Prospects for Patriots to Avoid in 2024 NFL Draft
The New England Patriots will most likely start their 2024 NFL draft off with the selection of a quarterback at No. 3.
New England will not get to choose its top quarterback prospect on the draft board because the Chicago Bears and Washington Commanders are in front of it.
The Patriots will probably have to select between J.J. McCarthy and either Jayden Daniels or Drake Maye at No. 3.
Daniels, the 2023 Heisman Trophy winner, should be the ideal target for the Patriots, but they have to plan if he isn't there as well.
The Patriots could be in a tough spot if Daniels is gone and they have to choose between Maye and McCarthy.
New England's quarterback decision at No. 3 is most important, but it has to get the other selections right as well. There are a group of players who will not fit what the Patriots are building and should be avoided in the second round and beyond.
J.J. McCarthy
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McCarthy is perhaps the most polarizing quarterback prospect in the draft class.
He did not put up massive numbers at Michigan because the Wolverines ran a run-heavy offense, but he did show up in big spots throughout the College Football Playoff.
McCarthy carries a lot of potential, but there are some question marks about how explosive he can be as a NFL starting quarterback.
Daniels and Maye at least had multiple years to work in dynamic offenses at LSU and North Carolina.
McCarthy did not throw for 3,000 yards in either of his two seasons at Michigan, and while that may not matter in the long run, there is a more convincing argument to be made that Daniels and Maye are more ready to start in the NFL in Week 1 because of their extensive experience as passers.
Xavier Legette
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Xavier Legette has the physical makeup to be one of the more imposing rookie wide receivers in 2024.
The South Carolina product stands at 6'3" and 227 pounds. He would be something completely different than any other Patriots wide receiver on the current roster.
The knock on Legette is that he only had one 1,000-yard season at South Carolina and only came on during his senior season.
Legette's statistics were nonexistent before his 71-catch, 1,255-yard season in 2023 that thrust him up draft boards.
The senior season production could be an indication of what's to come in the NFL, but the Patriots need more of a sure thing at wide receiver with a new quarterback coming into the franchise.
Legette might go as early as the second round, but the Patriots should avoid him at No. 34 and then hope he gets selected before they have to pass on him again at No. 68.
Spencer Rattler
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Legette's college teammate, quarterback Spencer Rattler, should be off the Patriots' radar as well.
There is a scenario in which the Patriots either take Marvin Harrison Jr. at No. 3, or trade down to collect picks because they are not in love with the two remaining quarterbacks.
Rattler is likely a late Day 2, or early Day 3, prospect, but his star fizzled out throughout his time with the Gamecocks.
The transfer from Oklahoma turned in consecutive 3,000-yard seasons, but he failed to eclipse the 20-touchdown mark in two years at South Carolina. He had 28 touchdown passes in 2020 at Oklahoma.
Rattler was intercepted on 20 occasions and sacked 71 times during his two years in the SEC.
The 37-20 touchdown-to-interception ratio does not look good and that should turn the Patriots away from him as a starter, or as a player further down the depth chart.
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