity on the run. Maye has also shown the ability to be accurate on all levels (underneath, intermediate, and deep) of the field and to operate in structure.
On the contrary, Maye needs adjusting regarding his spotty footwork in the pocket and when on the move. In addition, his decision-making can sometimes be questionable, leading to some proclaiming it would be better for him to sit for a year and learn under veteran quarterback Jacoby Brissett and the coaching staff.
Sitting Maye wouldn’t be the most exciting option for fans, but it could benefit New England in the long run. Playing him behind an inconsistent offensive line that battled with the injury bug throughout the 2023 season could tamper with Maye’s development.
Nonetheless, by drafting Drake Maye, New England would be getting a very impressive prospect with all the tools and arm talent to be a good quarterback in the NFL. He has some fundamental issues that can be corrected through proper coaching.
Round 2, Pick No. 34: Arizona OT Jordan Morgan
Adding protection on the left side of the offensive line is something New England needs to address. Their best option now would be recently signed offensive tackle Chukwuma Okorafor, who has several years of starting experience with the Pittsburgh Steelers. Okorafor primarily plays at right tackle and would be better suited in a “swing” tackle role. New England’s current candidates to play at left tackle outside Okorafor offer little reliability.
Arizona offensive tackle Jordan Morgan is a draft-day option who could potentially solve that issue for New England. Morgan, 6’5″ and 311 lbs, is an agile, quick-footed tackle who’s not easy to get by in pass protection. He uses his hands very well to disrupt pass rushers and create open lanes for the running back. He also has quality starting experience dating back to his freshman year of college, when he started Arizona’s last two games of the season at left tackle.
However, Morgan can be overly aggressive at times, leaving him susceptible to speed rushers. He also has an injury history, notably tearing his ACL in 2022.
Morgan is a physically gifted athlete with the strength and quickness to prominently hold his own at the NFL level, which is a prospect the Patriots need. Patriots offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt could implement a similar offensive scheme to what he worked with in Cleveland with the Browns—a zone run scheme—which seems like Morgan’s best fit.
Round 3, Pick No. 68: UCF WR Javon Baker
New England needs to address the wide receiver position by the end of day two of the draft, and UCF receiver Javon Baker is one of the best third-round options.
Baker is a well-developed route-runner who mainly creates separation with his quick start/stop ability at the top of his routes and quick in and out shifts. He doesn’t have game-breaking speed like Malik Nabers or Xavier Worthy, but he has the straight-line speed to be a threat up the seams and create further separation on the outside after winning his release.
The 6’1″, 202 lb. outside “X” receiver’s most profound ability is his athletic contested catch ability. Baker is very good at high-pointing the ball and using his body properly to diminish his defender’s coverage as much as possible.
However, Baker’s labeled title as an “X” receiver sometimes contradicts itself as he struggles against press coverage when facing bigger corners, hurting his ability to create separation later in his route. Baker has a deep release package to get by corners, but he’ll need to prove he will eventually be able to adjust at the NFL level.
The Patriots will meet with Baker for a top-30 visit, the organization’s first reported top-30 visit. Meetings with players on pro days or at the NFL combine are noteworthy, but the top 30 visits are meetings to pay attention to. They are the best way for teams to get to know a player outside of film.
Round 4, Pick No. 103: Iowa TE Erick All
New England needs depth at the tight end position, and only Hunter Henry, Austin Hooper, and La’Michael Pettway are under contract for the 2024 season. Iowa tight end Erick All would add young depth to an aging group.
All is a big-framed tight end (6’4″, 252 lbs.) who showcases reliable route-running skills with enough burst to be a consistent threat up the seams. He doesn’t have explosive breakaway speed, but he uses his large frame to fight for extra yards and has the awareness to do so.
When run blocking, All struggles with locking on to defenders properly, which also correlates to difficulty switching. All mainly uses his big frame as an explosive bulldozer to move defenders. He’s not a refined run blocker, but the potential is there with his size. If properly developed, All could potentially fill in for the run-blocking absence of Pharaoh Brown, who left for Seattle in free agency.
Round 5, Pick No. 137: TCU CB Josh Newton
New England has a young cornerback room with many unproven talents: Christian Gonzalez, Marco Wilson, Marcus Jones, Shaun Wade, Isaiah Bolden, and Azizi Hearn. Gonzalez, you could argue, is proven, but we have seen a small sample size from him so far. Jonathan Jones is the main, and maybe only true, veteran piece.
Josh Newton (5’11”, 190 lbs.) is an outside corner with experience playing as a nickel corner at the NFL level. Newton is a very smart football player who uses his knowledge to his advantage on the field. He consistently reads the receiver and quarterback and disrupts any potential play with his explosive short-area quickness.
Newton’s main concerns are his speed (he ran a 4.51-second forty-yard dash at the NFL combine) and his ability to keep up with speedy receivers deep. This potential issue is why he may be better suited as a nickel corner—in a Myles Bryant role—while seeing occasional reps on the outside.
Round 6, Pick No. 180: Auburn S Jaylin Simpson
New England’s current safety group consists of Kyle Dugger (if he signs his tender), veteran Jabrill Peppers, Marte Mapu, of whom we’ve got a small sample size, and Josh Bledsoe, who has had difficulty seeing significant playing time. The Patriots could use another body within the safety corps that can also serve as a typical free safety.
Auburn’s Jaylin Simpson is a versatile defensive back who has significant experience playing at multiple spots on the field. Simpson initially played outside corner in 2021, eventually expanding his role in 2022, seeing reps at both deep safety and on the outside. In 2023, Simpson’s role continued to evolve, receiving significant reps at deep safety, slot corner, and in the box.
At safety, Simpson recognizes and reacts to plays quickly and excels in coverage, having the speed to cover a lot of ground. He’s also able to create turnovers, baiting quarterbacks into four interceptions in 2023.
Simpon’s experience in the slot and the box allows him to cover tight ends, though he can be overpowered at times due to his slim build (6’0″, 179 lbs.). In addition to his slim build, Simpson lacks a true physical presence, which hurts him when trying to tackle one-on-one, especially in the run game.
Simpson lacks physicality, but his versatility in coverage is unique. He has serious potential—especially if he bulks up—and can serve as a developmental piece to start his career.
Round 6, Pick No. 193: Pittsburgh WR Bub Means
At No. 193, the Patriots double-dip at the wide receiver position, grabbing another outside “X” receiver in Pittsburgh’s Bub Means. Means is a very interesting late-round prospect who is able to pair his big frame at 6’1″, 212 lbs. with exceptional speed, posting a 4.43-second forty-yard dash.
Aside from his impressive physicals that allow him to shield off defenders and make contested catches, Means accelerates quickly and can be a fairly explosive threat after the catch. He’s an exceptional runner when he has the ball in his hands with an open field ahead. Means also has the tools to be an effective blocker in run support.
Mean’s has a fairly limited route tree, which could be due in part to the offensive scheme in which he played and the job he was typically assigned, but issues with his fluidity in route running remain.
His physicals, combined with his outside presence, make him a notable candidate in the later rounds of the draft. His draft stock has continuously risen since the combine, with the assumption that it will continue to rise.
Round 7, Pick No. 231: South Dakota State RB Isaiah Davis
With their final pick in the draft, New England decides to address their need for running backs in terms of depth by drafting South Dakota State workhorse back Isaiah Davis.
Davis, 6’0″, 218 lbs., is a bigger back who quickly processes how plays develop and how holes within the offensive line open up. He’s a patient runner who doesn’t typically force anything and possesses exceptional ball-carrier vision. He’s also reliable when it comes to ball security, fumbling only a total of three times throughout his collegiate career.
Davis’ main area of concern resides within his speed and lack of ability to consistently create explosive bursts to put immense pressure on the top level of the defense. Davis can be a solid check-down option in the passing game, but he doesn’t offer too much outside of that.
New England’s current running back room mainly consists of Rhamondre Stevenson, Kevin Harris, and receiving-threat Antonio Gibson. Some new blood and depth should be added.
