Patriots' Team Needs to Fill in 2024 NFL Draft
The New England Patriots will be one of the most discussed teams in NFL draft conversations over the next month.
The Patriots are expected to select their new franchise quarterback with the No. 3 overall pick.
Who that player will be is still up for debate and is dependent on what the Washington Commanders do with the second selection.
The Patriots should get to choose between two of J.J. McCarthy, Drake Maye and Jayden Daniels, which is not a bad spot to be in to fill their primary draft need.
A ton of work will be put into the other seven draft picks as well since the Patriots have a handful of needs that need to be filled elsewhere on the offense to be a more complete team in 2024.
Quarterback
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The Patriots should be solely focused on landing a new quarterback with the No. 3 pick.
New England put itself in this position because the Mac Jones first-round selection did not work out.
The new quarterback will come into a revamped quarterback room currently headlined by veteran backup Jacoby Brissett.
Bleacher Report's NFL scouting department mocked Heisman Trophy winner Jayden Daniels to the Patriots in early March.
Daniels and Drake Maye may be available at No. 3 if the buzz around J.J. McCarthy is real.
NFL Network's Tom Pelissero acknowledged on Monday that there was buzz around McCarthy and Washington (h/t Awful Announcing).
That would be the dream scenario for the Patriots, who would then get to choose between two of the top three prospects in the draft class.
Wide Receiver
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The Patriots have the potential to blow up all mock draft predictions if they swerve away from quarterback at No. 3.
That seems unlikely given the team's current situation, but Marvin Harrison Jr. would be there at No. 3.
The Patriots need a No. 1 wide receiver for their 2024 starter to throw to and Harrison fits the role.
New England's more likely scenario is that it uses the No. 34 or No. 68 picks on a pass-catcher to add to the group currently led by JuJu Smith-Schuster.
Smith-Schuster, Kendrick Bourne, Demario Douglas, K.J. Osborn and Tyquan Thornton form a decent collection of pass-catchers, but none of them are true No. 1 wide outs.
Michigan's Roman Wilson, Texas' Adonai Mitchell and the Washington duo of Ja'Lynn Polk and Jalen McMillan are potential names to watch at No. 34. All of them were predicted as second-round picks by B/R's NFL scouting department.
Offensive Tackle
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The Patriots should use their second-or-third-round pick to target an offensive tackle.
New England is likely out on Notre Dame's Joe Alt, the top offensive tackle prospect, because of its other needs at No. 3.
A move away from a quarterback and Harrison to pick Alt at No. 3 would be a total shock. Alt would only join the Patriots if they trade down from that spot.
The Patriots lost Trent Brown, re-signed Mike Onwenu and brought in Chukwuma Okorafor in free agency.
They could use more protection on the left side and that's where someone like BYU's Kingsley Suamataia could be a good fit.
Suamataia is in the second tier of offensive line prospects in the draft class and was projected to land at No. 38 by B/R's NFL scouting department.
A majority of the ideal second-round offensive line selections are best on the interior, so the Patriots may wait to land a potential upgrade in the third round or beyond.
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