The New England Patriots are in a position where they can’t lean solely on free agency to fill all of the needs on their roster. There are major holes at key positions that must be addressed in the 2024 NFL draft.
Bill Belichick might be the greatest coach of all time, but his negligence on the offensive side of the ball as a general manager got the Patriots in this mess in the first place. Now, it’ll be up to director of scouting/de facto general manager Eliot Wolf and coach Jerod Mayo to fix it.
The Patriots have clear needs at quarterback, wide receiver and offensive tackle. But they also have other areas to fill on the roster as well, including on the defensive side of the ball.
This mock draft is focused on building the roster in one setting with the objective of filling out the greatest areas of need. Here’s how the board fell in our latest 2024 NFL mock draft:
Round 1, Pick No. 3: Drake Maye, QB, North Carolina
There’s no need to overthink things at this spot in the draft.
The Patriots did a lot of losing in 2023, and it almost still wasn’t enough to get them into the top-three picks on the draft board. These kinds of opportunities don’t come along often, and this draft has three undeniable top-three options at quarterback.
There’s no running an offense efficiently without the right player under center. The Patriots finally get their guy in this draft with North Carolina’s Drake Maye slipping on the board behind Caleb Williams and Jayden Daniels. There are enough Justin Herbert-like traits about Maye to make him an incredibly appealing quarterback prospect for New England.
Round 2, Pick No. 34: Adonai Mitchell, WR, Texas
The Patriots got the quarterback, but who is he going to throw the ball to on the field? No rookie deserves to be subjected to the lack of receiving talent Mac Jones, Bailey Zappe and even Cam Newton dealt with over the years for the Patriots.
Texas’ Adonai Mitchell still being on the draft board at this point was too hard to pass up. Standing at 6-foot-4 and 196 pounds, Mitchell has the size to project outside as a true No. 1 target. He’s an explosive playmaker with the kind of dangerous route-running abilities that give opposing defensive backs nightmares.
Pairing the high-end prospect receiver with a high-end prospect quarterback makes all of the sense in the world for the Patriots.
TRADE!
The Patriots have multiple holes to feel on their roster, which means a trade down is likely to happen at some point. They swing a trade with the Seattle Seahawks that includes swapping pick No. 68 for No. 78 and No. 119.
So they basically moved a few spots back for an extra fourth-round draft pick. If that isn’t a Bill Belichick special, I don’t know what is at this point.
Round 3, Pick No. 78: Kiran Amegadjie, OT, Yale
The Patriots finally address arguably their biggest trouble spot on the roster by taking Yale’s Kiran Amegadjie in the third round.
It’s time for the Patriots to get younger at the tackle positions. No more plugging and playing players out of position, while also leaning on veterans in the twilight of their careers.
Amegadjie is a powerful force on the offensive front who should make his presence felt right out of the gates. With the first three picks, the Patriots got their quarterback, wide receiver and top blindside protector. Things are looking up already.
Round 4, Pick No. 104: Matt Goncalves, OT, Pittsburgh
One offensive tackle isn’t enough when considering how poorly the unit performed last season. Sure, injuries were an issue for the unit throughout the year, but they lacked severely in personnel.
Pittsburgh’s Matt Goncalves won’t wow you with his athletic abilities, but he’s a disciplined, strong and reliable force on the offensive front. He’s the textbook professional offensive tackle with room for growth, which sounds like heaven for the struggling Patriots at this point.
Goncalves and Kiran Amegadjie being on the field together could create a situation where the Patriots could kick Mike Onwenu back inside to guard, assuming he re-signs with the team.
Round 4, Pick No. 119: Jermaine Burton, WR, Alabama
After double-dipping at the tackle position, the Patriots do the same at wide receiver by taking Alabama prospect Jermaine Burton.
Put on your gas mask whenever Burton takes off down the field because he’s sure to leave a cloud of smoke behind him. He’s the home run threat the Patriots thought they had in Tyquan Thornton.
Adonai Mitchell working on the outside with Burton as the sprinter and Demario Douglas underneath sounds like a fun offense. It’s the kind of offense that could change things for the Patriots earlier than expected.
Round 5, Pick No. 136: Mekhi Wingo, DT, LSU
The Patriots don’t waste an opportunity to snag LSU defensive lineman Mekhi Wingo, who slipped later on the draft board. This is a steal for New England with Wingo being one of the top-three defensive tackles in the entire draft.
He’s the “Energizer Bunny” on the defensive front with a never-ending motor, which fits the mold of the sort of hard-nosed defenders that typically do well in New England. Yes, the Patriots need to improve offensively, but they also need to lean into the defensive side of the ball as well.
Even without Bill Belichick, defense still remains the calling card for the Patriots, and a talented player like Wingo would give the unit an added boost.
Round 6, Pick No. 182: Mohamed Kamara, EDGE, Colorado State
You can never have enough EDGE rushers, and Mohamed Kamara makes for a fine sixth-round pick-up. If not for being undersized, Kamara would be talked about as one of the top pass-rushing prospects on the entire draft board.
Still, there is plenty to like from the Colorado State standout. His explosive burst and ability to pursue is a real problem when he fights his way through blockers. That kind of skill set could prove invaluable for the Patriots in a division full of quarterbacks that can make plays on the move.
Round 7, Pick No. 229: Blake Watson, RB Memphis
Whether Ezekiel Elliott ends up re-signing or leaving in the offseason, the Patriots need to look to the future in the offensive backfield. Rhamondre Stevenson is expected to continue to lead the way into 2024, and Kevin Harris could move up the depth chart, if Elliott signs with another team in free agency.
That would create an opening for a dual-threat option like Memphis’ Blake Watson on the roster. Watson’s exceptional route-running and reliable hands should make him an immediate third-down threat right out of the gates.
Stevenson has improved leaps and bounds as a pass-catcher, but for Watson, that element comes more natural to his game.
