The New England Patriots begin a new era with Jerod Mayo as head coach. While the team continues to fill out their coaching staff, we look at what the team should do in the draft starting with the No. 3 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft.
With a ton of talent at the top of the draft, the Patriots are guaranteed to select a franchise-changing player. With a glaring need at the quarterback, wide receiver and offensive tackle position, Jerod Mayo and his staff will have some tough decisions to make in this draft, mainly on the offensive side of the ball.
So, in this 7-round mock draft, we address those needs with players who should be able to come in and contribute right away.
New England Patriots get their franchise quarterback in Drake Maye
The New England Patriots will have an interesting decision to make with the No. 3 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft. But they will decide to go with Drake Maye out of the University of North Carolina.
With Caleb Williams expected to go No. 1 overall, there will be debate on whether the Patriots should select Maye or LSU’s Jayden Daniels, but with what the Patriots need out of the quarterback position immediately, Maye presents as the more NFL ready because of his ability to make NFL type throws. He also has the size and mobility to extend plays and maneuver outside the pocket.
While some may view Daniels as the more athletic, Maye is a quarterback who can start Day 1 depending on the line and what playmakers the Patriots put around him. With what the Patriots offense went through in 2023 with both Mac Jones and Bailey Zappe, Maye will be a breath of fresh air at the quarterback position. Here is what Bleacher Report had to say about Maye:
“Maye's arm talent is the core of his game. He can throw a 100 mph fastball into a tight window over the middle or outside the numbers. Maye can also throttle down and put throws where only his receiver can go get it, as well as creating smooth yards-after-the-catch transitions for his receivers on underneath routes. He possesses every club in the bag.”
There will be a lot of debate about this pick, but the Patriots can’t go wrong in whoever they select at No. 3.
New England Patriots get legit at wide receiver with Xavier Legette
The Patriots will settle a need in the first round by selecting their quarterback, they will compliment Drake Maye in the second round by selecting wide receiver Xavier Legette with the No. 34 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft.
Folks, this will be no N’Keal Harry or Tyquan Thornton bust. Legette it legit and will finally give the Patriots a young wide receiver target on the outside. At 6-foot-3, 227 pounds, the South Carolina product dazzled in his fifth year of college edibility with 113 catches for 1,678 yards and 12 touchdowns.
With a great combination of size and athleticism, Legette also exabits a speed that will make him an effective target downfield, which the Patriots offense is desperately hungry for. At 22 years old, this physical wide receiver should be ready to make an impact right away in a Patriots offense that is coming off one of the worst offensive seasons in NFL history.
This is a pick Patriots fans will love. Here is what Bleacher Report had to say about the South Carolina prospect:
“Xavier Legette was a late bloomer in college, but one with an NFL-ready frame and ball skills. He lined up all over the field for South Carolina, though he was primarily an outside receiver with vertical responsibilities.
While Legette lacks quickness and refinement at the line of scrimmage, he makes up for it with his long speed. He has enough juice to consistently threaten down the field on go routes, posts and deep crossing routes once he starts striding out. He is also a bully-style yards-after-the-catch player thanks to his ample speed and strong build.”
With Demario Douglas exhibiting the quickness and shiftiness, adding a bigger, physical receiver like Legette should be a boost to the Patriots’ offense in 2024.
New England Patriots select athletic tight end in third round
The Patriots stick on the offensive side of the ball in the third round by selecting Kansas State tight end Ben Sinnott.
At 6-foot-4, 245 pounds, has a combination of size and athleticism that will make him a nice addition to the Patriots offense. With both Hunter Henry and Mike Gesicki entering free agency, the Patriots could have a void at the tight end position. Sinnott is one of the least talked about tight end in this year’s draft but could be considered one of the top tight end prospects behind Brock Bowers and Ja’Tavion Sanders.
In 2023, Sinnott hauled in 49 receptions for 676 yards and 6 touchdowns. His blocking ability along with his reliable hands make him a nice selection at this spot. With his ability to get open, Sinnott could see similar success in the NFL as Detroit Lions rookie tight end Sam LaPorta.
In all, his aggressive blocking style along with his soft hands and ability to go up for the ball makes him a good addition to a Patriots offense looking to get back on track. With a nice veteran tight end (Maybe Henry re-signs) to learn behind, Ben Sinnott is a player who would be an instant fan favorite in New England.
Patriots turn back the clock, select Notre Dame running back in fourth round
In the fourth round, the Patriots will select running back Audric Estime. If Michigan’s Blake Corum is still on the board, the Patriots will have an interesting decision, but given the season Corum had, including his national championship performance, his stock has risen.
Like previous drafts, the Patriots have found solid running backs in the third and fourth rounds. While the jury is still out on Kevin Harris, previous picks include Damien Harris and Rhamondre Stevenson. Each of those running backs found success as lead running backs in the Patriots offense due to their power to break through tackles and breakaway speed. Estime has similar attributes.
A hat trick for Audric Estime! 😤 pic.twitter.com/mjo3A5Fqzq
— Notre Dame on NBC (@NDonNBC) October 28, 2023
With Stevenson expected to be the featured back in 2024, Estime would be a supreme backup in the Patriots offense. A throwback running back, the 6-foo-1, 215 pound running back out of Notre Dame is a beast. He has the vision; he has the burst and like Stevenson he has a toughness that makes him hard to tackle.
In 2023 Estime rushed for 1,341 yards on 210 carries. He also has an ability to catch the ball with 17 receptions. Kind of sounds like Stevenson right?
Patriots address their offensive tackle needs in fifth round
Patriots fans will be screaming for the team to select a tackle in this draft, and they will finally address that need in the fifth round with the selection of Matt Goncalves out of the University of Pittsburgh.
The Patriots will be desperate for offensive line help even if they somehow re-sign Trent Brown. There will be an opportunity to address this need in the first two rounds, but for a team and an offense in need of playmakers and game changers, the team will address those needs and then use the late rounds of the draft to find players like Goncalves.
At 6-foot-6, 330 pounds, Goncalves has the prototypical size of a tackle and may have been ranked a lot higher coming out of college had he not redshirted his senior year at Pittsburgh. This is where the Patriots could get lucky in the mid-late rounds of the draft to fulfill their needs along the line.
With experience as both a left and right tackle, Goncalves build, toughness and athleticism and ability to attack with the outside shoulder makes him a good tackle to run behind and his width makes him a good pass protector. Good coaching could make him a steal in the draft. With what the Patriots had in 2023, it really can’t get any worse…right?
Goncalves to New England…bet on it.
New England Patriots select an interesting prospect on the defensive side of the ball
If Bill Belichick was running this draft, a player like Javon Solomon may have been a reach earlier in the draft, but in the fifth round the edge out of Troy is a player to take a flyer on.
Yes, the Patriots have a need at the edge position, but with Matthew Judon back next season, they should be ok, especially if they address that need in free agency. There is still the possibility the team re-signs Josh Uche. Whatever happens, adding the 6-foot-2, 249-pound outside linebacker could be another solid pick for the Patriots.
Playing at Troy, Solomon racked up 16 sacks and 3 forced fumbles in 2024. With a combination of speed and power, he will remind Patriots fans of Uche as far as what he can do off the edge. Learning behind a player like Judon, Solomon will have the opportunity to learn while he fills out his athletic frame even more.
Again, given where he went to school Solomon is an unknown in the draft, but a player who can emerge as an effective pass rusher in the NFL, especially if he has the right coaching and players to learn from. Doesn’t get any better than Judon and Jerod Mayo has his head coach.
New England Patriots add All-American offensive guard in sixth round of 2024 NFL Draft
With the No. 164 overall pick in the NFL Draft, the New England Patriots select Michigan’s Zak Zinter. The 6-foot-6, 322-pound offensive lineman was a unanimous First Team All-American in 2023 who could be a nice steal for the Patriots in the late rounds.
If the team cannot re-sign Mike Onwenu in free agency, Zinter is a player who could help fill that void at the guard position. A solid run blocker, Zinter has a mean edge to his game that could add some attitude to a Patriots’ offensive line that was pushed around in 2023. His height, long arms and ability to hold up against the bull rush, makes him a solid pass blocker as well.
Like Onwenu, the Massachusetts native could be a nice late-round surprise who could step in and contribute immediately depending on who else is on the line. As it stands, David Andrews at center and Cole Strange at guard are the only reliable along the offensive line with the status of left tackle Trent Brown and Onwenu up in the air.
As far as what the draft experts are saying, here is what ESPN analyst Mel Kper had to say about the Michigan offensive lineman:
“He’s durable, he’s a veteran, he’s a plug and play starter. Zak Zinter is literally the second-highest rated guard behind only , who is playing left tackle but will be a guard the NFL. Zinter comes in now as the second-highest rated guard with a second-round grade.”
If the Patriots can get him in the sixth round, it will be a big win in the 2024 NFL Draft.
Patriots select linebacker out of Nebraska with last pick of 2024 NFL Draft
In the seventh round, the New England Patriots select linebacker Luke Reimer out of the University of Nebraska.
The 6-foot-1, 225-pound linebacker played in 10 games in 2023 with 23 solo tackles and 5 sacks. He was more productive in his previous two seasons as far as tackles, but as a fifth-year senior saw more of a pass rushing role with the Huskers. In all, Reimer does have good speed and is a linebacker who is good in coverage. His athleticism and tackling in open space could remind Patriots fans of a player like Rob Ninkovich or even a current player like Matt Milano.
Obviously, being around in the seventh round will mean he has limitations, but like the players listed above, it could take some time for Reimer to develop on the next level. Again, a good pick in the late rounds of the draft.
Overall, the expectations for Reimer would be practice squad or a player who may surprise some folks and make the 53-man roster if she shows he can play special teams.