With a 1-3 record after Week 4, the New England Patriots hold the No. 7 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft. Depending on how the rest of the season goes, Bill Belichick could be sitting with an even higher pick or a much lower pick.
For the latter to happen, the Patriots must right the ship after a 38-3 horrendous loss to the Dallas Cowboys. With the loss of top pass rusher Matthew Judon and rookie cornerback Christian Gonzalez to season-ending injuries, it will be tougher for the Patriots to put forth a winning season. Should they tank?
That word is not in Belichick’s vocabulary. But, with a lack of consistent play out of Mac Jones at the quarterback position and an offense struggling even without the excuse of Matt Patricia calling plays, a change is needed in New England even if they turn the ship. This team needs game changers and playmakers and with a high draft pick, the 2024 NFL Draft is setting up for them to finally find some playmaking talent…and perhaps the next GUY at quarterback.
With needs at the tackle, quarterback, wide receiver and defensive line positions, here is how our 3-round 2024 NFL Mock draft shaped up for the New England Patriots. Keep in mind the team will address other needs in the later rounds.
No. 11: Patriots select Brock Bowers, TE - University of Georgia
With top tackle Joe Alt off the board, the Patriots trade No. 7 overall to the Arizona Cardinals for No. 9 and No. 75. In true Belichick fashion, he then trades the No. 9 selection to the Green Bay Packers for No. 1 and No. 37. Instead of standing pat at No. 9 and selecting JC Latham to fill that tackle void, Belichick plays the board and selects tight end Brock Bowers.
While Patriots fans are temporarily calling for Belichick’s head due to his usual trade tactics, the selection of Bowers will have fans seeing the glory days of Rob Gronkowski all over again. Obviously, Bowers is a talent of his own and has the talent to create his own place in Patriots history instead of filling the shoes of Gronk.
As a pass-catching tight end, Bowers will give the Patriots that big target they were so reliant on in the days of Gronkowski. Not as big as Gronk, the 6-fooot-4, 240-poind tight end has solidified himself as one of the best players in the country. His creativity and physicality after the catch will be a true appeal of the Patriots who have historically been a team that featured the tight end in the passing game.
Bowers is a sure bet to be another in short list of tight end greats in New England. Russ Francis, Ben Coates, Rob Gronkowski and then Brock Bowers? Considering both Hunter Henry and Mike Gesicki are set to be free agents, drafting a tight end high in the draft isn’t out of the realm of possibility. If Bowers is in their range, it will be a no-brainer.
No. 37: Patriots select Bo Nix, QB - University of Oregon
With back-to-back early second-round picks, Patriots fans will wonder if Belichick will use one of the picks to trade for Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray or trade back for more picks later in the round.
That question is answered when the Patriots select Oregon quarterback Bo Nix with the No. 37 pick in the 2024 NFL Draft. The selection will put an end to the Mac Jones era in New England and spark some excitement with the possibility of what a Bo Nix-Brock Bowers could grow into in New England.
Standing at 6-foot-2, 213 pounds, Nix is the prototypical quarterback in size along with the attributes he brings to the game. With top-tier pocket presence, Nix’s passing accuracy, along with his ability to manipulate the pocket will mark him as a starter as a rookie. With the right playmakers around him and a solid offensive line, Nix will have time to grow.
The big question will be rather Belichick puts him in a position to succeed. After drafting Bowers in the first round and with a ton of cap space, excitement will be buzzing around the New England Patriots after selecting one of the top college QB’s and Bowers with their first two picks in the 2024 NFL Draft.
Now, what will they do at No. 38?
No. 38: Patriots select Troy Franklin, WR - University of Oregon
Belichick shocks the draft board by keeping selection No. 38 and drafting Nix’s top target in wide receiver Troy Franklin.
What better way to help his new rookie quarterback than giving him a target he is familiar with. At 6-foot-2, 187 pounds, Franklin has excellent speed and is a player who could create the kind of separation the Patriots playmakers have been lacking the last few seasons.
With his ability to play both outside and in the slot, Franklin would be ideal in New England. Coming off a season in 2022 when he caught 61 receptions for 891 yards and nine touchdowns, the Oregon wide receiver has picked up where he left off in the first weeks of the 2023 season.
Through the first five games, Franklin already has 32 receptions for 535 yards and 7 touchdowns. The Nix-Franklin connection has been on an elite level and the Patriots getting both early in the second round along with Bowers would give the Patriots an A+ in the draft just for those three selections alone.
Patriots fans could get use to this:
35 unanswered points.
— Oregon Football (@oregonfootball) October 1, 2023
Bo ➡ Troy, again.#GoDucks
📺 @Pac12Network pic.twitter.com/IcOXjeceEg
At this point in the season, both players could end up as high first-round talents, but as the draft positioning currently stands, the Patriots are in good position to manipulate the draft board to their advantage.
No. 75: Patriots select Kris Jenkins, DT- University of Michigan
With the No. 75 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, the New England Patriots select Michigan defensive tackle Kris Jenkins.
After addressing the offensive side of the football with the top three picks of the draft, Belichick will add some depth and beef to the middle of that defensive line anchored by Christian Barmore. In fact, Belichick will use the remaining picks on the offensive line and on the defensive side of the ball.
This string of picks will start with Jenkins who at 6-foot-3, 305 pounds is a load in the middle who should look great alongside Barmore. As a first-round talent, the Patriots will get lucky that Jenkins is still around. As defenses in the NFL get smaller and faster, a player like Jenkins will still have value in clogging up the middle and limiting the inside running game. With a high ceiling, this will be another A+ move for Belichick.
Now, what he does in the rest of the draft is a crap shoot, but the top picks will be applauded even if they don’t address the need for a left tackle or a pass rusher. Perhaps those two areas will be addressed in free agency or the draft.
In summary, the Patriots finally get the type of playmakers and game changers who can impact a game on their talent alone.